Ruru Madrid, Bianca Umali and Gabbi Garcia. Image: Instagram/@rurumadrid8, @gabbi
Ruru Madrid confessed he dated and courted a lot of celebrities when he was younger, but that the only official relationships he had were with his now-girlfriend Bianca Umali and his former reel and real-life partner, Gabbi Garcia.
The actor made this confirmation during his interview for “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Thursday, March 9. Abunda directly asked Madrid if he was ever in a relationship with Garcia, to which he responded affirmatively.
When the King of Talk asked Madrid if Umali was the reason behind his split with Garcia, Madrid shook his head and clarified, “Hindi po.” (No.)
“I would consider na isa lang naman ‘yung naging girlfriend ko before Bianca. Si Gabbi lang talaga,” he told Abunda. “Nung naging kami, sobrang bata pa po namin. Gabby was 15, ako po 16.”
(I would consider that I only had one girlfriend before Bianca. It was just Gabbi. We were so young when we got together. Gabby was 15, while I was just 16.)
While he opted not to disclose the cause of their breakup, Madrid explained that he was just very young at the time and that he did not have a solid grasp of what love is.
“Siguro somehow, malaking factor na magkatrabaho kami, love team kami, na kailangan lagi kaming makita na sweet sa isa’t isa,” he stated. “Siguro do’n namin na-discover na na-in love kami. Kumbaga, nadala kami sa moment.”
(Maybe it was a big factor that we worked together, and that we needed to be seen as affectionate to each other. I think that was when we discovered we were in love with each other. We were carried away by the moment.)
Madrid and Garcia were a love team for over three years, and starred in several shows together, including “My Destiny” (2014), “Let the Love Begin” (2015) and “Encantadia” (2016-2017).
‘Ego-booster’
During the interview, Madrid admitted that he and Umali went through a rough patch in 2019 because prior to their relationship, Madrid had a phase wherein he would date girls just to boost his ego.
Madrid, who disclosed that he courted Barbie Forteza, Yassi Pressman and Lexi Fernandez, could not help but make fun of himself as he recalled how his confidence in pursuing women was “out of this world.”
“Before Bianca, may time sa sarili ko na parang—it’s hard na aminin ‘to pero naging gano’n po talaga ako—na para akong nakikipagdate, like for example sa beauty queen, artista, so that maipagmalaki ko,” he confessed.
(Before Bianca, there was a time when—it’s hard to admit this, but I really became like this—I would date people, for example beauty queens or celebrities, just so I could brag about them.)
“May gano’n akong klaseng trait before na parang feeling ko ego-booster siya for me,” he said. “But then I realized, lalo na nung nakilala ko si Bianca, na hindi ‘yun ‘yung mga bagay na dapat ipinagmamalaki ko.”
(I had that trait before that I felt [dating] was an ego-booster for me. But I eventually realized, especially when I met Bianca, that those are not the things I should be bragging about.)
Madrid then spoke about their eight-month split after the parking lot confrontation—which Umali earlier confirmed to have happened—and what caused it.
“Nung time na ‘yon, siguro somehow medyo nangangapa pa ako dahil first time ko maging seryoso when it comes to relationship,” he said. “Parang sinubukan ko na, ‘Kaya ko pa rin bang kumausap ng ibang babae, or manligaw?’ ‘Yun ‘yung dati kong sarili.”
(At the time, maybe I was still getting used to things because it was my first time to be serious in a relationship. I felt like, “Am I still capable of talking to or courting other girls?’ That was my old self.)
After the incident, Madrid said he realized Umali’s worth in his life, so he tried to win her and their relationship back. Madrid also set the record straight and noted that Umali did not almost run him over during their parking lot confrontation, contrary to the stories that made rounds on social media.
“I did everything para maging OK ‘yung relationship naming dalawa kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na kapag kasama ko siya, I’m at my best. Pag hindi ko siya kasama, parang pakiramdam ko I’m lost,” he stated.
(I did everything to mend our relationship because I know that when I’m with her, I’m at my best. When we’re not together, I feel like I’m lost.) /ra