Meryll Soriano, Joem Bascon look back on how they rekindled their romance

Rarely do we read stories of couples who parted ways but then several years later, they crossed paths again and expressed a longing to renew their love. Hence, it’s fascinating to share the love story of celebrity couple Joem Bascon and Meryll Soriano who went steady, parted ways, moved on with their respective lives, met again a couple of years after, and rekindled their romance.

It’s not without reason why the two cut off their romantic ties. Joem would like to believe it was part of their “growing up” stage.

“Meme (Meryll) and I were young and wanted to accomplish so much then. She decided to temporarily stop (in) showbiz to go to London to study,” said Joem when he and Meryll recently sat down for The Talk on GMA’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.” It was the first time that I had them together for an interview.

Throwback photo shows Meryll and Joem in the early years of their relationship. The latter says their breakup many years ago was part of their ‘growing up’ stage.

“Tapos ako naman, I went on with my work because I was still new in the industry and I must say, it was my bread and butter then. So, we decided not to continue our relationship anymore,” he added.

Meryll, who studied Product Design at Central Saint Martins in London and lived there for three years, enthused, “I just told him, ‘Goodbye!’” and Joem let out, “Yes, she left me just like that.”

The actor confessed it didn’t come easy for him to understand their situation “because if it’s just me, all I wanted was to be with her so, nakiusap ako kung puwede pa rin ituloy but she was firm with her decision to study and for me, the relationship won’t work if it’s a long-distance relationship because she will be staying there. That’s why, I just had to accept.”

Work kept Joem busy. He, too, focused on learning many things that could prepare him for the future. “Kumbaga, inayos ko muna talaga ‘yung sarili ko but it took me a long time to accept what happened to us.”

The celebrity couple with their children.

MERYLL SORIANO’S INSTAGRAM

When Meryll came home, she once again ventured into acting. It was fate that found a way for them to meet again. “I think Tito Boy, we were together in one film project where we also had the chance to talk. I was able to apologize to him na parang after a decade ay finally nagkaroon kami ng closure.”

They had a heart-to-heart talk during a shooting break but Meryll said it wasn’t planned. “I just felt the need to say sorry because I knew how difficult it was for him, the recovery (phase) so at that time I just felt natural to say sorry to him.”

Meryll would like to make clear that they were both single then. She was loveless for five years. “Noong nagkaroon ng closure, nagkaroon (ulit) ng opening,” she laughed.

After the film was completed, the two began going out with friends yet they both remained careful of their feelings “baka kasi sobrang nae-excite lang kami to go out together again,” Meryll explained.

Joem added, “And I didn’t want to rush things coming from a relationship na nagkagulo and everything. So, gusto ko mas maging maayos, mas tahimik lang ‘yung buhay naming dalawa. When we had a talk that time, I asked her if we can go out, say, for dinner and when she agreed, sunod-sunod na pero hindi namin minadali.”

The actress never denied making an effort to explore how they lost each other for her to remember the lessons. “Before, wala akong masyadong pakialam pero nag-bago na rin ako and I promised myself to be better because of all the people around me, it’s Joem who best understands me, most especially with my bipolar (disorder) so that’s really something to be aware of. So I told him, ‘This is me.’ I really laid all my cards on the table, so to speak, at sinabi ko ‘yung mga gusto kong baguhin sa sarili ko.”

Diagnosed with bipolar disorder 17 years ago, Meryll discussed how she’s been managing her condition. Her regular visit to her doctors is essential. “I’m on medication. You have to take care by really knowing my condition and it took me a long time (to accept), Tito Boy. I think parang I was at peace and accepting my condition, (when) I was in my 30s already.”

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (hypomania) and lows (depression), according to mayoclinic.org. 

Joem was a heavy drinker when they separated “at ‘yun ang binago ko kasi ‘yun talaga ang sinabi sa akin ni Meme.”

He continued, “Sobrang malala talaga (drinking habit) so ‘yung time na ‘yun nagkaroon pa ng pandemic na para kong na-rehab sa loob ng bahay kasi no drinks. Lumalabas ‘yung anxiety ko but I’m glad that I was with the love of my life.

“It was also during those times when I observed some changes about her. Inalalayan niya ako throughout the pandemic at ganoon din ako sa kanya. It was also the time when we decided to have a baby.”

Joem and Meryll went steady in 2008 and separated a year after. Rumors of their reconciliation had spread like wildfire in 2019, and it was only in January of 2021 when Meryll confirmed their romance when she posted a photo of them with their newborn son Gideon or Baby Gido on her social media account.

Baby Gido is now three years old and mommy Meryll happily announced that she’s done breastfeeding him after three years and four months. Taking care of their first-born is challenging yet full of happiness for Meryll and Joem. Meryll stressed that it’s a new experience to care for Baby Gido even though she was able to raise her eldest son Elijah Palanca well.

“We’re very challenged in the toddler phase, Tito Boy. Ako, I’m already a parent coming from Eli. The only difference now is that I have a partner, because it’s so different from being a single parent that you get to decide everything on your own… ikaw lang mag-isa.

“Now, it’s a 50/50 thing. So, doon ako nagkaroon ng parang, ‘Paano ba namin ito gagawin?’ I cannot say I know better because this is a different child, different personality, different everything. But I’m very happy. I’m a very happy parent to be able to share something very special with Joem because I love Joem.”

Joem, on the other hand, expressed appreciation at how Meryll is giving her everything for their child. “Parang ang mabibigay ko na lang is to take good care of her, buy whatever she wants or take her to wherever she wants to go because that’s what I can only do. Siya nabigay na n’ya yung buong pagkatao n’ya sa baby namin.”

The couple would love to have another baby but some concerns were raised to them by the doctor.

“My doctor said it’s no longer advisable because I’m 41. My OB said that if we wanted, dapat magkasunod as in the year after or close to turning one year old of Gido, dapat sundan na. But it was so difficult because it was his first time and we want to really savor and enjoy the baby first. It’s so hard to prioritize getting pregnant again when we are just enjoying the blessing,” shared Meryll.

Do they have plans to get married?

“Yes, medyo old school pa rin ako, ipagpapaalam ko sa lahat. I will tell my parents, and ask her parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage,” replied Joem, whom Meryll described as “the whole package” being a father.