Marina & Ricardo: There’s always hope in love

Who can say what brought us

To this miracle we’ve found

There are those who’ll bet

Love comes but once and yet

I’m oh so glad we met

The second time around — from the Love is Lovelier The Second Time Around

They could have fallen in love way, way before, during their modeling days when they were much younger and eager to explore the years ahead of them. But as fate would have it, the paths of Marina Benipayo and Ricardo Cepeda (whose real name is Richard Cepeda Go) would cross again after their respective first marriages failed, proving that, as the song quoted above goes, love is indeed lovelier the second time around.

Marina has two sons (Mark, 25; and Joshua, 21, recently featured in a “Body Talk” story in this section) from her marriage to a non-showbiz man and Ricardo has two daughters (Samantha, 26; and Sachi, 21) with ex-wife Snooky Serna (who herself has found a new love). Marina and Ricardo have been enjoying an atypical kind of relationship for seven years now, so aren’t they planning to “commit” a second marriage to each other? Nope! (Oh no, not again!?!)

“When we don’t have work,” the couple told Funfare during the recent launch of SPVTOP International, Inc. (a multi-business organization that got them as brand ambassadors), “we go to the mall, eat out and simply enjoy our free time.” (They endorse the G-Power Patch, a device that protects the home from electrical surges.)

Marina talked more about her and Ricardo in a no-holds-barred interview.

How do you and Ricardo show that love is indeed lovelier the second time around?

With Marina’s sons Mark and Joshua, and Ricardo’s daughters Samantha and Sachi.

“By being absolutely thankful every single day that we have found each other, by showing everyone through actions and deeds that there will always be hope in love.”

You and Ricardo were together in the modeling field; why didn’t you become sweethearts at that time?

“As Richard would always say, maybe it just wasn’t the right time for us then. We were both busy with school and work, that we just weren’t able to get to know each other better then.”

When did you meet again and become a couple?

“We ‘re-met’ in 2011 when I was cast as Richard’s character’s first wife on ABS-CBN’s My Binondo Girl. We figured it was fate that brought us together again, but this time, in a different industry from modeling. Glydel Mercado played Richard’s character’s second wife, but had to beg off from continuing on the teleserye because she was pregnant. The writers thought that a mother-figure had to still be there for Xian Lim’s character, so they wrote me in as Menchu Wu, to be Edison Wu’s (Richard) first wife.

“I had always guested in GMA shows since before, but it was the first time I was to be a semi-regular in a series, so Richard, being a dear friend, made me feel welcome as part of the cast. The first time Gina Pareño (also a regular in the series) saw us together, she already told me that we would be a couple in real life, hahaha! I guess nagdilang-anghel siya.

“Richard and I spent most of our time together, and then there was a time we got to know each other real well… and the rest is history, as they say…we’ve been together for seven years now… and counting. Hahaha!”

What “mistakes” did you commit during your first marriage that you’re avoiding in your present relationship?

“Not entirely to be called a ‘mistake’ though. At this point of our maturity, we see many marriages fall apart mainly because both parties forget to recognize the red flags even before the union. Ultimately, all unions or marriages should be rooted on getting to know the other person the most that you can first. At present, both of us don’t ‘avoid’ anything anymore because we are used to facing whatever challenges we have, together. And we have 34 years of experience and friendship to back it up.”

Are you okay with your respective exes?

“I with his, we’re civil. Richard never met my ex. He lives out of the country na since then.”

What about your respective children?

“It was, sort to say, ‘love-at-first-sight’ on both sides. Richard has a great relationship with Mark and Joshua. During our first years, we spent many vacations together with the kids. Though we’re empty nesting now since they’ve all grown up, we still find the time to always communicate with each other no matter what.”

What influences have you done on each other (did Ricardo encourage you to be an actress and you encourage him to write)?

“I was into acting already when Richard and I re-met in 2011, but I’ve always referred to him as my ‘acting coach,’ hehehe! I was writing for the Inquirer at that time, focusing on parenting. Thelma San Juan encouraged Richard to be a contributor also since she thought Richard could bring a fresh, male take on the topic.”

How do you keep your relationship intact?

“Understanding each other more, helping and supporting one another, being tolerant and patient with each other, with lots of laughter in between. We don’t sweat the small stuff anymore.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)