Christopher Roxas (left) and Gladys Reyes (fifth from left) with their kids Grant, Christophe, Gavin and Aquisha
—Photos by MARINEL CRUZ
That’s when you realize that every moment counts,” said actress Gladys Reyes, who admitted to feeling sad that while she and husband Christopher Roxas are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, a lot of couples in show biz have chosen to part ways for good.
“Uso nga ang hiwalayan. This is why we really chose to celebrate our anniversary. Life is unpredictable. You’re not sure of what will happen later. Christopher and I were boyfriend-girlfriend for 11 years before we got married. The news of all these couples breaking up also made me think: if we didn’t decide to get married on our 11th year, is it also possible for us to not end up together? There’s also this thing called overfamiliarity,” Gladys told reporters during a party at Glass Garden Events Place in Pasig City that she hosted for their eldest, Christophe, who turned 18 this month.
“Thank God, we ended up getting married. For the record, neither did I force Christopher to propose to me nor give him an ultimatum,” Gladys said, laughing. “Our only regret was not having children early on in our relationship.”
Gladys said she couldn’t remember them having any major fights, except for when they were much younger and didn’t talk for a month and a half. “When we were already married, we would quarrel in the morning, but would eventually make up at the end of the day. This is normal for those who have been married for a long time. Pero pagsapit ng gabi, naiiba ang ihip ng hangin. I don’t know, it must be my charm! When we go to sleep, I make sure to wear something that will awaken his senses,” Gladys quipped.
Making an effort
“Seriously, though,” the 46-year-old actress continued. “Intimacy in married couples is important. You have to keep the fire burning, as they say. The two of you should make that effort. When the day ends, it’s not healthy to just sleep facing opposite each other. You should also find time to go on a date or a staycation. Before, I would feel guilty for doing this, so I would bring our kids along. As they grew older, I realized that they will all live their own lives eventually, and Christopher and I will be left to ourselves. That’s reality. The two of us have to build a solid relationship as early as now.”
