Michael V, Married for 25 Years, Says Have Couple Goals Even After Kids Arrive

Michael V, a man of many talents (he wrote, directed and stars in his latest project, the movie Family History), is proud of his career, but he is even more proud of his marriage that has probably helped him achieve his showbiz goals.

The funnyman and his wife Carol Bunagan celebrated 25 years together by renewing their vows last February 2019 in Amanpulo, Palawan. Their secret?

“Dapat meron kayong couple goals. Iba yung individual goals, iba rin yung couple goals,” Michael V said in an interview on GMA 7’s morning news and lifestyle show Unang Hirit. “Yung couple goals dapat hindi mawala, dapat nga madagdagan pa,” he added.

On his vlog back in March 2019, the actor-director says couples plot goals during the boyfriend-girlfriend stage. These include eventually getting married, building a house, traveling together, and having kids. Unfortunately, once the kids arrive, many couples seem to stop planning for themselves or setting aside time for the little things they used to do together.

“Nagiging dahilan pa yung bata, di ba, parang kawawa naman, unfair para sa kanila yun,” Michael V said in the interview. When you and your partner are so focused on the kids, "hindi ninyo binibigyan ng opportunity ang mga bata na harapin at maintindihan yung mundo sa sarili nilang paraan,” he explained.

“Nangyari din sa aming mag-asawa ito. There was a point in time na ang mundo namin parang umiikot na lang sa mga anak namin. Nawala yung maliliit na bagay — workout, yung pagde-date,” he admitted on his vlog. Michael V added he and Carol were late bloomers when it came to rediscovering their couple goals.

“Ang couple goals pwedeng madagdagan, pero hindi dapat nababawasan. Ituring niyo na ring anak ninyo yung couple goals niyo. Dapat mahalin niyo yung relationship niyo kagaya ng pagmamahal niyo sa anak niyo.”

“Hindi naman kailangan bongga agad e,” the dad of four said, suggesting taking walks after meals can be date nights. "Hindi kailangang mabura yung couple goals dahil lang nagkaanak kayo.”

Michael V says his family is no different from other Filpino families “na naghahanap lang ng saya, ayaw ng problema.”

He and Carol try to be good role models for their kids, not just in their careers but self-care as well. “Hindi mo kakayanin kapag hindi mo inalagaan ang sarili mo,” he added.

Apart from having individual goals, rediscovering their couple goals, Michael V and Carol’s family goal remains constant: “Kailangan magkakasama kahit saan pa, [pero] ideally makapunta sa mga lugar na hindi pa napupuntahan,” he said in the interview. As a family, they have traveled to New Zealand and have personally seen the Aurora Borealis or the northern lights.

“Maraming nagsasabina hindi raw talga fulfililng yung material na bagay na inireregalo mo sa mga anak mo, pero yung travel, kahit saan sila magpunta maalala nila yan,” he said why they invest in traveling as a family. "Yung experience talaga hindi nila makakliimutan,” Michael V stressed.