Glaiza de Castro on LDR with husband David Rainey, Angelica Panganiban

Glaiza de Castro as V in “Slay Zone” –GLAIZA DE CASTRO/ INSTAGRAM

“We’re not the clingy type,” said actress Glaiza de Castro of her long-distance relationship with Irish husband David Rainey. “We need time away from each other to make our personalities more complete, I guess. We make sure we have time for ourselves and for each other. It’s like we constantly need to reset—every three months or so—so that when we eventually see each other, the kilig is renewed. We really miss each other, and, as in a flashback, we’re reminded of the time we first fell in love,” Glaiza told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent virtual chat.

“Of course, we communicate regularly, even though it can get crazy in terms of time zones—like right now, when he’s in Ireland and I’m in Korea, or when I’m in the Philippines while he is in Ireland. There was even a point when I was in Canada while he was in the Philippines! We make it a point to update each other even about simple things,” she recalled.

Glaiza has been in Korea since Jan. 15, shooting for the second season of “Running Man Philippines,” with Mikael Daez, Ruru Madrid, Buboy Villar, Kokoy de Santos, Angel Guardian, Lexi Gonzales and Miguel Tanfelix. They’re expected to return home on Feb. 24.

Communication

“What we’ve realized is that ‘adulting’ is tough. You’re building a life together, and soon, a family. Although, this is something I don’t think will happen soon because I met David when I was 30, and I’m 36 now. The relationship is still developing. Every day, we learn something new about each other,” she said.

“You have to really find time to communicate, especially when you need to address certain issues. My character is challenging for him because my work as an actress/celebrity poses problems that are not so common. Problems get magnified because of social media. We don’t want our problems posted on social media like other couples because we know we’d just be on the losing end,” the actress said.

Taking her time

Meanwhile, Glaiza said she was happy for her best friend, actress Angelica Panganiban, who finally got married to long-time boyfriend Gregg Homan, who’s also the father of her daughter Amila Sabine.

“I feel that she is enjoying her role as a mom, especially since she has long prayed for that. Before Bean (Amila Sabine’s nickname) arrived, I kidded her and said, ‘Amiga, I think that when we meet again, I will see you already carrying a baby.’ True enough, the following year, Bean was already there,” Glaiza said.

De Castro in Korea with other participants of “Running Man Philippines” –GLAIZA DE CASTRO/ INSTAGRAM

It is funny that she also has a long-distance relationship (LDR) with her best friend, Glaiza said. “We also make sure we communicate. I was actually the one who advised her to get on with the legal part of their union first, so that when we eventually gather in Manila, it will just be to celebrate their union,” Glaiza declared, adding that she does not think her best friend will be returning to acting full-time any time soon.

“I miss seeing her at work. I look forward to working with her. Her followers miss her, too. I told her not to feel bad if she thinks it’s not yet the right time [to return to work]. It’s up to her. I’m happy that she’s now starting to attend social events, that she would sometimes schedule [business] meetings, and already has concepts that she wants to develop. She is really taking her time. After all, Bean is only 2, and she still needs her mom’s presence.”

Self-reflection

Meanwhile, Glaiza, who celebrated her birthday while at work in Korea, said this enabled her to “reflect on life.” She added: “I tried to analyze what I want for myself for this year. I’m already 36 and my body is not like what it used to be, although I make sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While we’re here, I make sure I don’t get sick or get injured. I’m strict with my diet and exercise. I’m all about wellness these days. I want to do what’s good for me in the aspect of health.”

Career-wise, she hopes to produce more films under Wide International Productions. Her first venture into producing is Louie Ignacio’s horror-thriller “Slay Zone,” which she also stars in. The film has been screening nationwide since Feb. 14. “I also want to return to making music. I’ve already laid out my plans for that. Personally, I want to strengthen my relationship with David more,” she said.

Further self-reflection led Glaiza to realize that, “Traveling and working during winter is tough, especially when you’re all alone. During my first few winter trips, I was always with someone. Of course, the other runners are here to keep me company, but there were times when I also wanted to explore on my own—outside of work. I realized that the cold will make you vulnerable and sensitive.

“In terms of health, your immune system weakens and you become more prone to sickness. It’s really cold here. During our first week, the temperature dropped to -10 degrees. There were times when I just wanted to stay indoors, but then, I didn’t want my opportunity to explore the place—at wintertime—to go to waste.”