Ruru Madrid Opens Up About How He Earned A Second Chance With Bianca Umali After Cheating

Cheating has been a deal-breaker for many relationships. But for long-time couple Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali, it became a painful chapter that ultimately changed the course of their relationship. Before they celebrated eight years together, the couple went through an eight-month breakup and a long process of rebuilding trust.

ICYDK, Ruru and Bianca made headlines in 2019 following a confrontation involving jealousy in their relationship. Ruru publicly took responsibility for what happened and admitted that at the time, he was still young and inexperienced when it came to serious relationships.

More recently, during his guest appearance on Fast Talk With Boy Abunda on August 4, 2026, Ruru reflected on cheating on Bianca when he was younger, the lessons he learned from it, and what it took to rebuild their relationship after the breakup.

Ruru acknowledged that being young wasn't an excuse for his actions. "I was 20 years old at hindi ko naman po sinasabi na dahilan na yung pagkabata ko sa ginawa kong pagkakamali," he told Boy Abunda. "Pero siguro nga tinuturing ko rin po siya na blessing in disguise somehow dahil from there nakita ko po talaga yung kahalagahan ni Bianca."

Ruru has also admitted that he was used to going after other women for an ego boost. Looking back, he says the experience made him understand the value of the relationship he had put at risk.

Ruru said the experience made him more certain that Bianca was "the one" for him. But getting another chance with her wasn't as simple as apologizing and getting back together.

"So I did everything para maging okay yung relationship naming dalawa. Kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na 'pag kasama ko siya, I'm at my best. Pag di ko siya kasama, pakiramdam ko I'm lost. Siya yung nagbibigay ng liwanag, ng daan sakin, pero nasaktan ko yung babaeng yun."

During their eight months apart, Ruru continued pursuing Bianca and trying to repair what had been broken. "Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na kahit eight months ako na nanligaw sa kanya ulit, hindi ako mapapagod na sabihin sa kanya kung gaano ko siya kamahal at kung gaano siya kaimportante sa'kin."

In an interview from 2023, Bianca shared that getting back together wasn't simply about Ruru proving himself. She had to make her own decision about whether she could forgive him. "We were in touch, but Ru did everything that he could to save the relationship as well, and to win me back. And I did so much work also to forgive and to say that, 'OK, let's start again because I love you.'"

Going back to his recent interview with Boy Abunda, Ruru sees their story as proof that people can change. "Nag-break kami nang eight months, but now, eight years na po kami. Tinanggap niya ako ulit."

And because of what happened, Ruru believes that people can grow from their mistakes. "Kahit naman pong sinong tao, pwede pong magbago ano man pong klaseng pagkakamali yan."

Now, he says he's long outgrown the phase of playing around and understands that cheating is ultimately a choice—one he has learned not to make again.

"Siguro marami lang po akong pinanghahawakan sa panahon ngayon at sa buhay ko ngayon na bakit ko pa gagawin to. Una sa lahat, napakaganda ni Bianca at hindi na ako makakahanap ng katulad niya. Hindi na ako makakahanap ng isang babaeng magmamahal sa akin ng katulad po ng pagmamahal na binibigay niya."

Whether someone chooses to give a partner another chance is deeply personal. For Ruru and Bianca, getting back together was only the beginning. Rebuilding their relationship meant confronting what happened, earning back trust, and giving both of them the space to decide whether they wanted to try again. Eight years later, they're still together.