As the star of Maalaala Mo Kaya’s two-part Father’s Day episode Finding Papa, Maris Racal said she has come a long way after seven years in showbiz.

“Nakakatuwa kasi nung bago pa ako, wala akong connections, wala akong kilala sa showbiz so everything is new to me and every time na umuuwi ako sa bahay namin or sa Davao lagi akong tinatanong ng parents ko kumusta, kumusta work mo at ano ang nangyayari off-cam. but now, I think seven years na ako sa showbiz tapos parang naging part na siya ng life namin. Nasanay na sila na ito ang work ko so wala na yung gaya ng dati na laging nagtatanong. Parang nasanay na talaga kami. I’m really focusing on making myself better para maraming makatrabaho pa,” she shared.

A self-confessed fan of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Maris said she has watched countless episodes growing up and even has a favorite one.

“Sobrang mahilig talaga ako manuod ako ng MMK hindi pa ako artista. Siguro yung pinaka favorite ko was the MMK of Ms. Angel Aquino and Jane Oineza. I just can’t remember the title but sobrang believable talaga ng acting dun and saludo ako to both actresses. Ang ganda ng story. Mother-daughter story siya and if I’m not mistaken drug addict yung mom and yun yung dynamic nila. Nung nanunuod ako, sobrang iyak ako ng iyak. Unforgettable talaga siya para sa akin,” she said.

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Even after revealing that she is currently in a relationship with Rico Blanco who is 25 years her senior, Maris put to rest any speculation about them taking it to the next level.

“I guess for a 23-year-old lady, of course madami pa akong hinahanap sa buhay ko. At 23 madami pa akong roles na gusto matupad, and of course lagi ko namang hinahanap yung satisfaction. Though na-a-achieve ko naman siya, hindi naman tayo nagiging satisfied na parang mag-se-settle down ka na. We’re always aiming to be better and be greater.

“Para sa acting, I want to work with a lot of actresses pa I look up to. Sa music naman I want to release more songs na mas makaka-tap ng madaming tao. As a person, I think masasabi ko talaga na I’m not perfect and ang dami ko pang aspect na kailangan ibago sa sarili ko and I’m slowly learning. Palagi naman ako nag-li-learn about myself and na-su-surprise ko na lang yung sarili ko na kaya ko pala ito gawin, kaya ko pala mag-react ng ganito, and may mga times din na mali yung reaction ko kaya lagi kong binabantayan yung sarili ko and really know para I can change that,” she explained.

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For now, Maris said she is enjoying both her personal and professional relationship with Rico.

“I think it just comes naturally. Walang study, walang perfect formula for it. Pero if you get each other then automatic na yung connection, yung attraction or whatever you call that. Minsan kasi may songwriter ka na mami-meet na hindi mo kapareha ng ways, hindi mo kapareha ng technique. Nagkataon lang medyo pareho kaming dalawa that’s why ang bilis namin nakuha yung writing ng isa’t isa. Before kasi nag-meet kami through that and then nung nagkaintindihan na, that’s when the music happened,” she added.

Watch the MMK two-part episode titled Finding Papa starring Cris Villanueva and Maris Racal and directed by Jerome Pobocan on June 12 and June 19 at 9 pm on the Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live YouTube channel, ABS-CBN Entertainment Facebook page, and iWantTFC.