A post shared by Jodi Sta.Maria (@jodistamaria) on Jul 21, 2017 at 1:58am PDT

MANILA – Before Jodi Sta. Maria and Iwa Moto became good friends, the two actresses were embroiled in controversy.

It started in 2012 after Moto accused Sta. Maria in a television interview of having an affair with her former boyfriend, Mike Ablan, while the actress was still married to Pampi Lacson.

Moto met with Lacson to confront him about Sta. Maria’s alleged affair until they eventually became a couple. Moto, at the time, also reiterated that she did not cause the separation of Sta. Maria and Lacson.

It was only in 2013 that Moto and Sta. Maria reconciled when the Kapamilya actress reached out to Moto after she gave birth to her daughter with Lacson.

Today, the Kapamilya actress is thankful for her unexpected friendship with Moto.

“It all started a few years back when she had just given birth to Mimi. And ayun, I reached out to her and congratulated her for their new baby, and I just sent a little something din,” she told entertainment site PEP.

Sta. Maria is also grateful that Moto has a good relationship with her son Thirdy.

“Alam mo, siguro there’s no greater feeling na malaman mo na 'yung anak mo, minamahal siya. 'Yun nga ang sinasabi namin kay Thirdy. Hindi man nag-work out 'yung sa amin ng daddy niya, pero 'yung little family namin, 'yung blended family namin, ‘di ba parang mas dumami pa 'yung mga taong nagmamahal sa kanya?” she said.

Sta. Maria said she’s comforted to know that Moto stands as Thirdy’s second mom whenever he spends time with his dad.

With how things are going in her personal and professional life, Sta. Maria is certain that everything happens for a good reason.

“Masasabi ko lang na parang every year din naman has been good and the Lord has been good to me and to my family. Ang masasabi ko lang, hindi man naging madali yung journey ng life, pero ano ba talaga ang madali, ‘di ba?” she said.

“Kumbaga, may mga times din naman talaga na we go through troubles and hardships, and at the end of the day, what we go through, it will always be for the good. Because you know, we all know that the Lord is with us.”