Max Collins confirms separation from Pancho Magno after years of rumors

Two years after rumors about Max Collins and Pancho Magno's breakup began circulating online, the actress and mother of one have finally mustered the courage to confirm the truth to the hearsay.

Max broke her silence on the issue during her guesting on GMA Network's Fast Talk with Boy Abunada on May 29. During the first part of the two-part series, the King of Talk asked the actress about the real status of her relationship with the actor.

To recall, Max and Pancho began sparking breakup rumors in February 2021, when netizens noticed that the two held separate birthday celebrations for their son Skye Anakin.

In an interview with GMA's Nelson Canlas in the same month, Max said that Pancho "just couldn't be there" at her party with Skye and she, on the other hand, was busy with work when the actor threw a party for their son. She added that they will "make bawi next time."

Fast forward to two years later, the actress has finally revealed that she and her estranged husband were already on the rocks at that time and now, she's "ready to talk about it."

Max began, "We split up a long time ago, like, during the pandemic, and we didn't talk about, I didn’t talk about it kasi syempre madami kaming pinagdaan as a family at that time. There was a pandemic, nanganak ako, my marriage was falling apart."

The Voltes V: Legacy star went on, saying that she and Pancho "decided to keep quiet about it," considering that she's a public personality who didn't want to turn their lives into a teleserye.

Going through the separation was challenging for the couple, Max said, but it happened without disagreements from both parties, thinking that it is what's best for their son.

"Every separation naman is difficult, but it was amicable," she continued. "We were not working, We needed to spend time apart and see how that would work 'cause we have a son to think about. And I believe that in order for a child to be happy, his parents should be happy. That's very important."

Before they have come to this decision, though, the actress said that she and Pancho fought hard for their eight-year relationship to last. Max and Pancho got married on Dec. 11, 2017, four years since they became a couple in 2013. 

She continued, "Nilaban namin hangga’t kaya ng mga puso namin in a sense where dumating yung point that we stopped becoming in denial about it... I didn’t want to lie to myself anymore. I think he didn’t want to as well,"

Looking back, Max couldn't be more grateful that she and Pancho have come to a "mutual decision" to part ways.

She elaborated, "That’s why I’m ready to talk about it now because we’re in a good place. I actually got his blessing to do this interview with you. We’re in a very good place now."

"Our child is almost three and he’s very happy and healthy. And we’re so blessed and we have a very good co-parenting relationship. We’re the best of friends, actually. We’re closer now," Max added.