Shaira Diaz, Edgar Allan Guzman on practicing celibacy before marriage

(From left) Shaira Diaz and Edgar Allan Guzman. Image: Nice Print Photography

Edgar Allan Guzman confessed that the first two years of practicing celibacy (or abstaining from sex) with his fiancé Shaira Diaz was difficult, although they remained firm about saving themselves for marriage since 2013.

During a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Monday, Feb. 19, Guzman looked back at the time he and Diaz decided to practice celibacy in their relationship wherein the actor-host cried about it at first.

“First two years namin, umiiyak ako sa kanya. Kasi ang hirap. To be honest, ang hirap. Noong time na yun, parang hindi ko na kaya. Kasi siyempre ‘diba,” he said knowingly before laughing. (In our first two years, I was crying about this to her. Because it was difficult, to be honest. At that time, I didn’t know if I could do it because, you know.)

Guzman recalled making an appeal to Diaz to give him a chance, but the “Unang Hirit” host was firm about staying pure before getting married. In return, Guzman made it a point to wait for his partner as long as it took.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Baba, hindi ko na kaya.’ Pero may sinabi siya sa’kin na, ‘Kung mahal mo talaga ako, hihintayin mo ako.’ Doon ako tinamaan. Iyon ang lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko kapag ka nakakaramdam ako nang ganito,” he said. “Noong nag-announce kami ng engagement, sabi ko na I respect Shaira a lot.”

(I told her, “Baba, I can’t do it anymore. But she told me, “If you really love me, you’re willing to wait.” That’s when I was struck with reality. This is what I’ve been telling myself whenever I feel such urges. When we announced our engagement, I said I respect Shaira a lot.)

Diaz said that she and Guzman made a conscious effort to refrain from sexual contact as a promise that she wanted to keep to her parents.

“Ino-honor ko po ‘yung family ko, especially my mom and dad. Iyan po ang promise ko sa kanila talaga na kahit iwan mo ako kahit saan, buong-buo pa rin ako,” she said. “Sabi nila, ‘yun ang best gift na mabibigay mo sa asawa mo.”

(I want to honor my family, especially my mom and dad. That’s my promise to them that even though they leave me in the arms of someone else, I’m still whole. They said it’s the best gift I can give to my husband.)

The couple have been engaged since Christmas of 2021, although they only announced their engagement during an “Unang Hirit” episode earlier this month.

Guzman and Diaz first crossed paths in 2012 and they got into a relationship a year later, and have since kept their romance for almost 10 years now.