His well-loved FPJ’s Batang Quiapo character ex-SPO1 Ediberto “Berting” Oliva may already not have a family of his own, but many of us probably know that veteran actor Joey Marquez actually has a huge family in real life.

In a television interview in 2021, he disclosed that he has 16 children from the previous relationships he had through the years. Even though his previous romantic affairs did not for a very long time, he didn’t let those hamper his faith in love as he declared that he has finally found someone to whom he can stay with forever. And she’s none other than his longtime non-showbiz partner Malu Quintana.

Not much is known about her since she’s not a celebrity, but going through Joey’s posts on Instagram, we can say that she apparently gets along well with all of his children. And out of the 16, three are their kids together, namely Jazalla, Jacob, and Joeygy.

When asked by the King of Talk during his guesting in Tonight With Boy Abunda what made him fall in love with her and what made her different from the previous affairs he had, Tsong disclosed that it’s her full acceptance of his past and, most importantly, of his children.

“I always tell them kasi na my children are the utmost priority. Whatever happens, I will always side with my children. Eh natanggap niya. Kaya sabi ko, I fell in love with her,” he gleefully said.

Being together for around six years during that time, he admitted to Tito Boy in a separate interview that tying the knot is already in the talks since his marriage with ex-wife Alma Moreno has been annulled for almost two decades now.

However, despite being together for almost a decade now, Joey confessed in his Magandang Buhay guesting that he never said “I love you” to Malu because he more prefers showing his affection to her than expressing it through words. He also seemingly refused to detail how their romance started as he simply told the momshie-hosts that he already came to the point when he no longer wants to be less serious in his relationships.

He then delivered his poignant message for her, saying, “Salamat sa pag-intindi mo sa nakaraan ko, salamat at nakita mo rin ang mga prayoridad ko, [at] salamat sa pag-aalaga mo sa mga anak ko rin. Ang gusto ko lang talaga sa sabihin sa kanya na maaaring hindi ikaw ang naging una sa buhay ko, pero ikaw ang huli.”

In the aforementioned TV interview in 2021, Joey also mentioned that he’s ready to settle down again. In fact, they’ve been engaged for years now after he proposed marriage to her in 2020.

He may not have formally introduced Malu to the public yet, but he’s been sharing lovely photos of them together on Instagram, such as the ones we collated in this gallery. In one of his posts, he wrote, “I choose you. I'll choose you over and over. And I'll keep on choosing you. I love you baby for all that you are.”

We’re looking forward to hear wedding bells soon, Tsong Joey and Malu! Stay in love and happy!

Catch Joey as Berting on FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5.