Actress and tennis player Maika Rivera answers questions during her guesting on "Oh My Gan!" with entertainment host Ganiel Krishnan at the ABS-CBN Digital Studios in Quezon City on June 30, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- Maika Rivera opened up about losing parts of herself in a past relationship, calling the experience her “biggest heartbreak” while reflecting on the lessons she carried with her afterward.
During her interview on “Oh My Gan!” with Ganiel Krishnan, Rivera was asked about the heartbreak that affected her the most and how she eventually moved forward.
“I think my biggest heartbreak was when I turned my back on what I know just so that I can make the relationship work,” Rivera said.
The actress explained that she found herself adjusting who she was in order to fit into the relationship.
“I really just, like, turned myself away from who I am para I can fit the mold of that relationship,” she shared.
Despite the pain, Rivera said she does not regret going through the experience because it helped her discover what was truly good for her.
“I don’t regret because parang it opened what’s good for me. Parang nalaman ko kung ano ba talaga yung dapat for me. Natuto ako ng lessons, so hindi ko naman siya nire-regret,” she said.
But Rivera acknowledged that some things could never be recovered.
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“However, siyempre, yung pain and time that I can’t take back,” she added.
Rivera said the relationship lasted around two years.
She also stressed the importance of knowing what is right for oneself even when love is involved.
“It’s just a matter of actually knowing what’s right for you. Yun yung importante,” she said.
“Relationship pwede pumasok, pero at the end of the day, ikaw. Tingnan mo yung sarili mo sa salamin. Masaya ba ako? Okay ba ako? Yun yung importante,” she added.
Rivera also recalled how work became an unexpected source of strength during the immediate aftermath of her breakup. She said the relationship ended around the same time she entered a lock-in taping for “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” allowing her to focus on acting for about a month.
“You know, I’m so blessed. I’m so lucky din kasi nung nag-heartbreak ako or nung day of parang break talaga nung relationship na mahirap, na-lock in ako taping sa ‘Batang Quiapo,’ so acting saved me pa rin,” she said.
Rivera said being surrounded by people while doing work she loved helped her realize she could continue moving forward.
“Imagine yung privilege na yun na you’re surrounded with great people, you get to do what you love, you get to work,” she said.
“So parang nung bumalik na ako sa real world, per se, hindi na ako nasa lock-in, parang, ‘Ah, kaya ko pala,’” she added.
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When asked to choose between love and career, Rivera did not hesitate.
“For me, career,” she said.
Rivera explained that prioritizing oneself allows a person to discover their potential first.
“Kasi kailangan mo unahin yung sarili mo para makita mo yung potential mo. Tapos yung pagmamahal, darating at darating yun kung dapat,” she said.
Later in the interview, Rivera revealed that she is currently not single, though she chose not to elaborate further.
For Rivera, what matters most is no longer forcing herself to fit into something at the expense of who she is.
“Masaya ba ako? Okay ba ako?” she said. “Yun yung importante.”