Robi Domingo has received the most special birthday gift yet as his fiancee, Maiqui Pineda, is “improving a lot” amid her battle with a rare autoimmune disease.
The TV host shared the good news on his Instagram account on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
“This is how I’m celebrating my birthday: in the airport going home with Maiqs after her recent medical visit in SG,” he began.
He went on to share how his birthday this year was different as compared to the previous years, as he was able to find a “new way of appreciating life.”
“Got my birthday wish as the doctor told us she’s improving a lot! Hopefully, tuloy tuloy na,” he continued. “Thank you for all the prayers.”
Maiqui, meanwhile, expressed her gratitude to the love of her life in a separate post.
“I know how much your birthday means to you and how this is such a big work week too but you let go of all that to be with me in Singapore,” she wrote.
“Can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done and continue to do for me. I’m so grateful to have found a partner in life with you,” she continued, sharing that they had a double celebration at Robi’s favorite restaurant in Singapore.
“You are the most amazing person I know and you deserve all the love and blessings you’ve been receiving. Ilysm,” she concluded.
Maiqui first opened up about her rare autoimmune disease in August, saying was diagnosed with dermatomyositis last July 14 after several tests and medical exams. Aside from the rash, she said she experiences joint pains, which make it hard for her to do her day-to-day activities like slicing food, opening doors, lifting things, getting out of bed, and so on.
Her health condition, she explained, may also lead to Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), which is a risk factor for lung scarring. The cause of her disease is unknown but it can be triggered by several factors including stress, virus, and the environment.
“Sadly, there is no long-term cure for autoimmune diseases but they can be managed and treated,” she said at the time.
In an Instagram post in the same month, she shared that her recovery journey “is far from over.”
“There are good days but there are still bad days. I am hopeful that this is just temporary and I will work on getting better one day at a time,” she added.
Robi and Maiqui got engaged in Japan in November 2022 after four years of being together. In a previous interview, Robi shared that they will push through their wedding as scheduled despite Maiqui’s condition.
