Eileen on tying the knot with Joey after 3 decades

Joey de Leon (left) and Eileen Macapagal

I am more than ecstatic for Tito Joey de Leon and his longtime partner, Eileen Macapagal, for finally tying the knot after more than three decades of togetherness.

Eileen has always been the wind beneath Joey’s wings. He saw me grow up because my mom was Tito Joey’s “boss” (as an AM station manager) during his early days as a radio jock. I fondly call him “De Leon King.” So that makes Eileen “De Leon Queen.”

My favorite memory about the cool couple is our trip to Singapore, with Aga Muhlach, Richard Gomez and other show biz colleagues. We watched Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” concert.

Joey and Eileen are living proof that “forever” does exist. It comes when you’re with the right one, and when the time is ripe. The De Leons will definitely love each other for better, for worse—and for good.

Here’s my chat with Eileen:

What’s the secret of your lasting relationship with Joey? Prayers, love for each other, forgiveness and placing the other person first before yourself.

What excites you most about marriage? The feeling of peace and quiet happiness, and knowing that God listens and forgives. It’s the sacrament that excites us more about this marriage.

How do you and Joey handle misunderstandings? We give each other space and manage our expectations of each other. We knew from the very start that we have different values and come from different backgrounds. Knowing these made us more understanding and patient with each other. We remember the moments why we’re together and why we love each other. We pray first instead of shouting or confronting the situation.

After all these years, what keeps you thrilled about Joey? His sweetness.

What was the toughest phase of your journey with Joey? It’s been smooth-sailing since day one. We’ve had no major problems in our 35 years together. Our journey has been a breeze.

What’s your advice to women on how to keep their man? Pray hard. It’s God who will keep him for you.

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GMA Network stars Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado, Alden Richards, Lovi Poe, Betong Sumaya and Dingdong Dantes are thrilled to bring all-out entertainment to Pinoys in the United States and Canada by way of its “Sikat Ka, Kapuso” shows. GMA Pinoy TV heads to New Jersey on April 7 at the Newark Symphony Hall and the Sony Centre for Performing Arts in Toronto on April 8.