Maricel Laxa, Anthony Pangilinan recall rough patch during early days of marriage

Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan's marriage seems perfect and exemplary since day 1 but on Friday's "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda," the couple shared they actually had thoughts of calling it quits in the early stages of their marriage.

Maricel admitted to being the one who said one should just walk away if the relationship was not working.

“I think pagka lumaki ka sa isang tahanan na may single parent ka, survivor ka. So when you see something not working, 'wag nating pilitin. Magkasundo na lang tayong maging magkaibigan tapos let’s move on,” she said.

When Tito Boy said it was "predisposition" Maricel had because she was raised by "a lovely single mother," the actress agreed. 

According to Maricel and Anthony, they learned so many new things about each other upon getting married.

“Syempre marami kaming natuklasan about each other na mga little things lang pero things that would annoy you,” she continued.

For instance, Anthony discovered how Maricel really adjusted herself to him while they were just going out. "I don’t think you did it consciously na alam mo, outgoing ako, naging outgoing din siya. May mga kaibigan ako, kinaibigan niya din lahat. Pero nung nag-asawa kami, hindi pala sya ganon.”

“Ayaw pala nya yung maraming kaibigan, ayaw pala nya yung lumalabas, complete change yung personality,” Anthony said.

“I think yung mindset na alam mo nang ‘this is the one’ and you wanna make it work without really thinking about it, parang I was adjusting to him," Maricel explained.

"Later on, na-realize ko, hindi pala ako 'yun, iba pala ako. Tapos nung napapansin niya na hindi ako masyadong excited lumabas or excited na maraming tao, nagtataka sya, “Bakit? Anong nagbago? Anong nangyari?” Maricel recalled.

While the couple eventually decided to fix things between them, both Maricel and Anthony admitted they "got a lot of help from a lot of people."

Anthony likened the story to a marathon: “Kailangan mo ng coach, mentor, kailangan mo may pumapalakpak sa sidelines, otherwise you will quit and you make a decision."

"You make a decision when you get married di ba? Pag wedding day. Pero araw-araw pala kailangang magdesisyon ka," Anthony said.

Maricel and Anthony will mark their 30th wedding anniversary in December.

They have five children: Ella, Donny, Hannah, Benj, and Solana. — Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News