Celebrity socialite Tessa Prieto has moved forward after her separation from businessman Dennis Valdes, her husband of 26 years.
It can be recalled that Tessa's breakup erupted on PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) back in August 2022.
March 2023 marks the second anniversary since the former couple made the decision to end their relationship.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph on February 17, 2023, Tessa talked about her journey and the prospect of falling in love again.
She said, "Officially, next month, two years. I'm so happy. I've already come to terms with everything. I'm so excited for new love.
"And again, I spent a year of therapy. But this year talaga, let go, let God.
"And I'm also into self-love, and I have a new grandchild. So I realized, one member left, but I have a new one.
"And in the end, it's really prioritizing what your purpose is in life."
PEP.ph caught up with Tessa at grand launch of Blue Water Day Spa, where she was invited as the event's host.
NO REGRETS
Tessa took her time going through the process of healing and recovering from the "very painful" experience.
More importantly, she's moving on with no regrets knowing that she had exerted all efforts to make their marriage work.
"I did all. My main concern was I did fight for my marriage. I did all and exhausted all measures to make the marriage work and fix.
"But like I say, it's a two-way street. It takes two people to make a marriage work. I did my share."
Tessa continued, "I don't want to say later on, 'Did I lack? Did I give all the effort?' I super did. I'm so competitive.
"So I wanted to make sure I gave it all.
"I think two years is good enough, and I'm ready to find, not find new love. I'm ready to just enjoy the adventure."
When asked if there was a particular moment when she realized she had finally moved on, Tessa replied, "It wasn't a specific time or situation or incident. It's a collection of experiences. And time has been my friend.
"I feel, you know, you can't fasttrack kasi healing, e. You have to go through it—the pain, betrayal, the sorrow, the loneliness. What else? Lahat na."
Tessa disclosed that she had attempted various therapies to help her move on and move forward.
"Throughout the journey, I've discovered new forms of therapy. Like I said, retail therapy and whatever.
"And you know, family, love, support, your friends, you value them more so you spend more time with them.
"I am now that master of my own time."
Read: Carla Abellana ponders on how she faced "broken and shattered version of myself"
THE NEW CHAPTER OF TESSA'S LIFE
Tessa is ready to write new chapters of her life and confront new challenges.
On the side, Tessa is preoccupied with work starting with her charity project, the Red Charity Gala for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross.
"I feel that I, now, am eager to go back into my digital world, and I wanna start by saying that I'm already officially opening the Red Charity Gala for Red Cross.
"And, you know, I really want to promote Philippine fashion because the pandemic really killed everything.
"And so, with this new chapter, I said, 'Why is it we stick to one book?' So it's my new book, the chapters are still being written.
"I don't know the ending, but I'm so excited that [I am looking at] not even the yellow brick road. It's a rainbow of roads and options."
Add to this is her new role as grandma to her grandchild, Baby Naiara Noah, the daughter of Tessa's son Bryan Prieto with his wife Tinkay Crespo.
"Kaka-ano lang ng first apo na babae. I already have one so she's the second one. The first one is a boy.
"I'm excited to dress her up. She's only ilang days old, Feb. 11!
"She's a very... for me the timing of her birth was really... maybe if you ask me, what changed? It's the addition of love in the family."
"COUGAR LOVE"
The essential insight she gained from her journey of healing was that she does not need a man to fill the void left by her former husband.
But she is not shunning any romantic opportunity that may come her way.
"I'm really excited also because I realized that I didn't have to settle.
"I have tried relationships. I thought I needed another person to fill up a void. But no person would fill up what I had of 26 wonderful married years.
"I realized I'm a whole person. If ever there's a person that comes, we're generating in wholeness, di ba?
"And I only realized that because I've become more prayerful, more meditative."
The socialite, however, jokingly said she is "looking for my cougar love."
On a serious note, Tessa said she's open to the idea of dating men who are younger than her.
"Yes I am! Why not?" Tessa told PEP.ph.
She further explained, "I mean I think like age is relative. If a person comes into my life that... I'm not gonna ask how old you are or anything. That's not even relevant.
"I think you fall in love with the person because of their being not of their age, or gender, or anything."
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