RACHELLE SIAZON, DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR
Year 2024 has barely started and yet here we are reporting Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones joining the string of celebrity couples who parted ways of late.
Read: CONFIRMED: Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones have been separated since 2019
It was the couple's ninong Rico Ocampo, owner of i2i eyewear, who confirmed the news via a statement released in ABS-CBN News on January 29, 2024.
Three things struck me from what was said of Jericho and Kim's breakup: That they called it quits since 2019, that it was a "mutual decision," and that it was "an amicable separation dealt with grace and maturity by both parties."
Wow. That they can remain the best of friends despite a failed marriage really spoke volumes of what could have only been a herculean effort to save, if not their vows to a lifetime commitment, then a love borne out of respect for the other person.
In their case, they even managed to keep their separation under wraps for roughly five years!
And yet, I imagine that the journey to get to that point where they stayed friends must have been nothing less than heartbreaking.
This is what interests me on a personal standpoint. Can you still be friends with an ex? If not, why? If yes, I am curious, what could be the factors that would make it easier to keep the friendship intact after a breakup? Would you wait awhile or can you be a cool ex right after a heartbreak?
Full disclosure, all of us writing in this OPINION column are still single. At definitely, kung hindi pa kasal, mas madali mag-goodbye, mas madali mag-detach, mas mabilis-bilis alagaan ang sanity.
Hindi kami magpapanggap na alam na namin ang hirap at sakit ng separation ng married people.
Read: Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones: A relationship timeline
KHRYZZTINE BAYLON, NEWS AND GUIDE WRITER
Wala yatang tama o maling sagot sa tanong na ito dahil magkakaibang experience at hindi naman natin alam kung anu-ano ang pinagdadaanan ng dating magkarelasyon kung kaya't nauwi sa hiwalayan ang kanilang dating masayang pagmamahalan.
But for me, if a breakup is characterized by mutual respect, clear communication, and a shared desire for personal growth, it might be possible for two people to transition into a friendship.
However, this is not often the case.
Emotional wounds, lingering feelings, or unaddressed issues can complicate attempts at friendship.
Ganunpaman, kung maayos naman ang inyong pagkakahiwalay, may closure, napag-usapan, at nagkapatawaran, why not?
Personally, I'm okay with having a civil relationship with my past romance, but us being best friends or close friends again is a big no-no for me.
You can still be friends with your ex but always know to set boundaries. Both individuals should be clear about their expectations and feelings to avoid misunderstandings that may lead to further complications.
Read: Jericho Rosales tags ex-girlfriend Heart Evangelista; says sorry for this reason
ARNIEL SERATO, LEAD CORRESPONDENT
Kapag hiwalay, hiwalay na.
There's no turning back na.
Bitaw na kung bitaw. Walang hiwalayang masaya. Laging kalungkutan ang dala nito.
Speaking from experience, emotional ako lagi sa ganyan.
Kasi wagas ako magmahal, buhos na buhos, bigay na bigay.
Kahit sinasabi nilang magtira ng ilang porsiyento sa sarili mo para hindi ka labis masaktan kapag mauwi sa hiwalayan, iba ako.
Halos isusubo ko na lang, tinitira ko pa para sa kanya.
Dumating sa puntong walang-wala ka na pero pinipilit kong humanap ng paraan para magkaroon.
Sa usapin nina Jericho at Kim, baka may mga iba silang napagkasunduang sila lang ang nakakaalam.
Hindi ko sila masisisi kasi sila naman ang may hawak ng kanilang puso at nararamdaman.
Baka nagkasawaan na rin talaga sila at napagkasunduan na lang na manatiling magkaibigan kahit landas nila ay bumabagtas na sa ibang direksiyon.
Pero, ako—block, delete, forget!
Move on and move forward.
Read: Jericho Rosales and the ladies he's been romantically linked with over the years
FK BRAVO, LIFESTYLE WRITER
Mutual breakups set the most ideal setup in keeping the friendship intact. For one, it takes civility and maturity to recognize that the best move for both parties is to grow apart. If both individuals fully accept this, then developing a friendship after being exes is not an impossible feat.
In my experience, a relationship founded on respect makes it easy to entertain the idea of preserving the friendship. Many co-parents have even fostered better relationships as friends than they did as a romantic couple.
I suppose friendship with an ex only becomes tricky when a dumper-dumpee dynamic comes into play.
There’s the feeling of guilt on the dumper’s part, and there’s the sense of longing on the part of the dumpee.
If no boundaries are set in place, the line between love interest and platonic friend could quickly go south.
Read: Jericho Rosales no comment on rumor that he and wife Kim Jones have already broken up
rachelle
With showbiz couples who became friends after a breakup, we've seen the likes of Pops Fernandez and Martin Nievera, Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano, or even Jodi Sta. Maria and Pampi Lacson—all of whom had controversial breakups, but later managed to have a co-parenting setup and even became friends.
Read: Iwa Moto shows blended family with Jodi Sta. Maria on New Year's Eve
It took some time before Martin-Pops, Sunshine-Cesar, and Jodi-Pampi became friends again, pero na-achieve rin naman nila. Blended family pa!
I guess, with married couples, there is really more at stake.
Kung hindi man kapakanan ng anak ang isinaalang-alang, parang ayaw mo rin naman siguro maging stranger yung person na akala mo ay "#forever" mo na sana.
Naalala ko tuloy si Kathryn Bernardo na nag-unfollow sa ex-boyfriend na si Daniel Padilla. I find that there's really nothing wrong with unfollowing an ex on social media. It's just a sign of setting boundaries especially when you know that it will help you move on easier. Out of sight, out of mind.
Read: Kathryn Bernardo unfollows ex-boyfriend Daniel Padilla on Instagram
Ang hirap kaya maging cool ex-girlfriend. Yung magpanggap ka na okay ka kahit nasasaktan ka pa pala. Siyempre, unahin mo muna ang personal healing journey. And then later on, facing an ex wouldn't be a big deal anymore once you've accepted that you are really better off without the other person.
Magbalikan man o hindi, ang mahalaga ay matuto sa experience at maging better version of yourself.
Read: Kathryn Bernardo confirms breakup with Daniel Padilla
