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Kapuso power couple Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali have been married for eight years now but they still show affection for each other like any newlywed couples.

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To my constant source of inspiration and strength, my dearest bestfriend and favorite travel buddy, my amazing mentor and life coach and most of all my loving and caring husband and soulmate, ang aking pinakamamahal na @raffytima, happy happy birthday! I always pray that God will continue to bless you with the best of health, guidance, protection, wisdom, happiness, love & everything else ur heart desires. Love you mahal ko! 😘❤️💋🎉🎊🎁🎈🙏🏻 #happybirthdayraffy #dronemaster 💕

A post shared by marizumali (@marizumali) on Jan 6, 2019 at 7:50pm PST

What's the secret to their lasting and harmonious relationship?

In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, Mariz and Raffy related some advantages of being bestfriends prior to having a romantic relationship.

As fellow Kapuso news reporters, the two have built friendship over time. It became the strongest foundation of their partnership.

“Mas naiintindihan n'yo kasi 'yung isa't isa.

"Bestfriends kayo tapos kumbaga, feeling ko kasi parang aside from the fact na mag-asawa kayo, 'yung ang lalim na ng pagkakakilala n'yo sa isa't isa dahil magkaibigan kayo,” said Mariz.

“Wala nang pretensions, hindi ka nagpapapogi o nagpapaganda lang just because nanliligaw ka or asawa mo siya, parang the fact na magkakilala kayo or mag-bestfriends kayo even before pa 'yung romantic relationship, talagang wala 'yung pretensions.

“So I think it's one of the edge ng pagiging magkaibigan kayo prior to your romantic relationship,” she added.

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7 years ago today when God has blessed me to be with the man of my dreams and my soulmate forever. ❤️ After 7 years, Im still as ecstatic and overjoyed as when the day we made our vows in front of God and our loved ones. And I will always and forever be excited and happy to dance and do everything else with you and with God at the center of our marriage. Happy 7 beautiful years mahal, @raffytima 😘🥰❤️ Cheers to 70x7 wonderful years more loveu forever 😘😍❤️ (p.s. Thank you Father Randy Flores, SVD for the special blessing on our aniv; thank you also Rev. Joel Malvas, SVD) ❤️🙏🏻

A post shared by marizumali (@marizumali) on Dec 8, 2019 at 6:34am PST

For his part, Raffy shared that as friends, they have already witnessed the best and worst side of each other.

“Kasi kapag nagliligawan at hindi n'yo pa kilala 'yung isa't isa, talagang you should put your best foot forward e,” he said.

“Pero kapag magkaibigan na kayo, alam n'yo na sa isa't isa kung ano 'yung best du'n sa taong 'yun at kung ano 'yung worst niya.

“Tsaka kung mamahalin mo 'yung worst niya, wala ka nang hahanapin pang iba,” he added.

Raffy and Mariz tied the knot in December 2012.

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