Maris Racal recently released a revealing 14-minute exclusive video with ABS-CBN, where she discussed her breakup with Rivermaya frontman Rico Blanco and her evolving feelings toward her co-star, Anthony Jennings. In the video, Maris shared her emotional journey following her split with Rico in July and explained how she became close to Anthony while working together on the shows Can’t Buy Me Love and Incognito.
Maris admitted that she was in a vulnerable place after her breakup and received attention from Anthony, which she said helped her feel less lonely. “I was in a very dark place, and it was getting attention from Anthony, the kind of attention that I needed,” Maris shared. She acknowledged that she felt an attraction to Anthony, despite the circumstances, and made the difficult decision to come clean with her ex, Rico, about her feelings. This conversation ultimately led to their breakup.
Struggling with Emotions and Personal Reflection
During the interview, Maris opened up about how emotionally taxing it was to announce the breakup. She revealed that she struggled to reflect on the situation at the time and wasn’t able to fully process her emotions. “The reason why I became so, so emotional during the interview was because I was holding back a truth. ‘Yun ang totoo,” she said, expressing the difficulty of confronting her actions.
Maris explained that she threw herself into her work, and as she continued collaborating with Anthony, they developed a closer connection. “Like everybody, na kaka-break lang, you would be so vulnerable. I was working every day until lahat ng trabaho na ‘yun, kasama ko si Anthony. Aaminin ko, sa araw-araw na pagta-trabaho namin, nahulog din ‘yung loob ko,” she confessed.
The Sweet Gestures of Anthony Jennings
As their professional relationship grew, Maris shared how Anthony became sweet and gentlemanly toward her. She recalled how he openly mentioned to people on set that he was single, which made her feel confident to act a certain way around him. “He would tell all the people who were close to me that he was single. So I was confident to act a certain way around him on the set because, in the eyes of the people there, we were both single,” she explained.
The Trip to Italy and Deeper Connection
In September, Maris, Anthony, and their co-stars from Incognito traveled to Italy for a shoot, and Maris reflected on how their relationship grew deeper during that time. “Doon nag-start naging deep ‘yung pagkakakilala namin sa isa’t isa. I really fell,” she admitted. During their time in Italy, the two shared sweet moments, including promises to each other that made Maris feel incredibly happy. She posted about the experience on her Instagram stories, expressing her appreciation for Anthony. However, this post coincided with the release of reposts by Jam, Anthony’s ex-girlfriend, which hinted at unresolved issues between the two.
The Viral Screenshots and Miscommunication
Maris also addressed the screenshots shared by Jam on social media, which shed light on the complicated dynamics between her, Anthony, and Jam. The screenshots, posted by Jam on TikTok, detailed her side of the story and implied that she was still involved with Anthony. Maris explained that she had repeatedly asked Anthony about his relationship status with Jam, only to be reassured that they were no longer together. “I really asked him so many times,” Maris said, adding that she felt blindsided when she later discovered the truth.
“Sa screenshots din, na ngamusta ako. I said, ‘Kamusta si Jam?’ Nangamusta ako kay Jam. It wasn’t because dahil alam ko na sila pa. Dahil alam ko she was going through something,” she clarified. Despite her repeated inquiries, Anthony never confirmed the full extent of his relationship with Jam, leaving Maris in the dark.
The Heartbreaking Realization
The realization that Anthony and Jam were still involved came when Maris saw the viral screenshots of Jam’s posts, which painted a different narrative. “When I read it, I was gutted. I was shocked, I’m truly, truly embarrassed dahil nakita lahat ng tao ‘yun without my consent, against my will,” Maris shared, expressing her shock and embarrassment. She acknowledged that both she and Jam had been misled by Anthony, each believing different things about their relationship status.
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Understanding Jam’s Pain and Her Own Struggles
Maris reflected on Jam’s hurt, understanding the emotional turmoil that Jam must have gone through. “I understand her hurt, pain, wrath, and anger. Kaya pala ganon because she was clueless about everything. I was clueless about everything,” Maris said, expressing empathy for Jam’s feelings. Maris also recognized that her own feelings of vulnerability and confusion were a result of being misled by Anthony.
Apologizing to Her Supporters and Embracing Imperfection
As the video continued, Maris expressed her regret over the public nature of her personal struggles. “To the public, I’m sorry that you got to see that very intimate side of me,” she said. Despite her mistakes, she made it clear that she didn’t want to play the victim, admitting her own wrongdoings in the situation.
Maris also took the time to apologize to her loyal supporters, acknowledging the impact this scandal had on them. “I’m so embarrassed and I’m sorry that you get to see that. But I can assure you, tuloy pa rin ako. Tuloy pa rin ang laban. Magta-trabaho pa rin ako kahit nahihirapan,” she declared. Her determination to keep moving forward despite the embarrassment and pain was clear.
Looking for Her Inner Strength
Despite the emotional toll of the situation, Maris expressed a desire to rediscover the strength within herself. “I’m still looking for that little girl inside of me. It’s hard to look for her now. But someday, I will find her and I will be able to hold my shadows,” she shared, hopeful for a brighter future.
Maris concluded by acknowledging her imperfections, saying, “What you saw was a human being, just a human being. That’s it.” Her emotional and honest reflection left an impression on her audience, showing her vulnerability and resilience in the face of a difficult public situation.
