An exclusive interview with Letizia Mari and Raguel Da Silva

How have you been? The scandal these past few days must have stressed the two of you.
— We’re doing good. We were able to settle things privately.
— Yeah. Nakaka-stress nga nung una, haha. Pero ayon, may mga bagay na na-settle na namin privately.

What made you want to do this interview?
— Because we want a platform where we can defend ourselves from all the accusations thrown at us.

So, you’re both willing to answer every question?
— Yes.
— Oo.

First, we want to clarify again. So, you two are divorced?
— Yes.

You two are only 26 and 27. And according to the joint statement you issued last time, your relationship started and ended before you entered the industry. Meaning, you got married at a young age. Can we know how your relationship started and what made you marry early?
— Our marriage started nung first year college kami. Magkaklase kasi kami sa isang minor subject tapos pair kami sa lahat ng activities, projects, and such. That’s how we became friends... and eventually, lovers.

So, it was a college love story?
— (laughing) Yes, you can say that.

The relationship started during your freshman year. Naging kayo ba agad?
— Actually, no. I hated him.

Really? Why?
— Yeah. Late kasi siya nung first day namin tapos saktong first day, may pinagawa agad na activity ‘yung professor namin na pair. Since siya ‘yung pair ko, badtrip na badtrip ako.

Why were you late, Raguel?
— It was a dare. Pakulo ni Arkin Perez. (laughs)

I was about to ask your first impression sa isa’t-isa. Pero mukhang nasagot na ni Letizia. How about you, Raguel? What’s your first impression kay Letizia?
— Hmm. My first impression was, “Woah, she’s so pretty.” Pero the moment na umupo ako sa tabi niya, inirapan ako. So ang sabi ko, “Ang sungit. Ganda pa naman.” Haha.
— Wow, ha! Ikaw naman reason why ako nag-sungit!
— Oo nga!

So how was your relationship? Is it true that you kept it a secret?
— Yes, it’s true. We kept our relationship a secret because I wasn’t allowed to be in a relationship.

Oh, if so, how were you able to hide your relationship? Buong college years niyo rin ‘yon.
— Ang hirap, actually. Kasi alam mo ‘yon? Cautious kami sa lahat ng bagay. Nakaka-paranoid din. ‘Pag aalis kami, dami naming inaalala. Baka makita kami, baka may makakilala, mga gano’n ba. (laughs) Pero alam mo ‘yon? Naano namin siya, na-pull off dahil sa mga kaibigan namin
— Yeah. It was so hard hiding a relationship. Pero sobrang laking tulong talaga ng friends namin. Lalong-lalo na si Samantha. Susunduin niya ako sa bahay, kunyari, aalis kami. But the truth is, ihahatid niya ako kay Raguel. Tapos ‘pag uuwi na, susunduin ulit ako ni Sam para ihatid pauwi. Kaya sobrang thankful talaga ako kay Sam. Sila Arkin at Simon naman, look out sila minsan para warningan kami if may kakilalang malapit, or if malapit si Kuya. Mga ganun.
— Isa talaga sila sa nagbuhat ng relasyon namin. Haha. Para siyang team effort. (laughs)

When did you get married?
— A month before our graduation.

That early? Why?
— It’s because my grandfather wanted me to marry someone I don’t even know, let alone love.

So technically, you eloped. Who proposed the idea?
— Me. Natakot kasi ako [...] na baka sundin niya ang Lolo niya. Z has been nothing but an obedient granddaughter to her Lolo. Natakot ako na baka sa sobrang [...] obedient niya, magpakasal nga siya. Kaya inaya ko siyang pakasalan ako.

Bakit kay pumayag, Zia?
— Bukod sa mahal ko si Raguel, sawa na rin ako sa pagdidikta ni Lolo sa buhay ko.

So why did you get divorced? Based on your stories, your relationship was filled with love, so why?
— We lack communication.
— No. Technically, dahil kay Lolo.
— Zia...
— What? It’s true!

Zia, what do you mean by it’s because of your grandfather?
— My grandfather hated the idea that I disobeyed him and chose Raguel over him. That’s why he hated Raguel, too. His hatred for me and Raguel led him to do outrageous things—in which we won’t say for our privacy—but to give you the gist, what he did was the main reason why our marriage got ruined and why we resorted to divorce.

