David Licauco on dating in showbiz: It's harder

David Licauco, the "Pambansaang Ginoo," recently opened up about the unique challenges of navigating the dating world as a celebrity. In Toni Gonzaga’s latest vlog post, the Kapuso heartthrob admitted that finding romance outside of the entertainment industry, which he initially prefers, has proven to be more difficult than anticipated.

“Kapag medyo kilala ka, they would think na, ‘Oh, baka lokohin lang ako nito,’” David shared, highlighting a common perception that can hinder genuine connections. “At saka, she will treat you differently kasi nga, ‘Marami ‘tong babae,’ sa isip nila" (When you hit a certain level of popularity, they would think 'he might play with me.' And the girl will treat you differently because they're thinking, 'he has a lot of girls').

Despite this hurdle, David acknowledged that dating someone within showbiz could also offer a different kind of understanding. “Honestly, non-showbiz talaga [ang gusto ko], but I mean, I’m not closing my doors, and baka mas maintindihan [ako] kung ka trabaho [ko],” he said (Honestly, I'm looking for someone who is not from showbiz but I'm not closing my doors. Someone from showbiz could understand me better).

During the interview, David also revealed some of the qualities he seeks in a partner. Physical attributes he mentioned include someone pretty, fair-skinned, and "chinita na hindi masyadong chinita" (half Chinese). Beyond looks, he emphasized the importance of inner qualities, describing his ideal woman as someone "who's really nice, genuinely nice, 'yung ma-empathy" (someone with empathy).

“Someone who’s in touch with life,” he further elaborated. “Let’s say ‘yung hindi masyadong nag-se-cellphone, ‘yung parang present, hindi masyadong nag-so-social media” (Someone who doesn't use their cellphone too much, someone who is present, doesn't spend too much time on social media).

Ultimately, David is looking for someone who will offer love and care and, crucially, understand the demanding nature of his profession.

David's popularity soared alongside his on-screen partner Barbie Forteza, a pairing affectionately known as BarDa. Their compelling chemistry as Klay and Fidel in the hit series Maria Clara at Ibarra captivated audiences. The duo continued to charm viewers in Pulang Araw and the 2024 film That Kind of Love, and fans can look forward to another project from them in 2025. In the meantime, David is set to grace the silver screen in the upcoming movie Samahan ng mga Makasalanan, alongside Sanya Lopez and Liezel Lopez, among others.