After a 13-year wait, actress Jodi Sta. Maria has announced the finalization of her annulment from former husband Pampi Lacson.
Sta. Maria shared the news on her Instagram account on June 9, marking the end of a prolonged legal journey.
“NOW I can finally say…CASE CLOSED,” she joyfully declared, posting a photo of herself by the sea with the caption, “So, I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings.”
Sta. Maria and Lacson married in 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada, but separated in 2011. The lengthy annulment process involved multiple legal hurdles, reaching up to the Court of Appeals before the Supreme Court granted her petition.
In her post, Sta. Maria expressed deep gratitude and reflection on the journey. “Finally, after 13 years of waiting, my petition for nullity of marriage has been granted by the Supreme Court. It was indeed a test of faith and trust—faith in God’s promises and trust in God’s timing,” she wrote.
She described the process as a challenging period marked by frustration, discouragement, and heartbreak. “The time I spent in His waiting room was never easy nor was it comfortable. It was frustrating, discouraging, and even heartbreaking. I cried, prayed, questioned, and complained. I made ‘tampo,’ asked for forgiveness, prayed some more. I wanted to give up but He never let go of me.”
Sta. Maria also offered encouragement to those who might be going through similar waiting periods, citing a biblical verse: “‘When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.’ – Isaiah 60:22. God is never in a hurry. He is never too late. Never too early. Believe He is able to do something about your situation. Trust He has a plan for you and that plan is even better than the one you have for yourself.”
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She thanked her supporters and legal team, particularly acknowledging her lawyer and friend, Connie Jaquino of Calleja Law Office, for their guidance and perseverance.
Sta. Maria’s announcement has resonated widely, garnering over 35,000 likes and numerous comments of support from netizens and showbiz friends within just three hours of posting.
