Someone in love can easily, and blindly, let things slide and grant the other person a second chance. But are second chances always worth it? Maalaala Mo Kaya will feature an inspiring story of a young couple who took the risk to believe in the power of second chances. 

Titled “2 Love Again,” the episode continues the love story of Gio and Karla, first portrayed by JC Santos and Bela Padilla, respectively, after their reconciliation. Now portrayed by Arci Munoz, Karla is bound to discover that Gio (now played by Ejay Falcon) is cheating anew. 

Arci only had happy stories to share about working with Ejay again. They starred in the afternoon series Pasion De Amor in 2015 and in the action-comedy film “Extra Service” two years after.  

Arci said her leading man kept on teasing her about being single, noting that their co-stars Ellen Adarna and Coleen Garcia are now moms, and even the show’s lead actors, Ejay, Jake Cuenca, and Joseph Marco are all taken. 

The Kapamilya actress would simply laugh it off because she’s not in a hurry. She has found joy in the waiting, just taking the time to grow and bloom even more in the season she’s in. Her mantra is to live life to the fullest and she was reminded more of this last year due to the pandemic. She realized that life is indeed too short, so take on what you wish to accomplish but do it responsibly.   

Just as she learned from Gio and Karla’s story, Arci added that there’s no reason to rush into love. She believes relationships thrive because of forgiveness. However, we must also learn when to stop. Know when enough is enough and listen to the red flags. 

“Naniniwala ako na hindi mo pwedeng ipilit ang gusto mo. When the universe is already waving a red flag, accept that. Tanggapin mo ‘yun kasi magiging downfall mo kapag hindi mo sinunod ‘to,” she explained. 
It all boils down to self-love. It’s been said a lot of times that self-love will attract your match. “Most importantly, ano ba? ‘Yung pagmamahal mo sa kanya o pagmamahal mo sa sarili mo? Napagdaanan ko ‘yan, eh. How many times do I have to look mukhang tanga na talaga to realize na it’s enough? Binabatukan ka na ni Lord, nandiyan na sa harapan mo lahat ng signs na pwede mong hingin at dapat mong makita pero ikaw bulag-bulagan ka pa rin,” she talked form experience.

Arci thinks cheating twice is too much of a felony. Sometimes, the second chance may only lead to more trouble than a sense of calm in the relationship. Besides, the universe will know when you are ready. “Mag-aattract ‘yan, eh. Kapag buo ka na sa sarili mo, when you are really happy about your life, mag-aattract ‘yan ng tamang tao. I swear. Don’t rush.” 

Listening to her views about matters of the heart, it’s clear to see that Arci understands the meaning of finding true love which is all about complete surrender. It will come when it’s supposed to. For now, she’s enjoying every minute of waiting for the right one. 

Arci, now single for two years, shared that love taught her to love herself first. This seems a hard lesson for someone who gives her all in love but she learned to accept it as a golden rule.  “Love yourself. ‘Yan ang magiging basehan kung paano tatakbo ang relationship n’yo. Hindi mo malalaman kung paano mahalin ang isang tao kung hindi mo matututunan muna na mahalin ang sarili mo.”

After all, at her age, she knows she can’t play trial and error anymore. She has to be careful and discerning in choosing the right guy.

“I want to stay single until I find my rock, until I find the person na I can say hindi lang fifty percent ‘yung kaya kong ibigay sa kanya. Alam mo ‘yun, sure na sure ako one hundred percent,” she added. Arci will never get tired of saying this many times over, “if you are patient, ibibigay rin sa’yo ni Lord sa tamang panahon. Huwag kang mag-rush.”

She has her family, friends, and BTS to keep her single season more worthwhile. Arci mentioned that we lose a friend or two when in a relationship, so she takes this time to also nurture lasting friendships, apart from fangirling over her favorite K-Pop group.

Arci can do crazy things for her love for BTS. She once lined up at 5 AM, in the cold street of South Korea, for five hours, to wait for a BTS pop-up store to open. She also had their album logo tattooed on her arm. Just goes to show how all-out she can get when in love with a person, an artist, or even a thing. A child at heart, Arci thinks a Disneyland adventure will make the best Valentine’s date. 

Her career and humanitarian works also keep her busy. She recently joined a charity drive with her Air Force family in an Aeta community for the holidays. On working under the ‘new normal,’ she said taping has become easier thanks to the lock-in setup. 

Catch Arci together with Ejay Falcon in the next episode of MMK titled “2 Love Again” on Saturday, January 16.