(From left) Elisse Joson and McCoy de Leon with their daughter Felize. Images: Instagram/@elissejosonn

Elisse Joson was all smiles as she declared that she and her partner McCoy de Leon are “healed” after their relationship went through a rough patch last year.

On the sidelines of a brand Thanksgiving event, Joson told reporters that while the past year had been tough for her and de Leon, their relationship grew stronger after taking the time to heal.

“We talked about it. I guess last year was a stage for us where we wanted to be quiet and heal on our own. It happened, and what you see is what you get. But now, we’re happy to show it to you,” she said in response to a question on how she and de Leon are doing.

The actress said 2024 is a year for them to be “healed and [be] better,” saying she knows they can handle future problems better.

“A healed and better 2024. We want to keep going and to make it stronger. We’re healed,” she said. “And siguro, iba na ang ita-tackle naming issues (And perhaps, we’ll handle different issues) in the future but we know we can handle it better.

No wedding plans yet

Joson, however, laughed when asked if she and de Leon would tie the knot.

"When I'm asked about that topic, it's stressful to answer." We'll get there, last year we wanted to be quiet about our family and relationship because we wanted to make it stronger," she said.

The actress then clarified that she and de Leon are focused on "building the life of [their] dreams" before deciding to say "I do."

"Until now, it is still difficult to rush marriage and the foundation is rocky. Don't go ahead, we're busy building the life of our dreams like a house," she said. (Until now. It's hard to rush into marriage when the foundation of your relationship is rocky. Not now, we're busy building the life of our dreams like our house.)

When the topic of choosing acting projects as a mom came about, Joson said the industry's notion of women being "sayang (or pitiable)" should stop and instead, focus on how motherhood inspired them to be better.

"There is always a notion that we are a waste [when we have children]. Nothing is wasted because being a mother made us more confident and more whole as a woman. Maybe there was more inspiration to let it all out," she said.

(There had always been a notion that women are pitiable when they give birth. There's no such thing as that because being a mother makes us more confident and more whole as a woman. For me, I guess I am more inspired to let it all out.)

Joson and de Leon went on a break in January 2023 after the latter was accused of being unfaithful to the “Pira-Pirasong Paraiso” star. They were then speculated to have reconciled after they were spotted together on multiple occasions.

Three months later, the actress confirmed she and de Leon are “happy” and are focused on keeping their relationship alive.