Updated: August 1, 2026
The headlines hit hard and fast this year: Tessa Prieto’s ex-husband gets engaged. For the Philippine socialite, columnist, and fashion force known for her bold style and even bolder honesty, the news carried extra weight. In a recent appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Tessa opened up about the end of her 26-year marriage to businessman Dennis Valdes and how his public engagement with a much younger woman stirred old wounds while delivering unexpected closure.
Their story began in the early 1990s during a scuba diving trip. They married in 1994, raised four children, and presented a high-profile union that included a lavish 25th anniversary vow renewal. By 2020 the marriage had quietly unraveled. The annulment was finalized in January 2025. What Tessa shared this week fills in the painful details she had previously kept private.
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The Real Reason the Marriage Ended
Tessa has now confirmed what many suspected. Infidelity broke the marriage. She noticed her husband spending increasing time with a particular staff member during the pandemic years. That woman rose through the ranks to become general manager of Aegle Wellness Center. Dennis initially described the relationship as platonic, yet according to Tessa he once said he wanted to “keep you and her.”
She refused. The age gap—36 years—and the fact that the woman was a friend of their children made the situation especially difficult. Tessa has also revealed that Dennis knew she identified as gay before they married and that she was already a single mother. Those facts, she said, were never the issue between them. Trust and commitment were.
The Engagement That Made Headlines
Early in 2026 the couple who once kept their relationship private began posting publicly. Photos from Maldives dives, birthday celebrations in Baguio, and everyday moments appeared on Instagram. Then came the engagement announcement and the ring. Media coverage framed the story almost exclusively through Tessa’s name: “Tessa Prieto’s ex-husband gets engaged,” “Tessa Prieto’s ex-husband’s fiancée is this.”
She described the media frenzy as shameful—not only for herself but for her late father’s memory, her mother, her children, and their extended family. What felt private suddenly became public spectacle. Still, Tessa called the engagement a form of closure. She no longer wants to reconcile. The love she retains is appreciation for the 26 years they shared and the family they built, nothing more.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ex-husband | Dennis Valdes |
| Marriage duration | 26 years (1994–annulment 2025) |
| Separation period | Began around 2020 |
| Alleged reason for split | Infidelity involving younger woman |
| Age gap with fiancée | Approximately 36 years |
| Public engagement posts | Early 2026 (Maldives, Baguio) |
| Tessa’s current status | In a new relationship; focused on family and healing |
How Tessa Is Moving Forward
Rather than stay stuck in the past, Tessa has chosen forward motion. She is now in a relationship with a woman named Irene, whom she met in church after briefly deciding she was done with dating. She has spoken about rebuilding through real estate, speaking her truth in legal matters, and prioritizing her children and grandchildren. Her message is clear: legacy is not a perfect marriage. Legacy is choosing peace, purpose, and the next chapter with intention.
Some practical takeaways from her experience stand out:
- Public relationships invite public scrutiny. Private accounts offered temporary protection, but once posts went public the narrative spun beyond anyone’s control.
- Closure can arrive in unexpected packages. An engagement that once felt like a slap can become the final page of an old story.
- Age and history do not cancel the right to start again. At 62, Tessa continues to date, create, and advocate for women navigating major life changes.
- Children remain the permanent connection. Even when co-parenting dynamics shift, the shared history of raising a family endures.
Lessons on Love, Betrayal, and Starting Over
Long marriages that end in betrayal leave complicated emotional ledgers. Tessa’s candor reminds us that knowing the full truth earlier does not always prevent pain, yet speaking the truth later can restore dignity. She refuses to be defined solely as someone’s ex-wife. Instead she frames this season as one of creation rather than reaction—building something new rather than replaying old arguments.
Her story also highlights the double standard often applied to public figures, especially women of a certain age and visibility. The media’s reflex to center her name in headlines about her former husband’s new life reveals how thoroughly personal stories can be co-opted. Tessa’s response has been to reclaim the narrative on her own terms.
Conclusion
Tessa Prieto’s reflections on her ex-husband’s engagement offer more than celebrity gossip. They provide a clear-eyed look at how a 26-year marriage can end, how public exposure can reopen wounds, and how one woman chose to treat the moment as closure rather than catastrophe. Dennis Valdes has moved on with his fiancée. Tessa has moved on with her own life, her family, her work, and a new relationship. The headlines will fade. The choice to keep living with purpose will not. In the end, that choice may be the most attractive part of the entire story.