David Licauco admits blaming self after losing best friend in 2013 road accident
David Licauco. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Karen Davila
David Licauco recalled the car accident he and his friends figured in back in 2013, and the self-blame he experienced after he survived but lost his best friend.
In an interview with broadcaster Karen Davila, the actor narrated the unfortunate incident which happened when they were heading home from Tagaytay. According to him, their vehicle hit a gas truck along South Luzon Expressway because the driver fell asleep while driving.
Licauco gave an account of the several moments prior to the accident that he considers as miracles, including a parking attendant telling him to fasten his seatbelt and an apparent light that woke him up a few minutes before the crash.
“We were five and ‘yung best friend ko, namatay siya,” he told Davila, recounting how he tried to help his friends while being helpless himself. ([There were five of us during the accident] and my best friend died.)
“Medyo sinisi ko rin ‘yung sarili ko kasi what if I didn’t sleep, what if sinamahan ko ‘yung driver. Pwede siyang maiwasan kung mas naging aware ako, kung mas naging wise ako in that situation,” he lamented.
(I somehow blamed myself because what if I didn’t sleep and I accompanied the driver [to stay awake]? It could have been prevented if I was more aware and wiser in that situation.)
Licauco then reflected on the realizations he had at the time he was bedridden, and how he came to value more his life as well the time he gets to spend with his friends and loved ones.
“Nung time na ‘yon, mas naging thankful lang ako, mas pinapasalamatan ko si God kasi kung ‘di dahil sa kanya baka wala na ako ngayon e,” he stated. “I also thanked him na parang meron pa akong purpose—maybe kaya ako hindi pa kinuha ni Lord is because I have a purpose pa in life.”
(That time, I became more thankful to God because I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Him. I also thanked Him because I feel like He did not let me die because I still have a purpose in life.)
Unexpected ‘magnitude of fame’ in show biz
During his conversation with Davila, Licauco, who stopped pursuing his dream of becoming a professional basketball player after the car accident, disclosed that entering the showbiz industry was an unexpected move for him.
“Bakit ka ba pumasok ng show biz? (Why did you enter show business?)” the broadcaster asked, to which he answered, “I would say because I failed in becoming a professional basketball player… I don’t know, it just really happened.”
Despite this, the actor noted that he is happy and overwhelmed by the support he has been receiving from his fans, saying he ” never really expected this kind of magnitude of fame.”
Licauco also spoke about the chemistry of his love team with “Maria Clara at Ibarra” co-star Barbie Forteza, which he thinks has been well loved by fans because the pair complement each other’s personalities.
When asked about other actors he would want to work with in the future, Licauco revealed he is a big fan of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, and that he would want to be in the same project with them.
Speaking about his real-life romance, 27-year-old Licauco confessed that he is not dating anyone at the moment and that he prefers to prioritize his career now, then settle down when he is 34. /ra
