Ayen Munji | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Fast Talk
Filipina actress and singer Ayen Munji recently reflected on her previous life as a Brunei princess, describing the experience as “difficult” despite its perceived glamour.
Munji, who was previously married to Jefri Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei, remarked that her life as part of Brunei’s royal circle was a “different world” after she was asked during her recent guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” why she has turned her back on it.
“Akala nu’ng iba parang, ‘Ang saya-saya na ng buhay mo, bakit ka pa umalis? Why did you turn your back?’ Of course, marami nang istorya. Nakakatawa kasi minsan ‘pag nababasa ko, parang iba-iba kasi they’re making it sound as if parang ‘You had it easy na, bakit ka pa-?’ So what I mean is, it’s difficult,” she explained.
(Others thought it was like, ‘Your life is so fun, why did you leave? Why did you turn your back?’ Of course, there are many stories. It’s funny because sometimes when I read it, they have it all wrong, because they’re making it sound as if it’s like, ‘You had it easy; why did you decide to leave?’)
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Munji underscored that if she were to make a comparison, she wouldn’t trade her life now for her life before.
“Comparing my life now, hindi ko ipagpapalit ‘yung buhay ko ngayon. Kasi siguro kumpleto ‘yung pamilya ko and meron akong asawa na present sa buhay ko (Comparing my life now, I wouldn’t trade my life now. Maybe because my family is complete and I have a husband who is present in my life). I guess that makes the difference,” she said.
Munji and Bolkiah got married in 1995 before their divorce in 2002. They share one son named Hasan. The actress is now married to actor-singer Franco Laurel, with whom she shares five children.
Munji made her acting debut through a supporting role in the Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann starrer 2009 drama romance series “Rosalinda.” She then made her acting breakthrough as Hara Lingayan in the historical series “Amaya,” headlined by Marian Rivera.
She appeared in other series, including “Hiram Na Puso,” the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean TV series “Temptation of Wife,” and “Start Up.” She is currently part of the ensemble of the 2025 drama series “Prinsesa ng City Jail.”