The two actresses are both raising the cutest celebrity toddlers atm!

PHOTO: Instagram/superjanella, Inastagram/elissejosonn

Marriage is a beautiful thing for most couples, but let’s admit it—it’s not for everybody. Fellow actresses and mothers, Janella Salvador and Elisse Joson, both agree.

These millennial moms sat down in an interview released this December 2024 to talk about their thoughts on relationships, careers, and pretty much everything about their journey with motherhood. One of the highlights of their interview was their take on marriage. When asked if marriage is vital in honing a healthy environment for their kids, the two emphasized their stand on the matter.

Janella underscored that her take might be controversial for some, but she did not mince her words when she said that having a baby with someone does not mean you have to automatically “tie yourself with someone forever.” While she sees marriage as an ideal thing to do, the 26-year-old mother believes that one has to be prepared to face marriage for life, citing that in some instances relationships turn sour if one is not fully ready to settle down.

“This is a very, very touchy topic, and it can be controversial also. I believe marriage is not a bad thing. It is ideal when you have a family; it is ideal to be married so that your kids grow up in a complete family…” she began telling in the interview.

Janella continued, “But it’s just that it does not work out for some, and that’s the reality of it. I am against those who force or like impose, ‘You guys are gonna have a baby, you have to get married.’ I don’t know. I don’t think it is right.”

Instagram/superjanella

She noted that having a baby with someone who’s not your husband doesn’t mean that your life is over. Besides, in a sense, co-parenting can work for her—and it doesn’t make anyone less of a parent.

As she emphasized, “I think marriage is for those who want to spend the rest of their lives together […] You can still be good parents. You can still raise a child responsibly. I believe if you really want to do something, then it is possible. So, if you are responsible enough to bring this child into the world and raise this child, marriage is not essential. […] So don’t settle if you are not ready.”

Elisse echoes Janella’s thoughts in her response to the question. For her, it’s all about being ready and seeing building not just a family, but your whole life with your partner. If not, then it is better not to commit to marriage and that’s totally okay—and that’s also coming from her who grew up in a broken family.

She admitted, “Ang dream and ang goal is to be in a complete family. When I had Felize, I learned that it’s not as black and white as that. Hindi ibig sabihin na meron na kayong anak, you have to be married. Unless you see each other as husband and wife; unless you choose and you feel that that’s gonna work out for you, go for it. I’m all for it.”

With all of that said, though, Elisse is not closing her doors on her marriage, and she’s also not pressured to do it in her life. “I still want to be married in the future; if not, okay, lang din. Parang ang main focus ngayon is if your partner is being a good dad, then that’s good. As long as you’re in a safe and healthy environment, that’s what’s important,” Elisse stated.

Instagram/elissejosonn

Janella Salvador and Elisse Joson’s motherhood

Janella and Elisse are both raising toddlers. Janella got pregnant with her son Jude in 2020, and Elisse announced her pregnancy with her daughter Felize the following year. At the time, the two were in steady relationships with their partners—Janella with Markus Paterson and Elisse with McCoy de Leon.

They noted in the same December interview with Modern Parenting PH that despite discovering their pregnancies at the peak of their careers, they were more scared and more worried about telling their mothers at the time. As they noted, they both were raised by moms with strong personalities. So, it was a struggle to break the news to their moms. But as most moms would do, Janella and Elisse’s moms, Jenine Desiderio and Christine Joson-Duico, have supported them in their respective journeys to motherhood.

It wasn’t an easy thing to juggle motherhood, their career comebacks, and well… their relationships with their baby daddies. In September 2022, Janella confirmed her split from Markus. It took a while before the two were seen having a good co-parenting setup in public.

As for Elisse, well, she is still with McCoy despite some cheating allegations (on McCoy’s part) that occurred in the past. The two reportedly took a break sometime in early 2023. Months later, they appeared to have gotten back on good terms leading to an apparently good relationship as of writing.

Back in June 2024, Elisse dedicated a lengthy post for McCoy, claiming in public that McCoy has always been protecting her, and that he is taking the blame for her. “Not everyone will understand… Hindi nakikita ng lahat na sinasabayan mo ‘ko sa lahat ng trip ko, na pinag-iisa mo ang ating dalawang mundo, na inaaral mo ako, na nag-a-adjust ka at nagbabago araw-araw, […] na ako ay pinoprotektahan mo hanggang huli, na tayo nagkakamali, na ikaw ay nagkamali, na AKO ay nagkamali,” she wrote on her social media accounts.

Instagram/elissejosonn

Her post came four months after she admitted why she’s not yet married to the actor. Elisse declared in a February 2024 interview, “Ang hirap madaliin ang kasal and the foundation is rocky. ‘Wag na muna po, we’re busy building the life of our dreams, tulad ng bahay… We’ll get there, last year we want to be quiet about our family and relationship because we want to make it stronger.”