(From left) Kakai Bautista, Mario Maurer. Images: Instagram/@ilovekaye, Instagram/@mario_mm38
Kakai Bautista has been advised by her lawyer to refrain from talking about Mario Maurer due to legal matters, years after the latter’s camp demanded the actress-comedienne to stop spreading “untrue” claims about their friendship.
Speaking to Boy Abunda during a June 21 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Bautista said that she’s not open to talking “about the past” when she was asked about the Thai actor.
“Can you talk about Mario Maurer?” Abunda asked the actress-comedienne.
Bautista asked, “Sino ‘yun (Who’s that)?” in response before she jokingly walked off the stage. A laughing Abunda chased after her, while fellow guest star Cai Cortez said the interview was not yet over.
The veteran host then clarified that his question was merely a way of seeking consent from the “First Yaya” star regarding the topic. “Ako’y humihingi ng pahintulot, hindi ka pwedeng pag-usapan [si Mario Maurer]?” (I’m merely asking your permission. You’re not allowed to speak about Mario Maurer?)
Bautista said she doesn’t want to “talk about the past,” before clarifying that she can’t mention his name due to legal matters.
“Let’s not talk about the past, Tito Boy. My lawyer doesn’t allow me to talk about him,” she said.
The host-talent manager then changed the topic, as he asked the “First Lady” star about how her experiences changed her perspective about love.
“May nagsabi sa’king friend ko dati na, ‘Alam mo, feeling ko hindi ka talaga naiinlove. You’re just in love with the thought of being in love. You’re in love with the idea of love. Just the idea of having someone with you, but not being in love,’” she began.
“I think with a few men, I think [I was in love with them]. But alam mo ‘yun, naisip ko lang na masarap na may kausap ka. Pero ‘yung commitment and understanding ko, ang mga naging problema ko sa relationships ay hindi ko kayang ipagpalit ang trabaho ko,” she continued.
Bautista, who admitted she wants to date SB19’s Stell during the interview, said she wants to savor the feeling of being single at the moment.
“I choose to be single sa phase ng buhay ko na ito. I’m just enjoying my life on my own, no distractions. Late na kasi akong nag-start mag-enjoy sa buhay. So gusto ko munang namnamin ‘yon para ready na ready na ako when I fall in love again,” she said.
(I choose to be single in this phase of my life. I’m just enjoying my life on my own, no distractions. I started to enjoy my life late, so I want to make the most of it so I can be fully ready when I fall in love again.)
Bautista and Maurer first worked together in the 2012 film “Suddenly It’s Magic.” Reports about their closeness swirled on social media afterwards, although the former clarified a year later in a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview that the latter is just a “super good friend.”
“Pardon my show biz answer but we’re just super good friends. We had dinner in Bangkok recently with his manager and my friends. We’re both fun-loving. He is a wonderful guy. Very humble. No airs, even if he’s a superstar in Thailand,” she said.
However, the actress-comedienne revealed in December 2019 that her communication with Maurer suddenly stopped. In March 2021, she was then warned by the “A Little Thing Called Love” star’s camp to stop “attaching herself” to him “without his knowledge and consent.”
The Kapuso star then responded to the actor’s claims in the same month, saying their allegations can be counted as libel. EDV