Naiintindihan at suportado ni Inigo Pascual ang naging desisyon ng former loveteam partner niyang si Maris Racal na makipaghiwalay sa longtime boyfriend nitong si Rico Blanco.
Noong July 12, 2024, isinapubliko ni Maris ang malungkot na kinahantungan ng limang taong relasyon nila ni Rico.
Hindi direktang sinabi ni Maris ang dahilan ng kanilang breakup ngunit may mga binanggit siya tungkol sa mga desisyong gusto niyang tahakin sa buhay, na maaaring dahilan ng kanilang hiwalayan.
Read: Maris Racal confirms breakup with Rico Blanco
Halos isang linggo makaraang isapubliko ng actress-singer ang breakup nila ni Rico ay nakapanayam ng ilang entertainment press ang dating onscreen partner ni Maris na si Inigo.
Dito ay nahingan siya ng reaksiyon sa pagsubok na pinagdaraanan ni Maris.
Ayon kay Inigo, napanood niya ang video clip ng pag-iyak ni Maris nang ibahagi nito sa publiko na wala na sila ni Rico.
Alam at ramdam daw niya kung gaano ito kasakit para kay Maris.
Ngunit anuman daw ang rason nito ay naiintindihan ni Inigo dahil sa huli ay mas pinili pa rin ng aktres ang kanyang sarili.
Pahayag ni Inigo sa entertainment press (ayon sa report ng TV Patrol noong July 18): "I saw it. I actually watched it.
"I feel for her. I know it’s tough, but I see it in a good light.
"The way she talks about it, she’s getting to know herself and she’s choosing herself. It’s something that I’m very proud of her.
"It’s always hard to turn a page and chapter, but it’s out of a good heart."
Proud din daw si Inigo kay Maris sa pagiging totoo at pagmamahal nito sa sarili na kayang isakripisyo ang lahat alang-alang sa kanyang sariling kapakanan.
Saad ng actor-singer, "Walang masamang nangyari. It’s out of a good intention.
"Her expressing that it’s not a third party and anything else, it’s her, and it’s something only the strongest people can do.
"Minsan, mas mahirap piliin ang sarili mo kaysa sa mga bagay na gusto mo."
Sa huli, may mensaheng iniwan si Inigo kay Maris.
Bagamat matagal na raw silang walang komunikasyon, alam niyang kakayaning lagpasan ni Maris ang lungkot at sakit na nararamdaman nito ngayon dahil sa paghihiwalay nila ni Rico.
Ani Inigo, "I’m proud of her… I wanna tell her that I’m happy for her and that she’s choosing to be strong for herself. Hindi madali yon.
"Sometimes, you get blinded by the things you want and the things you’re comfortable with.
"Me, moving to the States, I feel like it’s a parallel situation.
"It’s not the ideal move for me but when you choose to learn about yourself, it’s a big step."
PAST ROMANTIC INVOLVEMENT OF MARIS AND INIGO
Ang alam ng marami ay nagkaroon ng relasyon sina Maris at Inigo, kahit wala naman silang direktang pag-amin.
Sina Maris at Inigo ay nakilala sa bakuran ng ABS-CBN.
Naging love team sila at madalas na nagpe-perform noon nang magkasama.
Dahil sa kanilang nakakakilig na chemistry ay nabuo ang tambalan nilang MarNigo.
Nagkatambal sila sa mga pelikula gaya ng I’m Ellenya L (2019) at Boyette: Not a Girl Yet (2020).
Sa kabila ng pag-uugnay sa kanila noon, hindi kinumpirma ng dalawa kung nagkaroon sila ng relasyon.
Pero sa panayam ni Maris sa Tonight with Boy Abunda noong June 2019, ibinunyag niyang higit pa sa magkaibigan ang turingan nila ni Inigo at totoong minahal nila ang isa’t isa.
Lahad niya, “Basta nag-stay lang kami sa more than friends."
Read: Maris Racal admits she fell in love with Iñigo Pascual; explains why they never became a couple
Kinumpirma rin ni Maris na Inigo “broke her heart,” pero naging “okay” rin naman sila sa paghihiwalay ng landas.
“We didn’t have time to really go out because of work. I guess minahal naman namin ang isa’t isa.”
Read: Did Inigo Pascual really break Maris Racal's heart?
Napagtanto raw kasi nilang magkaiba sila ng gusto at tinatahak na landas.
“Siguro, like may changes na lang over one year, kasi this time last year, loveteam, dami namin ganap together.
“Ngayon kasi, iba-iba kami ng gusto. Iba yung gusto niya, iba ang gusto ko, let’s just accept this,” saad noon ni Maris.
Read: Maris Racal on parting ways with Inigo Pascual: "Iba ang gusto namin, career-wise."
MARIS-RICO BREAKUP
Samantala, pagdating sa hiwalayang Maris at Rico, sinabi ni Maris na bagamat masaya, nagmamahalan, at kuntento naman sila sa isa't isa, dumating daw sa puntong nagbago ang kanyang gusto at prayoridad, bagay na agad niyang sinabi kay Rico.
Read: Maris Racal reveals how she and Rico Blanco settle misunderstandings
Emosyunal na pahayag ni Maris: "Rico and I, our universe was so beautiful. It was full of love, laughter, music, everything.
"Sa five years namin together, we were always on the same page.
"I don't know what happened to me. Maybe I turned to the next page and saw a new perspective sa life. I had visions of who I want to become, and how I want to evolve.
"I'm so curious about the world and the truth is, I am going through changes.
"And alam naman natin yung change is either good or bad. But what I hate about change is it's inevitable.
"Hindi mo siya matatakasan. Wala ka nang puwedeng ibang gawin but to confront it and face it.
"So, yeah, I told Rico about it. I told him my problems and my issues.
"And he took it like a man. He took it like a man."
Read: Is Maris Racal ready to tie the knot with Rico Blanco?
Nang masinsinang makapag-usap, nagdesisyon daw sila ni Rico na tuluyan nang maghiwalay at iprayoridad ni Maris ang mga gusto niyang gawin na wala na ang musikero sa kanyang tabi.
Mahirap man ang kanilang naging desisyon, mas nanaig daw hanggang sa huli ang pagmamahal at respeto nila sa isa't isa.
Ani Maris: "It was a very difficult talk, cause I love him so much and he loves me.
"But I have so many questions about my life and how will I go on in life with him, and I have so many questions about me and my sense of self.
"It was very difficult but a very polite separation.
"Up to the very end of the relationship, it was still full of love and understanding.
"And Rico is one of a kind. 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."
Read: Maris clarifies Anthony not involved in her breakup with Rico