Rocco Nacino reacts to breakup news involving friends

Rocco Nacino pulled off three major life events over the pandemic.

The Kapuso star proposed marriage to former De La Salle volleyball player Melissa Gohing in November 2020. Two months later, in January 2021, they were able to wed aboard a naval ship since Rocco is a Philippine navy reservist. Now, they’re expecting their first baby together.

“Alam mo yung sinasabi nila na kaya pala nagkakaroon ng dad bod because the dad, kapag gusto kumain ni mommy, napapasabay. So ito yun (laughs). Napagsabihan na ako ng managers ko. I have to lose weight because I have a new project coming up and I have to look the part and get in shape real quick,” said Rocco, giving The STAR his latest life update on the sidelines of the GMA-NCAA All-Star Basketball Game on Sunday.

“But I have time. And it’s a fun, fun time in our lives! I just got a message from (my wife) that today is the first day na sumipa si Baby. Melissa is due to give birth three days before her birthday, Oct. 19. Grabe no, what are the odds?”

The official gender reveal is happening tomorrow. “My dad wants us to have twins pero hindi eh (laughs). But we have plans to try again in two years or maybe right after,” he said.

The excitement of the First Lady actor is partly due to the fact that it wasn’t that easy for them to get pregnant.

“I thought it would be easy to get pregnant, but ‘di pala… iba-iba pala yung stories. That one simple factor of not being stressed, malaki naidudulot pala yun sa pagbubuntis. And I was working on To Have and To Hold, it was heavy drama, so hirap talaga kami… yung story niloko ako, so lagi akong galit, naapektuhan yung personal life ko,” he shared.

Rocco was candid enough to admit that there was a time when his wife would become his “emotional punching bag” because “I had to get out of the character.”

“So, she would tell me, ‘Love, love, ‘di ito yung character mo.’ Well, this time, we went to the beach, (had) supplements, vitamins, I slept, good vibes palagi (nakabuo kami). Ganun lang pala formula,” he said.

As preparation for first-time fatherhood, Rocco is now busy researching, asking tips, signing up for birthing classes and reviewing his “nursing roots” on how to take care of a pregnant woman.

He’s a registered nurse who has a master’s degree in nursing. “It’s a nice time to be in, especially that it’s my forte. It’s my highest score in the board exams — maternity and child nursing... Yes, I have a masters pa in nursing, ito na ang application,” he said.

“But I have to say, nakakabobo din, madaling mag-advice sa ibang tao, pero ‘pag ako, bakit wala akong alam? Parang ganun. Nakakatawa lang. Ganun pala. Totoo pala sinasabi nila — when it happens to you, you suddenly don’t know what to do,” he added with a laugh.

How is Melissa’s pregnancy in general?

“It’s better. But she struggled during the first trimester… The second trimester came, she was more energetic and she was able to do many things. And tama nga na mas free yung body, pero nag-sta-start na yung weight gain, so I have to get her like belts. Start na yung masakit yung likod niya matulog lang, minsan natataranta ako, ano ba kailangan gawin?

“So, now, the third trimester is about to start… Lahat ng pera ko for my game room dapat, went to the baby room. I had to put it on hold… dream ko kasi ang chroma screen, I was saving up for that but magiging baby cabinet na,” he quipped.

He further said that he just tries to accommodate all of Melissa’s requests, including early-morning cravings. “I just say yes to everything… Kakapagod but very fulfilling!”

Melissa also wants him to be around always. “Ako ang laging hinahanap. I wake up at 6 a.m. to play tennis. But paalam lang (ang hirap), then she’d say, can you send me videos of you playing? Yung picture ko lang happy na siya. It’s one of the funny things that happened during the pregnancy. She’s super clingy kaya sabi ng mga tao, magiging kamukha ko (si baby), sorry (laughs)!”

As mentioned, Rocco got married at the height of the pandemic and looking back, he didn’t know how they were able to pull it off.

“But we’re glad that we did. Not everyone is capable of making things happen. It was very expensive for me but I still pushed through with it because these are moments na hindi mo mababayaran or mauulit. And then to know that we were able to pull these things off — like the marriage, the house, the pregnancy — during the pandemic, parang for ourselves, it’s an achievement,” he reflected.

Nevertheless, Rocco felt sad over the reported showbiz breakups involving friends. Some Kapuso couples have figured in separation news, confirmed and otherwise, over the pandemic.

“Kaibigan ko lahat ang na-issue… It’s sad,” he said without mentioning names. “Yung wife ko natatakot, alam mo yun?”

“But kasi kilala ko sila, I was able to reach out and show support. It’s sad that these things happen. But I believe yung sinasabi nila na may bigger plan. Kung madapa ang isang tao, laging may chance every day na bumangon.”

From his own experience of being married for over a year, one thing Rocco learned is “how communication is so important.”

He added, “I am like the kind of person that treasures my own time, don’t disturb me, I’m doing this. But kailangan din pala natin ng alone time, time with ourselves, together, time with people we don’t know or with friends. Importante pala yun, hindi pwede kayo lang.

“That I learned from some people also. And how open communication can always strengthen relationships. So, I’ve learned to be more open. It’s actually helping me with everything.”