Jose Sarasola opens up about LDR, split with Maria Ozawa

Kapuso actor and chef Jose Sarasola revealed the details of his breakup with former partner Maria Ozawa in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com on Friday, January 14.

“A breakup isn't always what's best kung wala namang problema, so the hard part lang was the LDR," said Jose was in a relationship with Maria for more than four years.

He continued, "Usually, you break up because may third party, may away, may family problems. But ito naman, wala sa lahat na iyon. It's just the mere fact that LDR is really challenging for everyone, especially [with] me and Maria since she's in a different country... in a different country, it's a different ball game. We didn't really think it would be a solution to our problem but it was something that had to be done."

In April of 2020, Maria returned to Japan to handle her bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Jose shared that they tried to make the relationship work despite the long-distance arrangement but stressed that it later became more difficult for both of them as lockdown restrictions persisted during the pandemic.

He recalled, “We still updated each other every day or every other day kung ano 'yong gingagawa namin. 'Yong key talaga to LDR is communication. I think [that] is the most important thing talaga because once you stop the communication, [doon papasok] 'yong mga doubts, mawawala 'yong feelings. [You start to question] kung mahal mo pa 'yong tao. We did last for a year and eight months [in LDR]. Madami rin naman ang natuwa na ganoon katagal namin nalabanan 'yong LDR pero 'yon nga, it's really not easy talaga."

Asked about whether he was open to finding new love, he said, “Siguro ngayon, 'wag muna. It was a four-year relationship. It was long din. So now, I want to focus on myself, Avenue 75 - 'yong business ko and, siyempre, 'yong career ko with GMA. It's been good naman. A lot of blessings have been coming in sa career ko in terms of my work [as] a chef. Marami akong ganap dito so I think I'll focus on that muna.”

Jose and Maria's breakup came a few months before their supposed fifth anniversary in February. The former couple started dating in 2017 after meeting in Jose's restaurant bar, Avenue 75.

Watch the exclusive interview here:

Meanwhile, revisit this roundup of celebrity breakups that shocked many fans and followers.