CEBU CITY, Philippines — Veteran broadcast journalist Kara David said power dynamics and professional ethics, not age gaps alone, should be at the center of discussions about relationships, as she weighed in on a recent online debate during an episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.

The discussion began after Abunda asked David about her own marriage, noting the 12-year age gap between her and her husband, a seafarer.

David acknowledged that some relatives initially questioned their relationship but said the age difference never became an issue between them.

She also shared that although maintaining a long-distance marriage is challenging, they have learned to appreciate the time they spend together.

“Tuwing uuwi ‘yung asawa ko, honeymoon. Parang bago nang bago,” David said, adding that every reunion feels like a fresh start.

(Whenever my husband comes home, it’s a honeymoon. It seems as if our relationship keeps on being renewed.)

‘Power is the issue’

The conversation then shifted to the recent online debate surrounding relationships with significant age differences.

Abunda referred to discussions on social media about “grooming” and relationships where an older woman is involved with a much younger man.

David responded that the bigger concern is not the age gap itself but whether a power imbalance exists.

“Ang mas problematiko sa akin ay kapag may power involved. You know, it becomes a problem of power. Kung may power, sexual harassment na ‘yon,” she said.

(What is more problematic to me is when power is involved… if it is, it could be sexual harassment.)

She added that if both individuals are adults capable of making informed decisions, age alone should not determine whether a relationship is inappropriate.

“Kung pareho naman na nasa age of discernment na, adults na pareho, kahit na malaki ‘yung age gap… ‘yung maturity naman nababase hindi lang naman sa edad,” David said.

(If they are both of age, although they have a big age gap, maturity is not assessed solely on age.)

Apple David issue

As the discussion continued, their conversation brought up sports reporter Apple David, whose relationship with an 18-year-old basketball player has recently become the subject of online discussion.

David clarified that her concern was not the couple’s age difference but the ethical questions raised when journalists become romantically involved with people they cover.

“Hindi ko naman sa inaano si Apple, ha? Pero ang issue ko doon, kasi journalist siya, tapos nire-report niya,” she said.

(I am not personally criticizing Apple, okay? But the issue is, because she is a journalist, and she is reporting someone close to her.)

She questioned whether journalists should have relationships with their case studies, subjects, or people within their professional beat, saying such situations could affect perceptions of fairness and objectivity.

“Do you have relations with your case studies, with your subjects, with your work[mates]? Kasi paano na ‘yung pagka-objective mo doon sa nire-report mo? Sa reportage mo?” David said.

(What happens to your objectivity, to your reportage?)

Her remarks come amid continuing online discussions over professional boundaries in journalism, with the debate extending beyond age-gap relationships to questions of ethics, objectivity, and conflicts of interest.