MANILA, Philippines — Coco Martin and Julia Montes gave fans a rare peek into their private relationship as the longtime couple shared details of their home life, revealing everything from who does the cooking to why they now call each other "Nanay" and "Tatay."
Known for keeping their romance largely away from the public eye, Martin and Montes have rarely spoken at length about their life behind closed doors. But during a question-and-answer session following their contract signing as endorsers of LPG provider Regasco, the couple offered some of their most candid comments yet about their household and partnership.
Martin repeatedly spoke about returning home to Montes after long days at work, describing her as the person who takes care of him despite his demanding schedule.
"Imagine this, no matter how difficult my workday is, when I get home, she's the one who takes care of me. She cooks my meals. From breakfast until I come home at the end of the day, that's really what I look forward to," Martin said as translated to English.
He added that cooking has become one of the ways they stay connected amid their busy schedules.
"When someone cooks for you, they spend a lot of time doing it. As they say, food tastes even better when it's made with love. Our bonding time comes through our conversations. That's when I get to tell her about everything I went through during the day," he said.
Montes said she enjoys taking care of Martin whenever she has time away from work.
"Whenever we have a break or I'm not working, I'm the one who cooks for him," she said.
The actor also referred to Montes as “reyna ng aming tahanan” or "the queen of our home.”
"Siya ang reyna ng aming tahanan (She’s the queen of our home). I grew up on the streets, so I'm used to facing life's challenges. Over the course of our long relationship, I've learned how to adjust. If you want your home to be happy and peaceful, as a man you have to learn when to stay quiet, adjust and be understanding," Martin said.
Drawing laughter from the audience, he added, "Happy wife, happy life. That's the only thing on my mind. No problems, a happy home."
Martin then revealed another detail about their household, sharing that they have moved away from conventional pet names in favor of something more reflective of the family values they hope to uphold.
According to the actor, they now call each other "Nanay" and "Tatay" at home.
"We're very Filipino. Before, it was the usual 'babe,' 'hon' or 'love.' But I told her, I want us to think ahead. I told her that from now on, I want us to call each other 'Nanay' and 'Tatay,'" Martin said.
He explained that the practice is rooted in his desire to preserve traditional Filipino values.
"I miss our culture. I feel that some of it has been lost among Filipinos. So even inside our home, I want us to bring back respect and the values that are at the core of being Filipino," he said.
Perhaps the most revealing moment came when Martin described how deeply involved Montes has become in every aspect of his life.
"Julia is always with me in whatever work I do, in all my meetings. I always have her with me because I feel like if she's not there, it's as if I'm incomplete," he said.
"When she's there, it feels like I gain extra courage. When she's there, I think more clearly. I feel more at ease. When you have someone in your life who gives you inspiration and strength, that's a huge thing,” he added.
For her part, Montes described Martin as the leader of their family and said one of her goals as his partner is to guide and support him whenever needed.
"He really is the leader of our family. You never get the feeling that he's not open to advice or communication. My goal as his partner is simply to guide him when I can and be able to help in some way," she said.
Asked about the secret to their relationship's longevity, both pointed to faith, respect and communication.
"For me, it's important to have a center, and that center is God. There are no perfect people and no perfect relationships, but through all the happy moments, the ups and downs, you remain strong because you have that center," Montes said.
Martin added, "The key is that we respect each other. Respect and supporting one another, that's really our secret. That's why our love continues to grow stronger," he said.
The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in May 2023 after years of speculation. In an interview with ABS-CBN's "TV Patrol" at the time, Martin revealed they had already been together for 12 years.
Martin and Montes first worked together in the hit ABS-CBN drama series "Walang Hanggan," which premiered in 2012.