Ronnie Ricketts and his wife Mariz have been together for 34 years now. They share a beautiful family with their two daughters, Marella and Raechelle.

On Wednesday’s episode of “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,” the long-time couple, who got married in 1993, opened up on how their love story started.

According to Mariz, she met Ronnie when she was in college and before she entered showbiz.

“Nakita ko siya pero hindi ko siya nagustuhan kasi pinuntahan ako sa school nang hindi ko alam,” said the actress, who was attending Miriam (then Maryknoll) College back then.

Mariz said Ronnie found out her schedule from someone and took his car to visit her.

“Ang masakit Boy, hindi ako pinansin. Bumaba ako ng kotse, hindi ako pinansin,” he said. “Hiyang-hiya ako Boy. Para akong nag-model, turn around, pasok sa kotse, alis.”

However, Ronnie did not let that stop him from pursuing Mariz.

“Hindi siya sumuko,” Mariz said. “Nakikipag-usap pa rin, tinatry, kinuha ‘yung telepono, tumatawag. Tapos nagpapabisita na pero driver na ‘yung pumupunta, nagdadala ng chocolates, roses.”

“‘Yung roses napupunta sa akin pero ‘yung chocolates napupunta sa best friend ko,” she quipped.

And the rest, as they say, is history. The couple is happily married for three decades now, and they are just as in love as when they were young.

Mariz said Ronnie makes her coffee every morning.

During the pandemic, the two of them had to be away from each other for the first time when she had to enter lock-in taping for “Apoy sa Langit.” But absence truly makes the heart grow fonder – they would go on video call every day and Mariz said they felt like they were back during their courting days.

Mariz said that intimacy in very important in married life.

“Hindi dapat mawala ‘yun eh, kasi ‘yun ‘yung nagpapa-ano ng magic sa relationship,” she said.

For Ronnie Ricketts, it is important for him and his actress-wife Mariz to always spend quality time with their daughters, and so, it would be hard to see them working long hours on different sets at the same time.

This is especially true now that he made his TV comeback via the nightly action-drama show “Mga Batang Riles.”

Philstar.com was able to sit down with the returning ‘90s action star to ask him about his showbiz comeback, his married life, and entering politics right after the press conference for the show held in GMA-7 last December 20.

“Alam mo nakakatawa kami niyan. When she has work, lalong ayokong mag-trabaho,” the action star said, smiling.

Ronnie currently plays the martial arts mentor of the titular young adults in the show, led by Miguel Tanfelix and Kokoy de Santos.

Whenever the topic of Mariz and his family comes up, Ronnie’s enthusiasm is visible and his eyes light up.

Ronnie and Mariz tied the knot in 1993 and have been married for over 30 years now.

The ‘90s actor said that it was crucial for him and his wife to know their two daughters’ milestones, including their love stories. Thus, it was why they decided they could not tape a show at the same time.

The last time that they were apart was during the lockdown taping of the afternoon show “Apoy Sa Langit” during the pandemic.

Mariz’s most recent drama is the recently concluded “Asawa ng Asawa Ko.”

“Walang matitira sa bahay. May yaya pero gusto ko palaging nandoon ako sa isa sa mga anak ko. Hindi pwedeng dalawa kaming mawawala. Dapat laging may tao sa bahay,” the actor explained.

He wants to see their progress even though they are already adults, even calling them his babies.

“Ayaw namin iwanan so talagang nagpapalit kami. Malalaki naman na sila but the only thing is naging really close ‘yung family ko e. We’re like barkadas. Magugulat ka. Grabe! Mga love stories nila. Alam ko lahat ‘yan…” he said.

Apart from his showbiz commitment, Ronnie is also actively involved in his construction business as well as a physical therapy and orthopedic clinic in Quezon City.

In the nightly show, he also co-directs the stunts or fight scenes since he is proficient in Martial Arts.

“Tuwang-tuwa si Mariz na binabantayan ko ‘yung mga bata,” he said.