After confirming her “very clear” connection with former Rivermaya vocalist Rico Blanco this week, Maris Racal shared a photo of a cake with the caption “Age is just a number,” implying the couple’s 25-year age gap.
“It just comes easily,” Maris said when asked how she and Rico bonded despite the “generation difference” at the virtual media conference for Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) episode 00000 Finding Papa last Monday. Walang exact recipe for it, wala pong research. It’s an automatic connection na yung connection na if you meet up. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a great attraction.”
Both of them are musically-inclined so it was easy for them to get along, “Sa music din po,” shared the 23-year-old artist. “Sa music naman po, minsan kasi may songwriter ka na ma-meet na hindi mo naman kapareho ng ways, hindi mo kapareho ng technique. Nagkataon lang na medyo pareho kaming dalawa (Rico). That’s why mabilis naming nakuha yung writing ng isa’t isa and before kasi nag-meet kami through that. And then nung nagkaintindihan na po, yun na yung sa music aspect.”
When she sent a birthday message on Instagram for the 48-year-old rock singer in March of this year, rumors of the two dating erupted. “I love you,” Rico said in response to a video of them singing Aqualung’s Brighter Than Sunshine.
“Kami po ni Rico, I think based sa post na ginawa ko po, I think it is very obvious. Right now, we’re very excited and busy din. We’re preparing such beautiful music together. Abangan po nila iyon, soon,” said Maris.
However, she managed to keep a grin on her face when addressing questions from the media about the true score between her and Rico.
“Masaya naman po,” she replied as to how she would describe her relationship with Rico.
Meanwhile, Finding Papa, directed by Jerome Pobocan, tells the narrative of Jai’s (Maris) search for her father. Jai might begin her hunt by working as a member of a delivery service team. Jai still thinks something is lacking in her life, despite the affection she receives from her mother and stepfather.
Jerome shared that he was excited doing the show. “Nag-i-i-script reading palang kami ni Maris, umiyak na siya. Sabi ko, nagta-trabaho na tayo agad. Wala pa tayo sa taping, excited na tayo magtrabaho lahat. Napakaganda kasi ng storya ng Finding Papa. When it was offered to me, I really grabbed it because it’s a beautiful story, it’s heartwarming and inspirational.”
When inquired about qualities of a good father in relation to his character, Cris Villanueva, who banked on his experience, replied, “Communication with your children. That’s very, very important for me. Isa pa, very maternal din ako aside from being a father. I see to it that I always think about their well-being. Kung ano talaga yung kailangan nila, binibigay ko.”
Cris revealed he is a COVID-19 survivor. He had trouble focusing on reading the script and doing some scenes after he got infected with the disease. “I called direk (Jerome and told him), ‘I think I’m having a hard time concentrating… please help me.’ Since nagka-COVID ako, nahirapan ako mag-concentrate. Hindi ko maalala minsan yung character… Buti na lang matiyaga si direk.”
It’s his second time to work in a pandemic setting, the first was in a teleserye. Before the show ended, most of them contracted COVID-19. “Kala namin alam na namin paano iwasan. All of a sudden everything changed. Hindi pala namin alam how to dodge it… All of a sudden, yung emotion, pati the way we think nag-iba.”
He had breathing difficulty, low level of oxygen, chills and high fever for straight five days. “I couldn’t even drink and eat. I lose a lot of weight. Feeling ko talaga mawawala na ko, gusto ko nang magbilin. Buti na lang, a lot of people were praying for me. Lahat kami merong COVID, buong family.”
MMK’s Father Day’s special will be aired on June 12 and 19. It will be available on Kapamilya Channel at A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live YouTube channel, ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page and iWantTFC.
Viewers outside of the Philippines can watch it on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.
