MANILA - "It's Showtime" host Ryan Bang admitted that he was shocked and saddened that his friends, Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, have separated after almost three years of marriage.

Bang was Francisco's best man -- along with Paul Jake Castillo -- at the couple's wedding on December 9, 2013 at the Holy Cross Parish in General Santos City.

Francisco confirmed the split on Tuesday in a series of posts on the Instagram account of their only child Amelia "Mela" Lucille, who turned two last April.

Francisco revealed that their misunderstanding started when Cantiveros accepted the series "We Will Survive," which aired its finale last July 15.

"Siyempre sobrang malungkot na balita. Sana hindi totoo, sana hindi tuloy," Bang said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News on Thursday. "Sana mag-usap sila ng mabuti para [magkabalikan]. Kasi hindi biro 'yung kasal at saka may anak."

"At saka happy naman sila sa isa't isa. Nagulat talaga ako nung nalaman ko ang balita kasi matagal ko na ding 'di nakakausap si Jason. Ang alam ko happy naman sila," he added.

In the meantime, Bang said he will be praying for the couple's reconciliation. "Magpi-pray ako para magbatian at maayos. Sana maging maayos sila," he said.

Just two weeks ago, Cantiveros vowed to stick it out with Francisco despite some problems in their relationships, saying it is just normal for couples to have arguments.