BINI Maloi Ricalde has addressed and dismissed rumors about an alleged romantic connection with singer-songwriter Rico Blanco.
The speculation began after a viral photo appeared to show them holding hands during a trip to La Union last month.
During their guest appearance on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’, Maloi clarified the situation, explaining that the viral image was simply a case of misleading perspective from a fan’s post. The photo, taken from a video, created an illusion that sparked unfounded rumors.
“Actually, no’ng time na po ‘yon, do’n lang ‘yong first meet-up namin ni Rico Blanco. ‘Yong friends ko is friends din niya,” Maloi shared.
The trip included Maloi’s friends Zild Benitez, Blaster Silonga, Agnes Reoma, and Pat Lasaten, who were also present during the gathering.
Maloi expressed frustration over how a misleading headline from a news outlet intensified the spread of false information. Many people quickly believed the rumor without reading the full article.
“As tao, as Pinoy na parang kung ano ‘yong mabasa mo ‘yon ang paniniwalaan mo, and hindi lahat ng tao nagbabasa ng body ng article. So, ‘yon na ‘yong napaniwalaan nila… ayoko na lumaki pa ‘yong gulo, at gusto ko nang linawin agad,” she explained.
The rumors escalated as fans speculated that Maloi had replaced Maris Racal, Rico Blanco’s long-time girlfriend. However, Maloi promptly clarified that there is no truth to the reports.
“There’s really nothing between us,” she stressed.
Following her clarification, many fans praised Maloi for addressing the issue head-on. Others emphasized the need to verify facts before jumping to conclusions based on viral posts or headlines.