Kitang-kita na lubos ang saya ni Michelle Madrigal sa bago niyang American boyfriend na ayaw muna niyang pangalanan sa ngayon.
Noong November 6, 2022, nag-post si Michelle sa Instagram ng 34th birthday celebration niya kasama ang nobyo.
May video pa ang sweet kiss nila.
Si Michelle ay kasalukuyang naninirahan sa Austin, Texas.
Isa siyang single mom, at divorced sa American husband niyang si Troy Woolfolk.
August 2021 nang maghiwalay silang mag-asawa, at na-finalize ang kanilang divorce noong May 2022.
Read: Michelle Madrigal opens up about reasons that led to her heartbreaking divorce
Sa PEP Spotlight, ibinahagi ni Michelle na siniguro niyang naka-move on na siya sa separation nila ng asawa.
Binuo muna raw niya ang sarili at inalam ang kanyang boundaries, kaya raw nang magsimula siyang makipag-date uli ay may kumpiyansa na siya sa pagsabi kung ano ang mga katangiang hinahanap niya sa isang lalaki.
Lahad ng aktres: "At some point, I was casually dating. I haven't been dating in a long, long time. I just wanted to see what does it feel like.
"I go on coffee dates, mga walk lang. Hindi naman mga formal na wine and dine. I wanted it to be casual, like getting to know a new friend.
"And then, ayun, eventually I was on dating apps kasi where would you meet guys?
"I wasn't partying every night. I'm a single mom, so I have my responsibilities."
Karamihan daw sa dating scene sa Austin, Texas ay mga "bagets."
Lahad pa ni Michelle, "Here, pag gumigimik ako, a lot of the guys are in their late 20s. Ayoko naman ng sobrang bata, ayoko rin naman ng sobrang older than me rin.
"I want someone na at least yung close to my age pero mature enough to be open sa concept na I'm a single mom.
"Siyempre some are interested. But when you're gonna date, especially kay Anika, di ko siya in-expose kahit kanino."
Si Anika ay ang limang taong gulang na anak nina Michelle at Troy.
Hanggang sa nakilala raw ni Michelle sa dating app ang boyfriend niya na ngayon.
Naalangan pa si Michelle na "boyfriend" ang tawag sa kanyang special someone.
"Natatawa ako kasi high school ba ako? Parang pag nanay ka na, tapos in your 30s ka na, parang yung 'boyfriend,' nakakabagets ang feeling," napapangiting saad ni Michelle.
ON COMPATIBILITY WITH HER BOYFRIEND
Hindi pa raw masabi ni Michelle na "love" ang nararamdaman niya para sa nobyo, dahil mas malalim na raw ang pakahulugan niya sa pag-ibig bilang dati na siyang may asawa.
Pero isang bagay na ikinatutuwa niya sa nobyo ay swak daw talaga sila.
"Okay na okay kasi he's also a dad, he has two kids, and he's also divorced. So, dun kami nagkaroon ng connnection.
"Before, I was dating someone for a few months, pero yung lifestyle lang namin wasn't the same."
Malaking bagay kasi kay Michelle na compatible ang core values nila ng karelasyon.
Patuloy niya: "When we started dating, talagang talking lang. The more I talk to him, the more that I realized we have a lot of core values na mas aligned.
"It was something I was looking for if I were to date again. Dun na nag-start, I guess, yung relationship.
"At first, kuwentuhan lang. We would Facetime."
Mas nahulog daw ang loob niya rito dahil nakita niyang maganda ang relasyon ng nobyo sa dalawang anak nito.
Sabi pa ni Michelle: "The more we get to spend more time together, I saw how he is as a father. That's a really big deal for me kasi makikita mo naman ang isang lalaki how he treats his kids. At the time, di ko pa siya nai-introduce kay Anika.
"I prayed for someone like that—someone very gentle around kids, good leader, very kind, and very open.
"Since siguro we're both in that situation and pareho kaming nag-mature talaga from our divorce and past experiences, talagang mas open kami mag-communicate."
ON BEING A BLENDED FAMILY
Siniguro raw ni Michelle na pareho sila ng direksiyon at lifestyle ng nobyo para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga anak.
"Dati kasi ayaw ko maging straightforward. A lot of women are fearful na pag straightforward ka, a lot of guys might back out na. 'Sobra ka, why are you asking me these questions bago pa lang tayo?'
"And it's not our fault na na-pressure yung lalaki. Sometimes you're just asking. Wala naman tayo time to play around.
"Once napag-usapan niyo yun [what you want in a relationship], you can move forward. Kasi may kids involved, e.
"It would be different if you're dating a single person na walang anak. You can delay the process of introducing your kid.
"For us, our kids, they get along so well. Blended family," nakangiting paliwanag ni Michelle.
Maayos ding naipakilala ni Michelle ang nobyo sa ex-husband na si Troy.
Minsan nang nag-post si Troy ng picture kasama si Michelle at anak nilang si Anika, at naroon din ang nobyo ni Michelle at dalawang anak nito.