BB Gandanghari, may prangkang reaksyon nang tanungin ukol Carmina Villaroel

Published 8 Jul 2026 at 4:45 PM

by Daniel Joseph Navalta

3 min read

BB Gandanghari opened up about her former wife Carmina Villarroel during her guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda”
The actress said Carmina will always have a special place in her heart despite the passing of time
BB also recalled how they briefly reconnected as neighbors before she eventually moved to the United States
The heartfelt remarks sparked nostalgic reactions from netizens who remembered their former relationship

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BB Gandanghari spoke candidly about her former wife, Carmina Villarroel, during Tuesday’s episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, sharing heartfelt reflections about their past and the respect she continues to have for the actress.

When asked by Boy Abunda about Carmina, BB did not hesitate to express the affection and appreciation she still carries.

“She always has that special place in my heart, I think,” BB said.

The actress also recalled that before permanently relocating to the United States, she and Carmina unexpectedly became neighbors, giving them an opportunity to reconnect after many years.

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“We saw each other in the gym and that was the time when we were able to exchange hellos,” BB shared.

She admitted that those brief encounters remained meaningful to her.

“I’ve always looked forward na makita siya ulit,” she added.

BB Gandanghari was previously known as actor Rustom Padilla, one of the country’s most popular leading men during the 1990s. During that time, Rustom married actress Carmina Villarroel, and the couple became one of Philippine showbiz’s most talked-about celebrity pairs. However, their marriage eventually ended and was later annulled.

Years later, Rustom publicly came out as gay during a nationally televised appearance, a revelation that became one of the biggest entertainment stories of its time. In 2009, she officially introduced herself as BB Gandanghari after beginning her gender transition. Since then, BB has built a new life in the United States while continuing to pursue projects in acting and content creation.

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Meanwhile, Carmina Villarroel eventually found love again with actor Zoren Legaspi. The two got married and built a family together, welcoming twins Cassy and Mavy Legaspi, who have both since entered the entertainment industry. Over the years, Carmina and Zoren have become known as one of Philippine showbiz’s most enduring celebrity couples.

Although BB and Carmina have long gone their separate ways, BB’s latest remarks suggest that she continues to remember their shared history with warmth rather than bitterness.

BB Gandanghari is a Filipino-American actress, model, and director who first rose to fame in the 1990s as Rustom Padilla, one of the country’s most recognizable leading men and a member of the prominent Padilla family. Following her public coming-out and gender transition in 2009, BB established a new life in the United States. Over the years, she also reconciled with her younger brother, actor and Senator Robin Padilla, who now openly embraces her as his sister.

Earlier, BB Gandanghari shared that she is open to returning to the Philippine entertainment industry to take part in local productions once again. She expressed hope of working with GMA Network in the future and revealed that she also wants to expand her work behind the camera as a director, producer, and creator of original film concepts. According to BB, one of her projects is already being discussed with a producer while efforts to secure funding continue.