Last month, Eric "Eruption" Tai celebrated his 10th anniversary with his wife Rona Tai with a post on social media talking about their inspiring weight-loss journey as a couple. In a subsequent post, the brawny actor and streamer dedicated another loving post to his wife, this time highlighting how much in awe he is of her resilience and inner strength after going through sports surgeries, multiple miscarriages, and life-threatening childbirth.
READ: EXCLUSIVE: Eric Tai reacts to those who body shamed his wife Rona: ‘Forgive and forget’
Along with photos of his wife and himself through the years, Eric wrote, “'Ang taba mo na.’
"‘Yan pala misis niya, parang yobab?’
"‘Isama mo sa gym ang asawa mo.’
"Bago ka manghusga sa katawan ng isang tao, lalo na kapag mataba sila o nagbago ang itsura nila… tanungin mo muna sarili mo: alam mo ba ang buong kwento nila?
"This is my wife, Rona.
"What they don’t see is that she’s had 4 knee surgeries due to a snow boarding accident and the docs said she’ll never be able to run again. She’s been through two miscarriages one year after the other. She carried life inside her twice and only to feel that life slip away. We lost not just pregnancies, we lost hopes, dreams, and parts of ourselves. It was a huge struggle for us together mentally, physically and emotionally back then because the doctors informed us that she will never get pregnant again due to losing both fallopian tubes and an ovary.”
In the same post, the former It's Showtime host also looked back on 2019 when they welcomed their son Legend who was conceived via IVF or In-Vitro Fertilization. “Fast forward 4 years, a revelation occurred. Our awesome son Legend arrived. He was a one-shot IVF miracle baby. We really had only one chance, one shot and one answered prayer. But even then, it wasn’t easy. During childbirth, Rona almost died due to some unforeseen complications.
"I almost lost my wife on the very day we became parents and that kind of trauma doesn’t just go away. We were so blessed indeed despite everything that has happened, God speed.
"So people expect her to 'bounce back.' But how do you bounce back from near death? From two devastating losses before that?
"From postpartum pain, PTSD, hormonal imbalance, anxiety and depression?
"And on top of it all… We lost our three dogs, Lilo, Tyger, and Nalah, our family, our fur babies, one after the other. Year after year since 2022-2024. All passed by the ages 10 to 11 yrs and that kind of grief stays with you.
"So yes, her body changed.
"Because her life changed.
"Because her heart broke again and again, while she kept showing up, surviving, loving, and mothering. Hindi siya tamad. Hindi siya pabaya. She was surviving..”
READ: Eric and Rona Tai share marriage advice for newly engaged Anne Curtis
Aside from showing his followers his wife’s fitness journey, Eric also made sure to remind netizens to be kind with their words online, especially when it comes to other people’s bodies.
“You may see extra weight, but I see extraordinary strength. And now that she’s healing, slowly finding herself again… People begin to say, ‘Wow, you look great now!’
"And fact check: with our yearly doctors check up results, Rona has a healthier heart and blood works than me!
"So let me say this, before you comment on someone’s body, remember: their story might be heavier than their weight!
"Behind every body is a journey.
"Behind every scar is a survival.
"Behind my wife’s strength is a woman who’s lost more than most… and still kept going.
"Remember for some, it may take weeks, months or years for them to bounce back. And as husbands, family and friends, we have to be more understanding, supportive and patient. Not just say it, show it and eventually their time will come. Have Faith.
"So let’s be kinder. Let’s be more considerate of others. Let’s stop judging what we don’t understand and choose to see beyond what’s visible.
"Because true beauty and love is not just how someone looks, it’s what they’ve overcome!!”
READ: EXCLUSIVE: Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai now earns more money through Facebook streaming
In a previous interview with PUSH ABS-CBN, Eric shared the secret of his strong marriage to Rona. “You got to always be considerate of the other person and push forward together and that’s the only way. I learned how patient she is and how God-fearing she is. She was always giving credit to the Heavenly Father and that’s one thing that I’ve always cherished in a woman and I found it in her.”