Miriam Quiambao says failed marriage made her suicidal

CEBU, Philippines - Four years after Miriam Quiambao's marriage to an Italian businessman disintegrated, the beauty queen-turned-actress happily reported in a TV interview that she has already moved on from that heartbreaking chapter in her life.

It will be recalled that in what could be described as a whirlwind romance, Miriam met and married Claudio Rondinelli in 2004 amid her fast-burgeoning hosting career. They lived in Hong Kong, where Rondinelli ran several restaurants, but somehow the fairytale-like love story crumbled, with Miriam claiming that she consequently suffered from bouts of depression to the point that she attempted to put an end to her life.

She told the showbiz talk show Startalk last Saturday that monetary-wise, she was well-taken care of, but financial stability can only do so much. "I could buy anything I wanted. Money cannot buy love," she said, adding that early on in her marriage, she already sensed that there was something wrong.

It has been reported that a third party caused the breakdown of their marriage, with her ex-husband admitting in a statement last year, that he has fallen for a younger woman.

But she no longer wanted to elaborate on it during the interview, only saying that the marriage left her feeling isolated and emotionally neglected. She also felt that she lost her identity and independence. "It came to a point when I was suicidal. I was very, very depressed. It was a matter of survival. It came to a point when there were voices in my head saying to kill myself. It was only the voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart telling me softly that if I killed myself, that's not love. So, I hung on to that faith knowing that it is God who is keeping me strong and helping me to survive."

Looking back, that episode of her life taught the 1999 Ms. Universe runner-up a hard lesson. "Natutunan ko na bago ka pala mag-asawa, eh dapat kilalang-kilala mo iyong papakasalan mo. Pareho kayo dapat ng values especially spiritual values."

Asked if her moving on also meant that she is ready to fall in love again, she said: "I have fallen in love. Jesus is my boyfriend."

Quiambao has already been granted divorce from her husband in 2006 by a Hong Kong court, and is currently working on the civil and church annulment of her marriage here in the Philippines.