Months after the passing of her husband Trevor Magallanes, actress and comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto is learning to navigate life with both heartbreak and hope — holding on to a love she says has not disappeared, only transformed.
In a candid conversation with veteran broadcaster Karen Davila, the Kapamilya star spoke openly about loss, faith, and the quiet strength she draws from what she describes as her late husband’s continued presence in her life.
Trevor passed away in July 2025 after battling an illness, a loss that sent shockwaves through Rufa Mae’s supporters. In the months that followed, she found herself not only grieving privately but also addressing speculation online about the circumstances of his death — rumors she firmly denied. For her, the focus has never shifted from what truly mattered: the love they shared.
She describes Trevor as her “true love,” a phrase she repeats without hesitation. That certainty, she says, is what allows her to smile again.
Because they gave their marriage everything — time, affection, commitment — she carries no regret. “When you know you gave your all, the heaviness is different,” she reflected. Instead of being consumed by guilt or what-ifs, she finds peace in knowing their time together, though shorter than planned, was lived fully.
The experience has reshaped her outlook on love and urgency. She now speaks passionately about expressing affection without pride or delay. Life, she says, can change overnight. One day you come home to everything familiar; the next, it’s no longer the same. That reality has made her more vocal about telling the people she loves exactly how she feels.
Still, healing has not erased longing. Rufa Mae admits the ache comes in waves — especially when she thinks about the future she and Trevor mapped out together for their daughter. The plans, the shared dreams, the small everyday rituals — those are what she misses most.
Now, her energy is centered on motherhood.
She has made a promise to herself: to give her daughter Athena time, kindness, guidance, and above all, love. It is a conscious, daily commitment — one she views as both responsibility and tribute.
Rufa Mae also shared something deeply personal. In moments of quiet prayer, she asks Trevor to continue guiding them. And in ways she cannot fully explain, she says she feels supported. “Everything becomes lighter,” she revealed, describing a sense of calm that arrives when she asks for help from beyond the physical world.
For her, faith and love intersect in that space — grief softened by belief.
Another decision she has made is to raise Athena in the Philippines. It is important to her that her daughter grows up connected to her roots, culture, and heritage. In choosing home, Rufa Mae is choosing grounding — a stable foundation as they rebuild their lives.
Today, the woman known for bold humor and larger-than-life energy speaks with a quieter strength. The laughter is still there, but it carries depth. The sparkle remains, but it is tempered by perspective.
Loss has altered her world. Love, she insists, has not.