"O, kay bilis namang maglaho ng pag-ibig mo, sinta, daig mo pa ang isang kisapmata," goes the 1996 Rivermaya song about an ending love that feels short-lived. Originally sung by the band's then-frontman Bamboo, it was actually penned by Rico Blanco—who may or may not be living through the lyrics right about now.
Breaking up definitely isn't up there in the list of Most Fun Things To Do—especially when you're an artista whose private life is laid out for all the world to see. But it's something that they go through, albeit against their wishes. Even though they keep us in the loop with all the fun, lovey-dovey posts of their relationship, it's still a closed door when it comes to the details.
Sometimes, though, they give fans a glimpse when they announce that they've broken up. It's a peek into their universe, if you will. That's what happened when actress-musician Maris Racal, 26, tearfully announced her breakup with Rico, 51, during an interview on July 12. They first publicly confirmed that they were dating in 2021.
READ MORE: Maris Racal And Rico Blanco Have Broken Up—And We're Just As Heartbroken
A glimpse into Maris Racal and Rico Blanco's universe
"Rico and I are over. I'm so scared, I'm really scared. Ang dami kasing tanong about him and I am tired of smiling and nodding. I'm so scared because if I announce it, it's real," Maris said, with tears welling up. She also reveals that it's been the "longest, emptiest weeks [she's] ever experienced in [her] life."
I have to admit that I was hesitant to watch the clip of her interview. I'd read all about it, anyway. But I purposefully wanted to give her the faux privacy of one less person seeing her heart break live on camera. My withheld video view was all I could offer—from someone who had been through her fair share of heartbreak herself. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to talk about something so private in the public eye.
But the more I read through what she said, the stronger her message became. It wasn't just a breakup announcement—it was a bittersweet declaration of self-love. "I don't know what happened to me," Maris humbly admitted. But her maturity shone through when she continued, "Maybe I turned to the next page and saw a new perspective sa life. I had visions of who I wanted to become and how I wanted to evolve. I'm so curious about the world."
She had a lot going on in her mind and she shared them with Rico. "So yeah, I told Rico about it. My problems, my issues sa buhay and he took it like a man. It was a very difficult talk. I love him so much. I love him and he loves me..." she said, breaking into tears.
We don't know for sure (and hopefully, Maris and Rico never feel obliged to publicly share) why they broke up. But can you imagine how much you have to love yourself—and the future you've been working so hard for—to let go of a love you didn't even want to let go of in the first place? And at 26!
Can you imagine how much you have to love yourself—and the future you've been working so hard for—to let go of a love you didn't even want to let go of in the first place?
"If only I could skip through my 20s, you know. But I can't. I have to face it. I have to sit with my feelings and acknowledge my changes," Maris also said. "But the truth is, I am going through changes. Alam naman natin change is either good or bad. What I hate about change is that it's inevitable, hindi mo siya matatakasan. And wala ka nang ibang gagawin but to face it," she adds.
I don't know about you, but that's not how I would have worded my own life-altering mid-20s breakup even if I were given the grace of time (and a script). And to think Maris' well-crafted statement was impromptu. It was her brave and refreshing self-awareness that stayed with me well after the initial shock of the news wore off.
ALSO READ: Here's A *Complete* Timeline Of Maris Racal And Rico Blanco's Relationship
Maris Racal and Rico Blanco's current careers
Maris' statement about change wasn't a jaded, cup-half-empty thought. It was a realistic take on what it means to be a 20-something suddenly thrust into "real life" and everything else that comes with it—career, personal life, and all.
Maris is 26 years old now, and Rico, 51. Their 20-something age gap understandably made headlines when they first became public with their relationship. Based on their ages alone (we're not privy to their actual thoughts, obviously), we can objectively say that they're in different life stages.
They also have a lot going on with their respective careers at the moment. Maris is gradually becoming a household name, especially with her role as Irene Young Tiu in the hit Netflix series, Can't Buy Me Love. She currently also has a new movie out, entitled Marupok AF (Where Is The Lie?). As for Rico, he's set to embark on Rivermaya's reunion world tour in September.
Fleeting but real
In "Kisapmata," Rico wrote about how fleeting the love and relationship felt. But just because it ended—just because it feels transitory—doesn't mean the love wasn't there. If anything, the pain makes it even more real.
"It was very difficult but it was a very polite separation. Until the very end of our relationship, it was still full of love and full of understanding. Rico is one of a kind," Maris shared.
Up till the end, she stayed true to their partnership, even if they weren't together anymore. "Please don't direct your hate on Rico, because he's too precious for that," she pleaded to the public. "If you guys wanna throw some punches, I'm ready to take them," she declared.
Rico, on his end, turned off the comments on his Instagram account. Fans had flooded his most recent posts and his posts with Maris, looking for answers.
We can thank the stars—in this case, Maris and Rico—all we want, but to witness their love story end as purely as it did, we might as well be the lucky ones.
READ MORE: The Internet Is Also *Going Through It* On Rico Blanco’s Instagram
In the world of showbiz, we often see celebrities and personalities throw each other under the bus even when we once saw them professing their love for one another. Hell, we see that even with everyday, not-famous people. But here we see two mature adults—with fully formed frontal lobes, as the memes say—handling a breakup like the grown-ups that they undoubtedly are.
We can thank the stars—in this case, Maris and Rico—all we want, but to witness their love story end as purely as it did, we might as well be the lucky ones.
