After months of rumors about their breakup, it’s been confirmed that Jericho Rosales and Kim Jones have called it quits.
The couple’s godfather Ricco Ocampo confirmed their split to ABS-CBN News, adding that they’ve been separated since 2019 but remain good friends. While news of their breakup has spread online, the two have yet to address the matter themselves online.
The actor and the British-Australian model-blogger first started dating almost 13 years ago in 2011 when Jericho said he didn’t want to date for a while. When he met Kim on an awkward date, however, the actor was mesmerized and they went on several dates afterward.
Since that first date, the pair have marked several milestones together, including saying “I do” in May 2014, dealing with breakup rumors, and now, their split—let’s look back at Jericho and Kim’s relationship through the years.
2011: An awkward first date
In an interview on The Buzz with Boy Abunda posted in 2013, Jericho and Kim shared that they met through common friends in 2011 at a time when the actor didn’t even want to date anymore. But after showing Kim’s photo to him, the actor said, “Oh sige na nga.”Their first date went a little awkward, as they told Boy, because Kim didn’t get the Pinoy actor’s jokes. “And he didn’t understand me because my accent is so thick.”Their friend who set up their date also told Kim to ride Jericho’s car, which was another awkward moment between the two. However, the Siargao star reassured his date.”Don’t worry, I won’t kiss you. I’m not a bad person. I’m a nice guy, I won’t attack or take advantage of you. Just sit there,” he shared with The Buzz.
2011: Getting turned down and their second date
After their awkward date, it actually took two months for Jericho and Kim to meet again. The actor asked her out many times but got turned down. In one instance, Jericho shared he bought two tickets to The Script’s 2011 show without asking the blogger if she wanted to watch but she didn’t say yes.”I ended up watching with a guy friend,” he told Bianca Gonzales in a column for the Philippine STAR.”The truth is, I was really hurt,” the actor quipped. “We would text, but she would reply with just one line, tapos days later pa.It took about two months for the two to go on their second date, which Kim initiated. Together, they went to the beach where Jericho taught Kim to surf—it was then when she started to have “dreamy eyes” for him, she told Boy Abunda.
2011-2012: Dating and the first ‘I love you’
After their beach date, the pair continued to see each other and eventually became boyfriend and girlfriend after eight months of courtship.The first time they told each other “I love you” was during a time when Echo was frustrated at his girlfriend over an unnamed issue.”I remember getting so frustrated and nilapitan niya ako. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I was getting mad at her. ‘Why are you getting mad at me?’ Then I said ‘I love you,'” the actor shared with The Buzz.
August 2013: The proposal
On Kim’s birthday on Aug. 4, Jericho got on one knee and asked Kim to marry him during a service at the New Life Church in Alabang. The Girl in the Orange Dress star later posted a pic of his then-fiancée wearing the ring on Instagram.”I love you, Miss Jones. You are the love of my life. Thank you for saying YES (to forever) to me,” he wrote in August 2013.
May 2014: Saying “I do”
Three years after their first date, Jericho and Kim got married in a beachside wedding at Shangri-La Boracay Resort attended by their close friends and family.
2018: Attending New York Fashion Week
When Kim attended New York Fashion Week in September 2018, Jericho was a supportive husband who became her assistant.He posted about the Big Apple adventure on Instagram, saying the effort was part of his “Better Husband Project.” As Kim’s assistant, Echo would keep her schedule, get her Uber rides, and steam her clothes.
2020: Helping out Typhoon Ulysses victims
When Typhoon Ulysses hit the Philippines and left cities flooded in November 2020, Jericho and Kim extended a helping hand to people in their community of Barangay Tumana in Marikina City. The couple used their surfboards to save those stranded in their homes as there were no boats or other flotation devices available.After their help here, the two also helped out other victims of the Typhoon by joining a cause building 20 houses in Baggao, Cagayan in 2021.
2022: Buying a home in New York
In February 2022, Jericho gave a glimpse of his new home with Kim in New York where the actor was reportedly pursuing a career in the US. While in the Big Apple, the couple gave a glimpse of their life there, which includes getting haircuts, strolling in the city, and attending acting workshops.
As early as September 2022, rumors that the couple had broken up have been spreading online as they didn’t post photos together as much.Echo reacted to these rumors in an interview with Pep.ph in June 2023, saying he sees no reason to explain his personal life to anyone.”People are entitled to what they think. I mean, ano ang gagawin ko? tatawa lang ako. But it’s okay. People are entitled to their own opinion. I’m really not that type of person na I really have to explain myself to anyone,” he said.”What you see is what you get. As long as [we] live in peace, in love and respect, ‘yun na ang important sa akin,” he continued.The two seemingly shut down rumors again in September 2023 as they appeared together at the ABS-CBN Ball. More rumors started to spread in December 2023 as showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz gave clues about a couple—a “guwapong actor” and “magandang misis”—was in the process of getting annulled.
2024: Holiday greetings via Instagram
For the holidays, Jericho and Kim exchanged comments on each other’s Instagram posts.When Kim posted a photo of a board game, Echo quipped: “Try to fake lose for once, Kim. Your mom is still on the game table wearing tears on her face.”For her new year’s post, the actor commented: “Well done, Kimberley and 2023. Well done. Now have fun dancing with 2024.”Meanwhile, Jericho posted photos and clips of a feast as he welcomed the new year. “The magic number is 2024. Happy first leftovers day of the years! Big [love] folks! Busy pa rin ang lababo,” he captioned.”Pizza nights are top tier nights,” Kim commented.
Jan. 29, 2024: Their godfather confirms their split
On Jan. 29, the couple’s godfather Ricco Ocampo told ABS-CBN News that they’ve been broken up since 2019. “While the friendship between the two remains, they have decided it is time to lead separate lives. They are encouraging each other to grow, albeit in different directions. It was a mutual decision, an amicable separation, dealt with grace and maturity by both parties,” he said.Ocampo added that the two are the “best of friends” and “love each other like family.”Despite their separation, their godfather said that the couple is working on collaborations, including a film where Kim is the writer, director, and actor while Jericho is a producer.
