Singer Jona Viray has shared a deeply personal chapter of her life, opening up about her ongoing reconciliation with her mother, Arlene, who left their family when she was ten years old.
In an interview with journalist Karen Davila on her YouTube channel, Jona revealed that after years of emotional distance, she and her mother are slowly rebuilding their relationship.
“Ngayon po masasabi ko po na open na po ’yung puso ko for reconciliation kasi last year naimbitahan ko na rin po siya sa Mother’s Day dito po mismo sa Tanay,” Jona said, referring to her farmhouse. “Nakapag-celebrate po kami ng Mother’s Day, kasama rin po ng birthday ng kapatid ko in the same month.”
The Fearless Diva added that she also invited her mother and half-brother to spend Christmas with her last year. “’Yun po, unti-unti pong nagkakaroon talaga ng reconciliation,” she said.
When asked if she had ever confronted her mother about leaving, Jona said she hasn’t brought it up yet. “Hindi ko na po natanong. Parang okay na po ako sa idea na basta nagiging maayos na po ’yung relationship namin ngayon, nagkakasama na po kami,” she said. “Okay na po ako sa sitwasyon na ganun.”
However, she admitted that one day, when the emotions are less intense, she might find the courage to ask, “Bakit?”
“Hindi ko po masasabi na in the future baka magkaroon pa ako ng lakas ng loob na matanong kapag hindi na po masyadong bumubuhos ’yung matinding emosyon,” she reflected.
The singer also acknowledged that the path toward forgiveness was far from easy. “Hindi naman din po talaga naging madali ’yung process, ’yung healing journey, sa kabila po ng lahat ng hindi magagandang nangyari and talagang malalim po ’yung sugat na naiwan,” Jona admitted.
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Still, her desire for family unity helped her push through. “But as the years passed by, nasa puso ko po ’yung longing talaga na sana mabuo pa kami. Hindi man kami magsama-sama sa iisang bubong, but mabuo kami in a sense na harmonious po ’yung relationship naming magpamilya,” she said.
Jona credited her long-time manager, Erlina “Ate Erlina” Cruz, for helping her heal and find compassion. “Isa rin siya sa malaking susi sa healing ko at sa reconciliation with my mother,” Jona said. “Sinasabi niya sa akin na siyempre nanay mo pa rin naman talaga siya, ’di ba? She cared for you nung time na hindi pa naman nangyari ’yung mga bagay na ’yun. Inalagaan ka, ginawa nila ’yung best nila para palakihin kayo, so parang dun na rin po ako nag-hold on sa mga magagandang memories.”
The award-winning singer also shared her intention to be present for her siblings, including her half-brothers and half-sisters. “Gusto ko rin po kasing maramdaman nila na nandito pa rin ako bilang ate nila. Ayaw ko pong maramdaman nila na parang na-abandon din sila ng family member nila. I want to be there for them also,” she said.
In a previous interview on ‘Toni Talks’ with Toni Gonzaga, Jona revealed that her parents’ constant fights when she was a child eventually led to her mother’s departure—a turning point that left her withdrawn and emotionally scarred.
Despite a painful past, which also included experiences of abuse she has since spoken about, Jona said she now views forgiveness not as a one-time act but as a lifelong process.
“Forgiveness is not forgetting,” she once shared. “It’s choosing peace, again and again.”
