Dina Bonnevie found joy in her blended family
Veteran actress Dina Bonnevie never anticipated becoming a stepmother, let alone having five children, but she found unexpected joy being one.
Her life took an unexpected turn in 2012 when her third marriage put her into that exact role. Dina has two biological children, Dina and Oyo Sotto, with her former husband, Vic Sotto.
While raising biological children presents its own challenges, parenting children nurtured in a different household introduces a unique set of difficulties, based on the article in Inquirer Lifestyle.
“Being a stepmother is harder, especially when they come into your life already grown-up,” Dina Bonnevie said.
She said that she didn’t know them, and she thought that they might be used to a different type of discipline or upbringing. With this, she said that she can’t just come in and impose her own.
The early days of her marriage to the late politician and agriculture secretary, DJ Savellano, required significant adjustment, especially as his teenage and young adult children processed the change.
She also thought that the kids might have been asking, “Why is she our stepmom?” Dina admitted that she had her own doubts as well.
Instead of hesitating, Bonnevie broke the ice by diving straight into their lives. She handled the groceries, cooked family meals, and bought their clothes. She attended parent-teacher meetings, and she was ready to take care of them whenever they fell ill.
“Parang ginampanan ko na ‘yong duty ko as a stepmom. I took that responsibility. Eventually, they got used to my style of discipline and guidance,” the actress shared.
What started as simple polite compliance evolved over the years into deep, genuine affection. Before long, her stepchildren completely warmed up to her, eventually trusting her enough to confide their deepest problems and heartbreaks.
“Once nakasundo mo na ang mga stepchildren mo, napakasarap ng feeling—dahil minahal ka ng tao kahit ‘di mo naman sila kadugo,” Dina said. Her stepchildren call her “Tita D,” but Dina Bonnevie did not hesitate to call them “anak.”