Ricci Rivero (left) and Leren Mae Bautista —Instagram/@ricciiirivero
One of the things Ricci Rivero loves about his girlfriend, Leren Mae Bautista, is her eagerness to help others. And seeing her do her job as a public servant, he said, inspires him to do better.
“Yes, of course, [she inspires me]. Work-wise, sobrang hands-down ako sa kanya. She always stays up late and gets up early to serve or help other people. She does what she does to the best of her abilities,” Ricci said of Leren, a former beauty queen who now serves as a municipal councilor in Los Baños, Laguna.
“As for myself, I try to think of ways to help in any way possible, like giving out extra food. I have always had that in me, but she pushes me to do more,” the basketball player-actor told reporters at the recent 10th anniversary celebration of the talent agency VP Global Management (formerly Virtual Playground).
Ricci, who plays for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the Philippine Basketball Association, described Leren as “a chill, simple” person. “She isn’t who I thought she was before I met her. Since she’s in public service, I had a different perception of her. But when I got to know her, I realized that she’s a chill person who just wants a simple life and helps people,” he said.
Though they work in different fields, time isn’t much of an issue for the couple. They know very well what their respective careers entail. “It’s not hard when you understand each other. And It’s the same with any type of relationship, whether it’s with family or friends. There are differences here and there, but you work them out,” he said.
In hot water
Last year, Ricci found himself in hot water amid his breakup with Andrea Brilllantes. He was accused of cheating, with Leren being the third party. While the couple had repeatedly denied the allegations, the online bashing hasn’t really stopped. If there’s one thing he has learned in show biz, it’s that intrigues are something he just has to live with.
“They’re not going to go away. The people who push these issues are those who want to pull you down. I’m not saying I’m at the top, but of course, I have to focus on myself more and figure out to better myself every day instead of thinking about the issues,” Ricci said.
In the age of social media, where “everyone’s on their phones,” people—whether show biz or basketball followers—will always have something to say.
“Everything people see, they will comment on … It’s sad. Filipinos are known to be hospitable, loving, caring. But we also pull each other down,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s how we take them (all the negativity) and turn them into positives. We have to be more optimistic … I hope we can better our ways and focus on ourselves to grow and learn new things.”
He did acknowledge, though, that some criticisms are valid and constructive.“To those who don’t believe in me, it’s OK. At times, they really say things that are true, things that I can actually add or change about myself,” he pointed out.
Running joke
Did he feel “traumatized” by the sudden interest in and attention on his personal life? “I wouldn’t say traumatized, but I guess I have learned.”
One running joke from his breakup with Andrea was that he doesn’t know how to do laundry, or at least have his clothes washed. But it’s something Ricci can laugh about now. “I have been branded as such and I can’t do anything about it. Kung sino ang mga naniniwala doon, sila at sila pa rin naman,” he said of the topic, which stemmed from an interview Andrea gave in which she was quoted as saying: “Talaga ba? Iiyakan ko ‘yung lalaking hindi nagpapa-laundry ng isang taon?”
“I’m just waiting for Tide, Ariel or whatever … perhaps a washing machine [brand],” he quipped when asked if any company has approached him to endorse laundry-related products. But if anything, all the criticisms and flak only made his bond with Leren stronger. “We became closer, especially during the issues because I get to talk to her every day. Kami-kami nagtulungan at nagpakatatag,” he said.
Ricci, who has starred in the television series “Gen Z” and a handful of films like “Happy Times” and “Otlum,” said he would be focusing on basketball for now—something he had discussed with his management. “They have always listened to our thoughts. They have seen us in our highest and lowest, but they always support what their talents want, and give us the chance to expand our dreams,” he said. INQ