The ‘much-needed push’ that made Sophie and Vin decide to finally tie the knot

Sophie Albert (left) and Vin Abrenica

Sophie Albert and Vin Abrenica have been together for eight years now, and they have never been more sure that they’re meant for each other.

But because they have been focusing on their respective show-biz careers, the prospect of settling down was something they had never discussed in detail. And then came Sophie’s unexpected pregnancy, which, she said, was the much-needed push to finally take their relationship to the next level.

“It wasn’t planned because, if I could have it my way, the wedding would have come first. However, I feel like this was meant to happen. And I’m already 30 years old. We’re both very career-oriented. So, maybe this was a push—para gumalaw na kayo sa personal lives niyo,” the GMA 7 actress said in a recent virtual group interview.

If it weren’t for the pregnancy, starting their own family probably wouldn’t be a priority. “Vin and I [have been together for]… eight years now. However, we had yet to reach a point where we were already setting a date. We kept on pushing it back because we didn’t feel pressure… sure na sure na kami with each other,” she said. Sophie admitted that she was scared and in disbelief when she first found out that she was about to become a mother. “I was on a video call with my best friend. I had with me a pregnancy test, which I thought would come out negative. I was so scared I was laughing. I can’t explain it,” she recalled.

But while she was overwhelmed with a rush of various emotions at that moment, regret wasn’t one of them. “The feeling never became negative,” said the Kapuso talent, who waited for a while before breaking the news to Vin, who was then in a locked-in taping. “I couldn’t tell him immediately. After his taping, he had to quarantine for 14 days. That was when I told him. We had a mega freak out moment… I guess he wasn’t prepared, too. I think he didn’t speak for two minutes,” she said.

Vin was shocked, needless to say—and more so when Sophie’s doctor initially suspected that she could be having twins. “I also had a blood test after the urine test. My hCG levels (hormone that can indicate pregnancy and its progress) were super high, so the doctor thought that it was possible I was carrying twins,” she related.

It’s a girl

“Vin looked like he would fall off a chair!” she said of her fiance, whom she described as a “really sweet and loyal” man, not only to her but also to his family. “It feels good knowing that I have a person like that in my life.”

The couple is expecting a baby girl, which is another surprise, Sophie said. “We thought it was going to be a boy because there are more boys on Vin’s side of the family. His brother Aljur has two boys with Kylie (Padilla).”

The couple’s families were thrilled. “My mother was so happy for me. She hugged me. Anyway, I’m already of age,” she pointed out.

While she didn’t say how far along she is exactly, Sophie did let on that she had a difficult first trimester. “I was having morning sickness—and I don’t know if you could still call it that, because they lasted the whole day. I was having lots of contractions. I was tired all the time. But after that, everything was smooth,” she said.

Sophie didn’t announce her engagement and pregnancy until last February and March, respectively. But even before that, they were already the subject of blind items online and in tabloids. “We were surprised because, to be honest, we didn’t think anyone would care. I was like, ‘Sino ba tayo?’” she related.

Right time

“We weren’t planning to keep it a secret,” Sophie quickly added. “We were just waiting for the right time.”

Sophie knows that being a first-time parent entails heavy responsibilities. “No matter how many books I read, classes I attend or videos I watch, there’s never enough information out there to make you feel prepared for motherhood. You will be dealing with human life. I don’t want to make mistakes. But I guess it’s just normal for new parents,” she said. For now, it’s all about the coming baby for the show biz couple. The wedding will have to come later. “The wedding will probably happen late this year or early next year. We will start planning once the baby is out,” she said.

Sophie is happy with the way her career was panning out in the Kapuso network prior to her pregnancy. “I was never without work,” said the actress, whose last projects include the drama series “Pamilya Roces,” “Bihag” and “The Gift.” And she hopes that she can pick up where she left off, after she gives birth. After all, she believes that having a baby is no longer a hindrance—as it once was—to having a successful acting career.

“If this happened a long time ago, that’s it for you. But now, I feel empowered, knowing that mommies are still able to do what they want. Take Gal Gadot, who was actually pregnant when she was filming ‘Wonder Woman,’” Sophie pointed out. “We can still fulfill our dreams even after having kids. I hope a similar path awaits me.” INQ