This year’s Christmas is ‘saddest one yet’ for Albert Martinez

Martinez family (Photo from Albert’s Instagram account)

MANILA – Actor Albert Martinez admitted that he has yet to move on from the passing of his wife, Liezl, especially as Christmas nears without her.

It can be recalled that Liezl succumbed to her battle with breast cancer earlier this year. Albert will then be having his first Christmas as a widower and sees it to be the ‘saddest one yet.’

“Liezl makes it a point na kapag Christmas, magkakasama kami… Siya talaga ang punong–abala sa regalo to make sure, this and that. Right now, ako na ‘yun. Well, it’s going to be hard but we’ll manage,” he told reporters in a press conference.

(Liezl makes it a point that every Christmas, we’re all together… She’s really the one who organizes the gifts to make sure, this and that. Right now, it’s me. Well, it’s going to be hard but we’ll manage.)

The “All of Me” actor initially planned to spend the holidays abroad with the family but because of busy schedules, they then decided to travel within the country instead.

“Unfortunately, wala kaming time to go out of the country kasi limited ‘yung break namin. We’ll just go out of town somewhere na kaming pamilya magkakasama,” he said in an interview.

(Unfortunately, we don’t have time to go out of the country because our breaks are limited. We’ll just go out of town somewhere with the family together.)

Bittersweet 2015

Albert looked back at 2015 as a year of both ups and downs as he dealt with the death of his wife and made a successful comeback in the showbiz industry.

“Well, the worst thing that happened in my life happened in 2015. Losing a wife is no joke and hanggang ngayon, dala–dala ko ‘yun. Hindi matatanggal ‘yun… On the positive side naman, I was given the opportunity na na–revive ko ‘yung position ko sa industry,” he said.

“It’s a mix. Bittersweet,” he added.

(Well, the worst thing that happened in my life happened in 2015. Losing a wife is no joke and until now, the [pain] is still with me. I won’t lose it… On the positive side, I was given the opportunity to revive my position in the industry.)

Meanwhile, Liezl’s mother, veteran actress Amalia Fuentes, recently suffered an ischemic stroke. Albert has yet to see how his mother-in-law has been doing.

“Ayaw ko nang mag–add ng pressure to anyone… If I’m welcome there, ready na lahat, I’ll be there. I’ll be more than happy,” he said.

(I don’t want to add pressure to anyone… If I’m welcome there, everyone’s ready, I’ll be there. I’ll be more than happy.)