Mario Vargas Llosa on romance with Isabel Preysler: PDA ‘banalizes’ love

Feeling queasy about sharing too many couple photos or writing "I love you" on public posts on social media? You’re in the company of a Nobel Prize winner.

Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa on Thursday was welcomed by the press at the Instituto Cervantes during his second trip to the Philippines. During the event, the name of his partner, Filipina-Spanish socialite Isabel Preysler, was floated.

Llosa eloquently evaded giving details, saying, “You know, love is fantastic experience. Probably the richest we have...but it is private.”

The answer drew laughs from the crowd and Llosa continued, “When it becomes public, it impoverishes it, it becomes banal. Public expression of love ‘banalize’ love, so I don’t want to ‘banalize’ this fantastic feeling. For me it is and will be always private.”

 

Contenta de haber podido pisar anoche la alfombra roja de los premios #goya2016 por primera vez. ¡Enhorabuena a todos los premiados! #MyCream

A photo posted by Isabel Preysler (@isabelpreysler) on

Feb 7, 2016 at 1:35pm PST

"Banalize" is not quite a word yet, but the message is clear—PDA is definitely not for everyone and shouting your love at the top of your lungs is not the only way to express affection. Love can be sacrosanct…"low-key" if you will, in today’s language.

Preysler, 65, and Llosa, 80, began a relationship in 2015, shortly after Llosa separated from his wife Patricia.

The two made headlines when they stepped out publicly, with tabloids referencing Preysler’s earlier high-profile marriage to singer Julio Iglesias, with whom she has three children, including singer Enrique Iglesias. — BM, GMA News