By: Rie Realingo
“Loneliest, emptiest weeks I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Actress Maris Racal recently confirmed that she and musician Rico Blanco have ended their relationship after five years of being together.
In a video posted on Facebook by Philippine Star, Maris is seen crying while confirming the news during the Star Magic Spotlight on Friday, July 12,
“I’m so scared ‘cause if I announce it, then it’s real,” the actress initially said.
After some time, she finally dropped the bomb by saying, “Rico and I are over.”
When asked further if she wanted to share more details despite being emotional, she responded with, “It’s fresh. It’s been a few weeks. Loneliest, emptiest weeks I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
She tried to humor the people around her despite her obvious pain by saying that she tries to cope by watching Bluey, an Australian cartoon series.
Probed with more details, Maris said that there is no short answer to what happened between her and Rico, as it is “complicated”.
“Rico and I, our universe was so beautiful. It was so full of love, laughter, music— everything. […] Sa 5 years namin together, we were always on the same page, pero what happened to me is, maybe I turned to the next page, and I saw a new perspective sa life,” the actress tried to explain.
“The truth is, I am going through changes. […] I told Rico about it, I told him my problems, my issues sa buhay, and he took it like a man,” Maris vaguely remarked, talking about the reason for their end.
She mentioned how it was a very difficult task for her considering how much they love each other. Despite all of it though, she could not find herself continuing the relationship while having a lot of questions about herself unanswered.
“It was so difficult, but it was a very polite separation. Until the very end of our relationship, it was still full of love, full of understanding– and Rico is one of a kind,” the actress said while in tears.
She also clarified that her current on-screen partner, Anthony Jennings, is out of the picture and in no way connected with the said break up.
Saying in conviction, Maris stressed that the matters of their separation are strictly about her and Rico, mainly about her even, as she said.
Racal also confirmed that the interview will be the only time she will be speaking up about their breakup.
She also humbly asked the public to treat both of them, Rico and her, with love and understanding as they both grieve the loss of their relationship.
Knowing she can not control the opinion of the public, she asked the fans to not put all the hate and pressure on Rico as “he is too precious for that,” said Maris concludingly.
Maris never went into the specifics of their actual break up but confirmed that it was a mutual decision with a clean separation.
Rumors of the couple being broken up have been circulating lately, although no sources have confirmed it not until Maris’ interview, where the actress admitted it herself.
The two first confirmed their relationship in 2021, where despite their controversial age gap, fans and netizens were very receptive.
As of writing, Rico on the other hand, has not released any official statement yet.
