Ricky Davao and Jackie Lou Blanco. Image: Instagram/@jackielou.blanco, screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network

After actress Jackie Lou Blanco admitted that she had regrets over their separation, Ricky Davao stressed that the split was “never part of the plan” and that all they could do is to “move on and continue living.”

Davao spoke about this during his “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Tuesday, Sept. 26, when asked about his reaction to Blanco’s confession. It can be recalled that the actress admitted in an earlier “Fast Talk” interview that she wished she did not part ways with Davao.

“It happened 23 years ago, and we just have to move on… Itong nangyaring ito, wala sa plano ito (What happened was not part of the plan),” Davao spoke of the split. “You have to accept, move on and continue living. Be positive. ”

Davao then briefly talked about his current relationship with his non-showbiz girlfriend, saying that his children with Blanco have been very supportive of their father.

“They’re very happy for me. Syempre, you know, kailangan maging happy ka naman (Of course, I have to be happy). They respect that and they’re happy for me,” the actor said.

“Nakakatuwa nga kasi (It’s funny because) every time we go out and we meet good friends, [they tell me], ‘Uy Ricky, look at that smile. You’re happy. You’re in love,’” he added.

Davao also became emotional at some part of the interview after he recalled how his daughter Rikki Mae came out to him as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Something happened in her school. Nabalitaan ko and nagalit ako. Nag-aayos ako ng shoes noon tapos nagalit ako, binato ko pero hindi naman siya tinamaan. Then she cried,” he recounted.

(I was informed that something happened in her school, so I got mad. I was fixing my shoes at the time. I was angry so I threw it away but it didn’t hit her. Then she cried.)

“The following day, I got a long letter saying sorry and she admitted that she’s different, that she’s part of the LGBT,” he continued. “Of course, natanggap ko naman agad (I accepted her right away) because I love her and I respect [her]—so whatever makes her happy.”

Aside from Rikki Mae, Davao and Blanco have two more children, namely Arabella and Kenneth. Blanco earlier disclosed that she and Davao currently live near each other, and that their children just go back and forth to their parents’ houses.

“We’re not chummy-chummy,” the actress said of her friendship with Davao. “[We have] not-so-long conversations but we do [talk].”