Ayen Munji-Laurel admits married life is challenging
Singer-actress and former Start-Up Ph actress Ayen Munji-Laurel recently celebrated her and husband Franco Laurel's 22nd wedding anniversary. While they've been happily married, the actress admits that marriage has been challenging and that it is actually not “all bed of roses.”
“Maraming trials na dumating, pero alam mo 'yung kinaya naming dalawa kasi we want to really be together and really alam naman namin na may trials lahat ng marriage di ba?” she said in her interview on the Updated with Nelson Canlas podcast.
She added, “Iba 'yung mga kasunduan kayo na 'you know, lalabanan natin 'to.'”
She also expressed the importance of respecting each other's differences to make the marriage work. She then revealed that while she's introverted and is more of a listener, Franco is the "social butterfly" and that this difference complements their relationship.
“Kumbaga parang alam niya, nirerespeto niya 'yung space ko, 'yung boundaries ko na 'ito si Ayen ganito 'to,'” she said.
And like any married couple, Ayen and Franco went through a lot in their marriage and there's one common advice from couples that she doesn't believe in, which is the "don't sleep when you're angry" or "settle your problem first before going to bed."
"In reality actually may mga issues ang mag-asawa na hindi nase-settle overnight. May mga issues na 'ay naku tsaka na lang natin pag-usapan kasi mukhang hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan.' It's either ayaw mong intindihin or pagod ka," she said.
What advice does Ayen have for couples when dealing with arguments? “Walk away first.”
“Don't settle what you can't and you know, have time for yourself, breathe and we do pray a lot kasi may mga issues kaming mag-asawa na hindi namin kayang i-solve on our own,” she said.
Ayen also mentioned that it takes a lot to say sorry, especially since most people tend to have a lot of pride. However, the actress said that “'Yong pride it takes time to lose it, it takes time to practice 'yung walang pride e.”
“Medyo matagal 'yan lalo na kapag you assert yourself, alam mo 'yung dapat sa marriage ganito ako, you learn a lot of ano, like not just forgiving each other, it's also being selfless, 'yung alam mong may reason why you're together e. It always has to be balanced I guess,” she said.
She added, “And 'yung pagka galit 'yung isa wag mong sabayan, 'yon nagwo-work kasi dati hindi ganun e. Pareho kaming sabay magalit. And then we learned the hard way though you know at natutunan namin na it's such a waste of energy to be mad all the time in a marriage or in any relationship.”
TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER CELEBRITY COUPLES WITH LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS: