Ricci Rivero, Leren Mae Bautista hope to marry

Ricci Rivero and Leren Mae Bautista | Image: YouTube/Fast Talk

Ricci Rivero and Leren Mae Bautista expressed optimism about marrying each other while noting that marriage is a “big commitment” that ensures “challenges.” 

During a guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Friday, Feb. 16, the young couple was asked if Rivero’s post calling Bautista “the one” is inclined to reach the wedding bells.

“Sana Tito Boy. Kinakabahan ako pero sana,” answered Rivero, which was echoed by the beauty pageant titleholder: “Same feeling, nakakakaba. Kasi, it’s a big commitment.”

The basketball player revealed they have already talked about marriage, stressing that having a short or long engagement does not matter as long as you understand each other. 

“Kami Tito Boy may mga napag-usapan na rin kami, even ‘yung friends namin na na-engaged or nagpaplano ng kasal. Same kami na hindi naman siya doon sa tagal or what. Mas mapi-feel niyo naman kung kilala niyo na ‘yung isa’t isa deeper,” he said. 

Rivero remarked that the challenges in a relationship are indicators of how willing the couple is to endure whatever is thrown at them. 

“Mayroon din kasi siyempre, kunwari masaya kayo ngayon. Pero what if may challenges, how do you guys deal with that, and how badly you want to make it work. Doon mo naman mapi-feel kung ito magwo-work kahit na anong mangyari, kahit magkaroon kami ng problems or what,” explained the athlete. 

The Miss Globe 2019 2nd runnerup echoed her boyfriend’s sentiments and stressed that understanding each other is more important than the length of the engagement. 

“Kung ma-feel mo na rin talaga na okay ka na with your partner, I think hindi naman kailangan ng long engagement, as long as kailangan pagbutihin niyo rin ang relationship. Kasi hindi naman palagi okay, hindi naman palagi masaya,” she remarked. 

“Feeling ko naman ang long o short engagement depende ‘yun sa kung ano ang gusto talaga. But for me, kahit ano naman doon, basta ramdam naman namin and napag-usapan naman kung ready na ba talaga kami to really commit,” added Bautista. 

Rivero confirmed his relationship with the Los Baños Laguna councilor in October 2023 after netizens alleged that the basketball player had cheated on his former girlfriend, actress Andrea Brillantes. 

Bautista recently clarified that her relationship with Rivero did not overlap with his relationship with the Kapamilya actress.