Kakai Bautista no comment on past Mario Maurer issue, says she can live without a man for now
Two years after getting embroiled in controversies with Thai actor Mario Maurer, comedienne Kakai Bautista has this to say: "Ay, sino 'yon?"
The witty take on the famous Pinoy saying, "Kapag ako naka-move on, 'who you' ka sa akin," was delivered by Kakai during her guesting in GMA's afternoon talk show Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on June 21.
In the episode that featured both Kakai and fellow actress Cai Cortez, host Boy Abunda asked the 44-year-old star what she has so far learned about falling in love with men, particularly Mario.
"Ay, sino yon?" the singer-comedienne jested before pretending to leave the stage.
As everyone in the studio began to laugh, Boy went on to urge Kakai to open up about her controversial romance with the 34-year-old actor. He said, "Ako'y humihingi ng pahintulot, hindi ka puwedeng magkuwento?"
Kakai responded, "Let's not talk about the past, Tito Boy," noting that it's better that way because of legal purposes.
"My lawyer doesn't allow me," she said.
Kakai and Mario's close ties and disconnection
Kakai and Mario first worked together in the film Suddenly It's Magic way back 2012. Since then the two were rumored to have close ties, which was confirmed by Mario in his appearance on Gandang Gabi Vice that same year.
The actress finally opened up about their special friendship in an interview with Showbiz Inside Report in March 2013, saying that she already met Mario's family and friends in Thailand when she visited the country in February of that year.
Kakai revealed in a 2019 interview with Tonight with Boy Abunda that back then, she and Mario would often say "I love you" to each other as friends. She also said that although they weren't in a romantic relationship, she "fell for his realness."
However, Kakai revealed in that same interview that it was in 2013 that they last spoke to each other.
"Nag-stop lang siya makipag-communicate sa akin," she said. "Nandoon na, madami nang nangyari. Syempre na-hurt ako doon. Pero naiintindihan ko naman 'yon."
She added, "We don't talk, seven years na. Yung kapatid niyang si Marco, we talk pero 'pag magkasama kami, hindi namin pinaguusapan si Mario."
In March 2021, Kakai received a warning from Koraphot Jirachocksubsin, who identified himself as the lawyer of Maurer's management, to stop spreading "false claims" about her relations with the actor.
The allegations were refuted by Kakai's camp and her legal counsel, Jude Marfil, in a nine-page reply to the actor's camp. It states that the actress' statements were "only based on truthful occurrences" and were not made in bad faith. It also notes that she "has decided to totally dissociate herself from Mr. Maurer through all means and channels possible."
Being wiser about love
Looking back a decade after developing her now-defunct close friendship with Mario, Kakai couldn't be any prouder to have grown into a woman who is wiser about love. She said that she learned to easily say goodbye to men who would constantly give her problems without showing signs of improvement.
"Usually kasi kunyari nasawa na ako sa paulit-ulit na issues sa relationship, 'babu,'" she said. "Meron akong mga relationship, kahit itong mga recent, kapag nainis ako sayo sa araw na ito na paulit-ulit nalang na iyon ang dahilan, kaya kitang hindi kausapin for three months unless you find a way. Magri-reach out ka."
Further proving the femme fetale that she has become, Kakai recalled a certain incident when she asked her lover to plead for her forgiveness.
"Meron pa nga dati, sabi ko, 'Lumuhod ka sa harapan ko.' Lumuhod naman siya sa harapan ko," she said before joking, "Hindi lang halatag sa fez (face), hindi lang halataga sa fez."
She said she has been firm about proving her worth to men for this reason: "Kapag binigyan mo ang tao ng permisyon na saktan ka ng paulit ng paulit, mangyayari yan kahit sa ibang relasyon mo so dito palang, simulan mo na."
Right now, Kakai is satisfied with being a single woman making the most of her life until the time has come for her to meet the right man.
She explained, "Sa phase ng buhay ko ngayon, I'm just enjoying on my own, no destractions kasi, Tito Boy, late na ako nag-enjoy sa buhay so gusto ko muna namamin yun para reading-ready na ako to fall in love again 'cause I have embraced myself wholly and wholeheartedly para wala nang issues 'pag nagkaroon ako ng love life."