Ellen Adarna Says Her Dad's Advice About Men Changed Her Perspective On Love

We just celebrated Father's Day last weekend, and the way Ellen Adarna recently shared a special memory with her late father reminded us why dads deserve their flowers, too.

During a recent episode of Kuan On One hosted by Melai Cantiveros, Ellen looked back on one of the most painful experiences of her teenage years: her very first heartbreak. Like many of us, she thought the world was ending after her first boyfriend broke her heart. At the time, the actress admitted she cried every single day for three months straight.

Talking in Cebuano, she shared, "Nakita niya kasi ang first boyfriend ko noong first year high school ako na parang...'hay naku!' Nagpapasalamat ako sa kaniya dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanya, baka [marupok] pa ako ngayon."

Looking back, Ellen could only laugh at how deeply affected she was by the breakup. "Noon kasi, three months every day iniiyakan ko siya...Ganung levels na parang mamamatay na ako."

No parent wants to see their child suffering, and for Ellen's father, seeing his daughter cry day after day eventually became too much to ignore. So he sat her down and gave her a piece of advice that she still carries with her years later. "No man is worth your tears. Hindi ka basta-basta. Hindi ka pwedeng tratuhin nang basta-basta."

According to Ellen, her father would often see her with swollen eyes from crying. His words became a wake-up call that completely changed how she viewed relationships—it taught her that love should never come at the expense of her self-worth.

Over the years, Ellen's love life has often made headlines. As one of the country's most talked-about celebrities, her relationships have consistently attracted public attention. But perhaps one of the biggest chapters in her dating history was her relationship with Derek Ramsay.

The two first met in early 2021 through a mutual friend. And dating rumors quickly followed after they were spotted vacationing in Batangas with their non-showbiz friends.

According to reports Derek eagerly pursued Ellen, and after just a month, the two publicly confirmed their relationship. Speaking about their romance, Derek described it as a connection that simply clicked. "Walang dull moment. Sa isang month, meron na kaming tawanan. Meron na kaming tampuhan... lahat meron na."

Many fans would later remember the couple's steamy prenup shoot, which quickly went viral online. In November of the same year, Ellen and Derek officially tied the knot in an outdoor wedding ceremony in Bataan before heading to Tanzania for their honeymoon.

For many, it seemed like a fairytale romance unfolding in real time.

In October 2024, the couple welcomed their daughter, Lili Ramsay. She became Ellen's second child after Elias Cruz, whom she shares with former partner John Lloyd Cruz.

Later that year, however, rumors about trouble in their marriage began circulating online after Ellen posted a series of cryptic Instagram Stories that appeared to reference alleged infidelity. One of her posts read: "Usually, mga babaero if they find someone and nasa honeymoon stage, makakalimutan nila yung mga side chicks nila. And they will return to their old ways, maybe [in a] month? But this is 9 days. So God knows ano pa yung iba right?"

Eventually, the two confirmed their separation and agreed to a co-parenting arrangement for their daughter.

In the same interview with Melai, Ellen revealed that her father had always encouraged her to be independent and never feel like she needed a man to complete her life. "Sabi niya, 'Huwag ka nang mag-asawa. Manganak ka lang. Hindi mo kailangan ng asawa. Anak lang kailangan mo.' Ayaw niya talaga mag-asawa ako."

And she jokingly added, "Nagkatotoo ang prophecy."

Today, Ellen seems focused on embracing life on her own terms—as a mother of two, a public figure, and a woman who has learned how to stand firmly on her own.