Celebrities Carmina Villaroel and Gelli de Belen, both of whom are in happy marriages, talked about how they maintain the spark in their relationship with their husbands.
During their guest appearance on Aiko Melendez's vlog, they both agreed that there is no specific formula for sustaining the fire within a relationship.
“We don’t even try to keep the fire burning,” said Gelli, who has been married to singer-actor Ariel Rivera for 27 years now.
"I guess it’s, so to speak, parang you just focus on each other’s needs. Feeling ko parang at the end of the day, if you respect each other, if you really accept each other, if you continuously want to give without counting what you’re going to get, (it) doesn’t matter, the fire doesn’t matter... it’s just there,” she elaborated.
Carmina, who has been married to Zoren Legaspi since 2012, also shared a similar view on the matter, emphasizing that they still cherish each other’s company.
“Wala ring formula, hindi ko masabi na ‘step 1, kailangan [ganito],” she said. “Parag katulad sa sinabi ni Gelli, dapat pareho kayo ng goal, pareho kayo as a family, bilang mag-asawa. Syempre kami, priority namin mga anak namin, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin nun na babalewalain din namin ang isa’t isa.”
When asked if they still make the effort to look good for their husbands, Gelli emphasized that she does it "more for herself."
Meanwhile, Carmina admitted that her husband has been constantly reminding her about the importance of being fit, but she clarified that it was intended for her personal benefit.
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“Well actually si Zoren, lagi din niyang ni-re-remind sa akin ‘yun,” she said. “Hindi naman niya sinasabi na 'magpaganda ka para sa akin.' Parang sinasabi lang niya na 'you have to look good, to feel good,'” she said.
“Actually, mas more on 'mag-exercise ka for your health.' 'Yun 'yung lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin: na maghanap daw ako ng hobbies din kasi nga 'wag daw masyadong [naka-focus] sa mga anak ko or sa work ko, kasi nga lumalaki na sila, may mga sarili na silang barkada and eventually mag-ka-kapamilya na sila, so ang ending ikaw nalang at ako,” she added.
In the same conversation, Gelli shared their bond as a couple grew deeper now that their children are living their own lives in Canada.
READ: Gelli de Belen shares keys to lasting marriage with Ariel Rivera
“Feeling ko mas naging close kami,” she revealed. “If before partners kami in bringing up the kids, ngayon talagang partners kami in all aspects of our lives. I think [we’re] even in a better place relationship-wise, kasi we’re focused on each other. We only have each other here. Yung mga bata nasa Canada. Although malalaki na sila, naka-focus din naman kami sa kanila, pero 24/7 kami yung magkasama eh.”
Carmina and Gelli guested on Aiko’s vlog alongside their other friends Janice de Belen and Candy Pangilinan.