Maiqui Pineda and Robi Domingo. Image: Instagram/@iamrobidomingo
Robi Domingo said that his upcoming wedding with fiancée Maiqui Pineda—who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease last July—will push through as scheduled, saying it’s an event that gives the latter “something to hope for.”
Domingo admitted that he initially wanted their special day to be “delayed” but Pineda was against the idea though she wanted to have the strength to recover, as seen in an interview captured by ABS-CBN News’ official YouTube channel on Thursday, Aug. 31.
“We talked about it and honestly, I was the one who told her na baka dapat nating i-delay nang konti kasi medyo iniisip ko na ‘yung health niya. Siya ‘yung nagsabi ng, ‘Don’t. Give me something to hope for.’ And siyempre upon hearing that, napaiyak ako. Kasi siyempre, lalaban [pa rin kami],” he said.
(We talked about it and honestly, I was the one who told her that maybe we should delay it a bit because I’m worried about her health. But she was the one who said, “Don’t. Give me something to hope for.” And of course, upon hearing that, I cried. Because we’ll keep on fighting.)’
The “Pinoy Big Brother” alum remained mum on the details of their special day, although he noted that it would happen “at the right time.”
“Ako ang groom-zilla. Ako ang nagha-handle ng lahat. Kaya medyo nakakapressure at nakakastress, but it’s the [thought] that counts,” he added. “The theme will be very, very close to our hearts which is Filipino kasi mahilig siya sa culture natin.”
(I’m the groom-zilla. I’m handling everything, so it makes me feel pressured and stressed but it’s the thought that counts. The theme will be very, very close to our hearts which is Filipino because she loves our culture.)
Despite Pineda’s diagnosis, the host remained hopeful about her condition, saying that she’s “getting better” even if there’s a “long way to go.”
“She’s getting better. A long way to go, malayo doon sa image sa nakikita ko sa kanya sa hospital bed (but her condition is far different compared to how she was in the hospital bed). Now, she can walk properly,” he said.
“Of course, ang dami kong questions. Bakit siya? Bakit ngayon pa? Pero you have to cling on those strands of faith. And also just looking at her and her progress, ‘yun ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa’kin. Lumalaban siya. We have accepted the fact, and we have a working prognosis. Not just for her health but also how we could fix our relationship [despite her condition],” he continued.
(Of course, I have a lot of questions. Why her? And why now? But you have to cling on those strands of faith. And also just by looking at her and her progress, that’s what gives me strength. She’s fighting. We have accepted the fact, and we have a working prognosis. Not just for her health but also how we could fix our relationship despite her condition.)
Domingo confirmed Pineda’s battle with dermatomyositis last August, which happened in the same month of his contract signing with ABS-CBN. Per Mayo Clinic, it is an “uncommon inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash.”
The host’s fiancée revealed in a blog post that she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease last July 14 “after almost three months of medical tests, scans and even a heart, pulmonary and muscle exam.” EDV