5 Filipino celebrity couples who abstained from sex before marriage

EA Guzman and Shaira Diaz made waves on social media recently when they admitted in a "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda" episode that they have been practicing celibacy since the start of their 11-year relationship.

Celibacy refers to the state of remaining unmarried or refraining from sexual relations due to religious beliefs.

Some couples embrace this practice in the Philippines, and EA and Shaira are not the only celebrities to have done so. Here are five other couples who also chose to abstain from sex before getting married.

1. Drew Arellano and Iya Villania

Despite having a big family, Iya Villania and Drew Arellano abstained from sex until their marriage in 2014.

"It doesn't make you less of a person. Kanya-kanya namang values 'yan, eh," the TV host and actress said in a past interview. 

Now, 10 years into their married life, the couple is blessed with four lovely children: Primo, Leon, Alana, and Astro.

2. Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo

Sarah Geronimo has always been open about her commitment to abstaining from sex until marriage, and her husband Matteo Guidicelli respected that decision.

In 2014, the couple told the media that they were determined to wait for marriage before doing it. 

The pair tied the knot in 2020. Last year, Matteo said that he is ready to become a father and that spending the rest of his life with Sarah is his ultimate goal.

3. Mariz Umali and Raffy Tima

GMA Network's veteran broadcast journalists Mariz Umali and Raffy Tima abstained from sex until their marriage in 2012.

As a Catholic devout, Mariz waited until marriage to fully give herself to someone. "Talagang na-instill sa akin of getting married first before going into making love or having sex," she said in an interview.

4. Nikki Gil and BJ Albert 

After her breakup with Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil stood firm by her decision to abstain from sex until after she got married. She said in a past interview that it was her choice to wait before tying the knot.

Nikki married her non-showbiz husband, BJ Albert, in 2015. Nearly a decade into their married life, the couple are blessed with two lovely children: Finn and Maddie.

5. Miriam Quiambao and Ardy Roberto

Miss Universe 1999 first-runner-up Miriam Quiambao and Christian author and motivational speaker Ardy Roberto both had first marriages before they tied the knot in 2013. 

Despite that, Miriam and Ardy still made a "purity pledge" saying that they would not engage in sexual activities before their wedding.

Miriam explained their purity pledge as a way to still honor her Christian beliefs and to also "preserve" herself for her future husband.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News