Dingdong, Jessa reveal their marriage almost ended

Celebrity couple Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza have admitted that they almost called it quits as husband and wife in the past because of jealousy.

"Parang may period na papunta sa seven-year itch. Kasi nga selosa sya (Jessa). There are times na feeling ko 'yung pag-seselos n'ya parang too much," said Avanzado, when asked if there was a time that they almost separated, during an interview on "Tonight With Boy Abunda," on ABS CBN.

Zaragoza defended her being the jealous type of person. "Merong pagseselos na I'm sure maraming makaka-relate na kababaihan. Pag nagseselos ang isang babae, hindi ibig sabihin na-i-insecure sya. Minsan meron lang s'yang hinahanap na assurance na sa taong yun na i-acknowledge mo kung ano na yung position mo."

Avanzado said: "She felt na parang hindi ko raw napaparamdam sa kanya so s'yempre inisa-isa namin 'yun. But at that time, hindi kami nagtutugma. Iba yung pag-iisip ko."

But the couple said that everything has been settled when they put God in the center of their relationship.

When Zaragoza was asked the person she got jealous of, she said: "Sobrang tagal na 'yata yun."

"Naturally, talaga selosa talaga ako. Kahit naman sa mga kaibigan ko possessive ako. Ganun ako."

Avanzado said: "Well, naisip lang n'ya na akala n'ya I was flirting."

After 16 years of marriage, the couple said that they are "blessed."

"If you love someone, it's a choice that you make. For me, when Jessa came into my life, it was a choice that I wanted to spend my life with her," said Avanzado.

Zaragoza reacted: "Ang haba ng hair ko parang sa labas ng ABS CBN umabot."

"Nung time pa lang na sinabi ko sa kanya 'hon, gusto ka makausap ng parents ko, mom and dad ko.'

"Siguro sa mga naging past boyfriend ko, kapag ganun, parang umaatras na. Natatakot na. S'ya ang sagot sa akin 'sige kelan?' "

When asked how do they keep their married life strong and stable, Avanzado said: "Pwede ba ito sa TV? Minsan kasi kunyari meron kayong routine sa bahay. Let's say pag-gising n'yo sa umaga, you'll probably have breakfast. Instead of  breakfast muna, breakfast in bed na lang muna."

Zaragoza said: "Sa umaga ang sweet ni Dingdong. Siguro walang umaga na hindi s'ya bumati na magbigay s'ya ng complement na halimbawa pag-gising mo, usually sya unang nagigising. Pagbaba nya babatiin ka nya ng 'hi gorgeous!' hi beautiful!' "

Avanzado cited the importance of communication between a couple. "There is a right way of communicating talaga. Tamang timpla. Kailangan alam mo when to back off. At alam mo rin when to 'teka muna, kasi mali na 'yung sinasabi mo, malayo na. Something like that. Talagang you have to go through it."

They also said that there is no formula in keeping a relationship strong.

"People have been asking me ano'ng formula? Sabi ko it's so hard to pinpoint the secret eh. It's a mixture of different things," he said.

She added: "I'm so proud of my husband. His success is my success and vice versa." - ROBERT REQUINTINA