Paolo Contis on why he fell in love with Yen Santos: ‘She stayed’

Paolo Contis has revealed why he fell in love with Yen Santos even in the middle of the controversy that followed his breakup with LJ Reyes. 

In his May 30 interview on Updated with Nelson Canlas, the actor said: “When the whole thing started, the whole crucifixion started, there was a time or there was every opportunity, she had every opportunity to leave me, but she stayed.” 

“Ako, sa totoo lang, ang laki-laking bagay. Kasi nung mga times na ‘yun, pinag-uusapan naman namin na mahirap, yes. Nagkaroon pa nga ng time na nag-hiatus din siya sa social media,” he recalled. “Pero she did everything she could to not get affected as long as nakakapag-usap kami and okay kami.”

“Hindi mo ba mamahalin ‘yun?” he went on. “During the time some of my friends, some of the people who actually believed me were leaving, someone stayed.” 

“Kumbaga, nung lahat palayo, siya papalapit,” he continued. 

Paolo confirmed his romance with Yen in January and has since denied allegations that Yen, his co-star in the 2021 movie A Faraway Land, was a third party in his previous relationship with LJ. 

Third-party accusations began when Paolo and Yen were spotted spending time together in Baguio on the heels of his breakup with LJ. Paolo, at the time, said Yen was just there for him "as a friend." 

LJ and Paolo broke up in 2021 after a six-year relationship. They share a daughter named Summer. She has since moved to New York with Summer and Aki, her son with Paulo Avelino.

The actress is now engaged to her non-showbiz partner Philip Evangelista.