Maris Racal and Rico Blanco. Image: Instagram/@mariesteller
Maris Racal confirmed that she and Rivermaya vocalist and chief songwriter Rico Blanco have parted ways while clarifying that there was no third party involved in their split.
Racal announced their split in a Star Magic Spotlight press conference on Friday, July 12, when asked if she saw a future with the musician. Before this question, she was already asked if Blanco had no problems with the popularity of her onscreen tandem with Anthony Jennings.
“I’m really scared,” she began as she started to cry. “Ang dami kasing tanong about him and I’m tired of smiling and nodding. I’m so scared because if I announce it, then it’s real.”
The “Can’t Buy Me Love” star then paused for a moment before confirming their split.
“Rico and I are over,” she said. “It’s fresh. It’s been a few weeks. It’s the loneliest, emptiest weeks I’ve ever experienced in my life… Wala akong short answer for it. Hindi ko rin siya malabas ng iisang statement lang kasi hindi gan’un kadali. Sobrang complicated niya na situation.”
WATCH: Maris Racal has confirmed her split with Rivermaya vocalist and chief songwriter Rico Blanco in a Star Magic press con today, July 12. | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/POQlam0qV4
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 12, 2024
Despite their breakup, Racal chose to look on the brighter side, sharing that she and Blanco had a five-year relationship that was “so beautiful and so full of love.”
“Rico and I, our universe was so beautiful. It was so full of love, laughter, music, everything… its spontaneity, everything. Sa five years namin together, we were always on the same page. Always on the same page. But I don’t know what happened to me.”
Without disclosing anything in particular, the actress admitted that she “turned to the next page” and “saw a new perspective in life,” which Blanco took “like a man.”
“Maybe I turned to the next page, saw a new perspective sa life. I had visions of who I want to become, how I want to evolve. I’m so curious about the world. And the truth is I am going through changes. And alam namin, natin na ‘yung change it’s either good or bad,” she said.
“But what I hate about change is that it’s inevitable. Hindi mo siya matatakasan. And wala ka nang ibang gawin kundi you have to face it and confront it kasi it’s been in the back of my head. So yeah, I told Rico about it. I told him my problems, my issues sa buhay and he took it like a man. He took it like a man,” she continued.
READ: Maris Racal recalls how she, Rico Blanco kept their relationship ‘secret’
‘A very difficult talk’
Racal shared that she and Blanco then had a “very difficult talk” about the matter while disclosing that it had something to do with her “many questions” about life. Despite this, they ended their relationship very politely, filled with “love and understanding.”
“It was a very difficult talk ‘cause I love him so much. I love him and he loves me. But I have so many questions about my life,” she said. “And how would I go on sa buhay with him when I have so many questions about me, my sense of self.”
Rico Blanco and Maris Racal. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Maris Racal
“It was so difficult, but it was a very polite separation. And to the very end of our relationship, it was still full of love, full of understanding. And Rico is one of a kind,” she added.
Still emotional, Racal said that while she wishes to “skip her twenties,” she has to face her problems and “acknowledge [the] changes” in her life. “If could only skip through my twenties, you know. But I can’t. I have to face it. I have to sit with my feelings and acknowledge my changes.”
No third party
Racal firmly stated that this would be the “last time” she would address her breakup with Blanco, which she stressed as solely between her and him. She also appealed to the public to refrain from making any speculations about their split.
“This is the last time I will talk about it. Since while we’re at it, I really like to humbly ask the public to look at us, Rico and I, with understanding and love because we’re both grieving,” she said. “Please don’t direct your hate towards Rico because he’s too precious for that. If you guys are ready to throw some punches, I’m willing to take them.”
Maris Racal and Rico Blanco | Images: Instagram/@mariesteller, @ricoblanco100
The “Ate Sandali” singer vehemently denied when asked if there was any third party involved and if her love-team partnership with Jennings had something to do with their split.
“Anthony is out of the picture. It’s just me and Rico,” she said. “If I could still talk to him every day, I would… ang hirap lang mag-pretend, ang hirap din mag-construct ng sentence na alam mo namang totoong hindi ka okay.”
Racal and Blanco were together for “five years,” but it was only in June 2021 that they made their relationship public.