In every family in the public eye, there are stories hidden behind smiles and the spotlight.
One such story is that of an actress from a colorful and controversial clan, and a comedian loved by the nation — Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla. Two well-known personalities brought together by love, yet later separated by wounds too deep for time to heal.

But what’s even more painful is that it wasn’t just the two of them who were affected by the conflict. Their children — Julia, Claudia, and Leon — were dragged into the feud. They were forced to choose sides, remain silent, and carry the burden of a conflict they did not start.

But what truly caused the breakup of Marjorie and Dennis Padilla?
Here is their story.

Dennis Padilla, born Dennis Esteban Domínguez Baldivia, is a comedian and actor. Marjorie Barretto, on the other hand, is an actress from the prominent Barretto family. They became a couple in the mid-1990s and got married in 1997.

They had three children together: Julia, born in 1997; Claudia in 1999; and Leon in 2003. Additionally, Marjorie had a daughter, Dani (or Daniela), from a previous relationship with Kier Legaspi. Dennis had also taken on the role of a father to Dani during their marriage.

Marjorie and Dennis were married for more than 10 years. They were also involved in local politics — Dennis once served as a councilor in Caloocan, while Marjorie was elected councilor of Caloocan’s second district in 2007.

During their marriage, they went through many struggles as a couple. Reports say they experienced hardships, especially when Dennis lost his job on television. Tensions also arose within Marjorie’s family, such as the public feud between her sisters Gretchen and Claudine Barretto. But Marjorie remained silent about it during her political campaign.

Despite all this, Dennis and Marjorie stayed together until their relationship reached a breaking point around 2007.
During her 2007 campaign for councilor, Marjorie shared that Dennis had a hard time adjusting to her political life. He would reportedly call her constantly to check on her — possibly out of jealousy or lack of trust while she was busy with her campaign.

Just days before the May 2007 elections, rumors spread that Marjorie was romantically involved with another politician — then-incumbent Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri. Many believed this was a smear campaign aimed at destroying her during the election period.

Marjorie firmly denied the allegations, saying:

“There is no third party. Actually, the black propaganda is not for me. It was for Mayor Echiverri. I only met him two months ago. Give me a break.”

Dennis also denied the rumors, stating they were fabricated by political opponents.

Unbeknownst to the public, tensions had already escalated. On May 23, 2007 — the day Marjorie’s election victory was announced — Dennis left their home and stayed in Marjorie’s campaign headquarters apartment.

A few days later, they confirmed their separation. On May 25, 2007, the couple announced they were undergoing a trial separation. In an article by entertainment columnist Ricky Lo in The Philippine Star, it was revealed that Dennis and Marjorie faced him together and discussed their situation.

Though they initially joked around during the interview, they became serious when talking about the separation. Dennis took full responsibility, admitting that the blame lay with him. Marjorie, for her part, said she requested time and space to sort out her thoughts.

Both of them denied that a third party caused the breakup.

They refrained from discussing specific reasons, hoping for reconciliation. Marjorie said:

“It’s not as bad as people think. It’s not the end of our world.”

However, in Dennis’s 2007 interview on The Buzz, he admitted he had wronged Marjorie many times — including failing in his responsibilities and adding stress to their relationship during her campaign.

Years later, in 2021, Marjorie finally opened up in an interview with Toni Gonzaga. She shared that she was surprised when Dennis admitted in Julia’s interview that he was at fault for the breakup. She had long known that Dennis’s temper was a major cause of their fights.

She saw herself as a good wife who stayed despite the difficulties and gave Dennis many chances. That’s why she felt hurt that Dennis seemed to forget her sacrifices — and even failed to spend enough time with their kids when they were still together.

Eventually, Marjorie decided to legally end their marriage. On June 13, 2007, just weeks after announcing their trial separation, she filed for annulment at the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. The annulment was granted in 2009.

Afterward, both went their separate ways. Marjorie focused on raising her children and served as councilor until 2013. She later had another child in the early 2010s with former Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri — the same politician she was once rumored to be involved with.

Dennis continued his career in comedy and acting. Despite the separation, both retained their rights and duties as parents. But their split deeply affected Dennis’s relationship with his children.

At first, they agreed to co-parent peacefully and explained the situation to their children. However, as the kids grew older, complications emerged — including the use of surnames. Julia, whose legal surname is Baldivia, began using “Barretto” professionally and petitioned to have her surname legally changed, sparking tension with Dennis.

In December 2014, it was reported that Julia ignored her father at a Christmas party at ABS-CBN, which hurt Dennis deeply. Still, in February 2015, Julia personally invited her father to her debut. He attended, and they shared an emotional reunion.

Yet conflicts resurfaced. Dennis frequently posted online about feeling forgotten on Father’s Day or birthdays. In 2022, he admitted he was tired of chasing his children’s affection and felt like a guest in their lives — even at important events like weddings.

These wounds from the 2007 breakup have taken years to heal. While their relationship remains strained, Marjorie has grown even closer to their children, being a hands-on single mom. Meanwhile, Dennis continues to try to maintain ties with them despite limited time together.

This story is not only about why Dennis and Marjorie broke up — but also about the challenges and lessons of co-parenting after a painful separation. The information here is based on interviews, official statements, and credible reports from both sides.