Imagine scrolling through Instagram and seeing someone get slapped in the face with actual bundles of cash. That was Ellen Adarna's feed this week, and of course the comments section went wild.
.jpg "Ellen Adarna in sunglasses holding bundles of cash in her Instagram reel")
Photo: Instagram / @maria.elena.adarnaIn the reel, Ellen is in oval sunglasses, dead serious, while cash bundles tap her cheek. She asked her followers to give her the most unhinged caption they could think of. Iconic, very Ellen.
Is Ellen Adarna dating someone new?
One follower saw all that money and went straight to "Bf reveal!" Ellen shut it down fast. In her reply, she said the cash was JL's monthly sustento for his son and that she just turned it into playtime. Then she added:
Wala akong boyfriend noh! Pls lang hahahahah
So no, there is no new man. Just a mom, a camera, and a very fun way to show that the father of her child pays up.
.jpg "Ellen Adarna comment saying the cash is John Lloyd Cruz's monthly support and she has no boyfriend")
Screenshot: Instagram / @maria.elena.adarnaHow much does John Lloyd Cruz give for Elias?
Ellen did not post an exact amount this time. She has shared before that she only asked John Lloyd for a modest monthly amount, and that he chose to give double what she asked for. Ellen and John Lloyd have been co-parenting Elias since they split in 2019, and she has spoken well of him as a dad more than once.
Was her credit card comment a jab at Derek Ramsay?
Here's where it gets spicy. Another netizen joked that this is how you slap someone with CASH, not a credit card. Ellen laughed and replied that a card with a limit isn't even enough for a kid, then signed off with "buti nalang strong independent guraloo tayoooo lol."
Some netizens were quick to connect this to Ellen's back and forth earlier this year with showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin, over claims that her estranged husband Derek Ramsay is a good provider. At the time, Ellen talked about a credit card with a limit. To be clear, Ellen did not name anyone in her latest reply. The dots were connected by the comments section, not by her.
Why moms online are loving this
Let's be real. A lot of Filipino moms have to chase, beg, or even go to court just to get sustento. So seeing a dad who sends the money on time, and even more than what was asked, hits a nerve. Ellen's post is funny, but the message underneath is simple: this is what showing up for your kid looks like.
Would you flex your ex's child support online like this, or keep it private? Tell us in the comments.
Quick answers
Does Ellen Adarna have a new boyfriend?
No. In her own Instagram comment, Ellen said she has no boyfriend and that the cash in her video was child support, not a gift from a new man.
What was the cash in Ellen Adarna's video?
Ellen said it was the monthly child support John Lloyd Cruz gives for their son Elias. She turned it into a playful video.
Are Ellen Adarna and John Lloyd Cruz on good terms?
Yes, from what Ellen has shared publicly. They have co-parented Elias since their 2019 split, and Ellen has praised John Lloyd as a father.
Updated September 16, 2026. Sources and photo credits: Instagram: @maria.elena.adarna | Fashion Pulis | Philstar | GMA News. All photos belong to their respective owners.