Actress Inah De Belen revealed that her mother, Janice De Belen, suggested the idea of living under one roof with longtime boyfriend Jake Vargas.
Speaking on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Inah and Jake talked about about their decade-long relationship and shared how their live-in arrangement began five years ago with Janice's blessing and support.
READ: Janice de Belen says she told daughter Inah ‘what was wrong’ amid controversy with Rosmar Tan
According to Inah, there came a point when she was already spending most of her time with Jake, prompting her mother to suggest that they simply live together.
"Actually, Tito Boy, something happened kasi five years ago. So, I think my mom just suggested [it]. She actually was the one who suggested na 'Bakit hindi na lang kayo mag-live in?' Kasi during that time also, I was always not at home anymore. Halos every day, every week, [si Jake] ang kasama ko. So that was also the time na parang sabi ng mom ko, 'Why don’t you guys live together?'"
Although the suggestion caught her by surprise, the actress admitted that the possibility had already crossed their minds before Janice brought it up.
"Noong una, Tito Boy, siyempre nagulat ako. Sabi ko, 'Ha? Totoo ba 'to?' But then, leading up to that, I have already thought about it. We're talking about it na rin pero hindi naman kami talagang nagpa-plano," she recalled.
She continued: "So when she said that, parang 'yun na rin 'yung blessing niya siguro na 'It's okay for you guys to [move in]."
Jake likewise recalled feeling surprised and nervous when the topic came up, acknowledging that moving in together was a major milestone in their relationship.
"Nagulat din ako, Tito Boy," he said. "Kasi magli-live in na kami, iba kasing usapan na 'yun...Siguro inisip ko na lang na love naman namin ang isa't isa, makakaya naman namin."
"We'll make it work," Inah added.
The couple also addressed differing opinions surrounding couples choosing to live together before marriage, emphasizing that every relationship has its own journey.
"You guys don't have to have the same set-up as us. This is just what works for us right now. This is what makes us happy. We do not judge people who do not believe in this set-up and we do not judge also people who live in this type of set-up. Chill lang," Inah said.
Jake then shared that he has occasionally received comments from people wondering why they have not gotten married yet.
"Sa akin, 'yung pagpapakasal din naman mangyayari rin naman siya eh. May plano naman kami talaga, Tito Boy. Hindi naman namin minamadali. Sabi ko rin naman sa kaniya [na] kailangan talagang swak na swak na tayo sa isa't isa," he said.
Meanwhile, Inah admitted that marriage was once something she intentionally avoided because of the separation of her parents, Janice and John Estrada. However, her outlook eventually changed after listening to her mother's advice about choosing someone who deeply loves and respects his own family, the very qualities she sees in Jake.
"A few years ago, ayoko naman talaga. I told him this many times, I didn't want to get married because of what happened to my parents. But now, okay na ako. Gusto ko na."
READ: Janice De Belen on daughter Kaila Estrada’s love life: ‘I am just happy that Kaila is happy’
Inah also credited her sister Moira's engagement to fiancé Alfonso Miguel for helping shift her perspective on marriage.
"Kasi siyempre kami 'yung mga maids of honor eh, kaming dalawa ni Kaila (Estrada). We are always the first ones to hear about her plans...and actually, Tito Boy, itong 2026 is the only year na sunod-sunod 'yung mga kasal na pinupuntahan ko...parang nagkakaroon na rin ako ng wedding fever. But siyempre, lagi ko namang nilalagay sa utak ko na it's not just about the wedding but the marriage talaga," she said.
Inah and Jake have been together for more than 10 years.