So the rumors of Lucio Cordova hating Raguel is true?
— Yes.

How about the allegations that Raguel kidnapped you?
— That’s fucking bullshit. Walang katotohanan.
— It’s not true. One of the things that I promised to Letizia is that she will always be free whenever she’s with me. Forcing her to marry me is not just against my morals but also against my promise to her. I love her so much that if she wants me gone, I’ll be gone.

Now that we’re talking about rumors, we also want to clarify another one. According to your managers, hindi niyo alam na magiging magkatrabaho kayo? Totoo ba?
— Me, I signed the contract without knowing kung sino ang makakasama ko. Hindi totoong dahil sa pera. Tinanggap ko kasi maganda ang script. Tapos sabi nila, naghahanap pa ng Male Lead. Nagulat ako, si Rago pala.
— Same kay Z. Tsaka sabi rin kasi ni Manager, maganda siya at may potential na mag-box office. Tapos wala rin akong arte sa makakapareha ko, so pinirmahan ko. Gulat talaga ako nung binalita ng SF [Sunset Films] na kami ni Z ‘yung gaganap.

What were your thoughts when you found out that you needed to work together?
— I was pissed, to be honest. Alam mo ‘yun? Naiwasan namin isa’t-isa ng limang taon tapos boom, magiging magkatrabaho kami. (laughs)
— Same. Inis din ako. Kasi sa limang taon, syempre nagkikita kami sa mga award shows, gano’n. Pero ‘yung magkatrabaho? Hindi talaga, eh. Tapos biglang gano’n? (laughs)

So when you started filming, you two didn't have a closure yet?
— Wala pa. Nag-iiwasan pa nga kami. (laughs)
— Civil lang kami sa isa’t-isa ‘pag kailangan. Pero ‘pag naiiwan kami, nag-iiwasan kami.

Kailan kayo nagka-chance mag-usap tungkol sa past?
— Sa Amsterdam lang.
— Yeah. Sa Amsterdam. Thanks to Samantha ulit. ‘Di ko na sasabihin pero ayon, naging dahilan ‘yung sinabi niya para i-confront ko si Raguel. Do’n ko lang din nalaman ‘yung ginawa ni Lolo.

So wala ka pala talagang alam about it?
— Wala. Tinago niya sakin.

Why did you hid it, Raguel?
— Kasi alam kong ‘pag nalaman niya ‘yung ginawa ng Lolo niya, pupunta siya do’n at susundin ang Lolo niya para matigil na. As selfish as it sounds, ayaw kong gawin niya ‘yon. Kahit may mga nadamay, ayaw ko pa rin. Sabi ko nga diba? I want her to have her freedom. Parang habang-buhay ko siyang kinulong kung hahayaan ko siyang bumalik.

I think everyone wants to know your answer to this. Now that you’ve had your closure in your relationship, is there a chance, just like the title of your movie, for the two of you to have a Second Chance?
— Well, is this the time to announce our relationship, my love?
— (laughing) I guess so.

Wait, what?
— Nagkabalikan kami. We realized that we never stopped loving each other. We just tried to hide it.
— And no, bago pa may magsabi na ginagawa namin ‘to para sa promotion, hindi. Naging instrument lang ‘yung movie para mag-usap [...] at eventually, magkabalikan.

Wow! That’s good to hear! I’m sure matutuwa rin ang fans. Anyway, do you have a message to each other?
— (laughs) Well, I’ll keep this short. Zia, my princess, thank you for the second chance. I will do everything to make you not regret this decision. I love you. Thank you for lighting my world again. Araw-araw kitang mamahalin.
— (smiles) Rago, mahal kita. Salamat sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Mamahalin kita hangga’t kaya kong magmahal.

Wow. Thank you for choosing Beloved to have this interview. Before we wrap this up, do you have a message to your fans?
— Thank you for your support. Sorry to those who were disappointed. I hope after reading this, you’ll be able to understand us. I will always be forever indebted by your support.
— Salamat sa suporta. Gaya ng sabi ni Z, sorry sa mga nadisappoint. At salamat sa mga sumuporta, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga nanatili kahit hindi pa nila naririnig ang side namin.

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a/n: graph!c des!gn is my passyunnn 🤩
emz! wag niyong laitin yung kyemerut kong edit ha!!! iiyak ako 👹 charot lang pero i-secret niyo na lang bwahahahaha