Stars talk about moving on–and the craziest thing they did for love
DANTES. Life isn’t just about romance.
Getting your heart broken is never easy. That’s what makes love a sobering equalizer—you can’t hide from it, whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, gay or straight, etc. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we asked some stars and promising newcomers to share tips on how to get over a break-up—and the craziest thing they ever did for love:
“Life isn’t all about romantic love,” Dingdong Dantes stresses. “Go home, hug your mom, share a bottle of beer with your dad, play with your siblings, put on your favorite jeans, then walk out the door and seek new opportunities. Always move forward—and upward. I pull myself together and make sure I don’t do anything crazy!”
Sultry singer and musical-theater actress Sheng Belmonte, who recently released her latest album, “Single,” wears her heart on her sleeve. She shares, “I don’t hide my emotions when I’m hurting—I cry if I want to. I don’t show people I’m OK when I’m not. I let time heal my heart, but I surround myself with positive people. I keep myself busy.
BLANCO
“I can get crazy when I’m in love (laughs). I used to fly to Singapore every weekend, literally, for months. After my Saturday-night gigs, I would take the early Sunday-morning flight to the city-state to be with my special someone, then return to Manila on Tuesday afternoon, in time for my singing engagement in the evening! No regrets—it was well worth the sacrifice!”
For Mark Herras, healing takes time. The lead actor of “Rhodora X” explains, “I don’t get over a heartbreak easily. I avoid places where I could run into her—I go anywhere as far away from her as possible—with my friends and family in tow. I refocus during my ‘me’ time. You have to be strong—and, keep in mind that getting drunk doesn’t help! Craziest thing I ever did for love? Nakipaghabulan ako ng kotse sa kanya (laughs)!”
Akihiro Blanco was the best thing about Ato Bautista’s coming-of-age CineFilipino drama, “Mga Alaala ng Tag-ulan.” TV5’s exciting contract star tells lovelorn people to surround themselves with family members and bosom buddies.
“I can’t tolerate hot and humid weather,” Akihiro admits. “But, when I was younger, I waited for the girl I was courting in front of her school under the scorching sun—for eight hours! —Talk about patience and sacrifice to prove your love!”
BELMONTE
Lauren Young, the talented sister of Miss World Megan Young, advises broken-hearted people to “focus on the things that you never got around to doing when you were together.” She adds, “Do something fun with your friends. Be better, not bitter!”
We always enjoy our no-holds-barred tête-à-têtes with Inquirer columnist and TV host Dolly Anne Carvajal, who has admittedly done a lot of crazy things for l’amour. She recounts, “They’re too many to mention! The most insane thing I did was lie down in front of the gate of the house where my ex-bf and I used to live in Iloilo.
“We had a big fight, and he left just like that. I could just have waited for him—but, for maximum impact, humiga talaga ako sa kalye! So, when he came home—muntik pa akong masagasaan ng car n’ya (laughs)!”
HERRAS
Talk about “crazy,” “Balitang 60” news anchor Ces Datu-Bocobo had to learn the hard way. She shares, “When I was much younger, I dropped everything, spent my life savings, and traveled halfway across the globe to meet a boy and his family where they were supposedly vacationing—only to find out he was never going to show up, because ‘something came up!’
“To get over a heartbreak, pray unceasingly, engage in empowering activities, learn a new skill, travel, appreciate art, make an effort to look great, and forgive the one who caused it—including yourself.” (Chi is now blissfully married to Jorge Daniel Bocobo, with whom she has a precious son, Sancho.)
For Louise delos Reyes, who is cast in a dual role in GMA 7’s mermaid tale, “Kambal Sirena,” it’s important to surround yourself with a support group that can cheer you up after a nasty break-up.
Mark Neumann, who gets his biggest break in TV5’s May-September romance (with Alice Dixson), “The Lady Next Door,” underscores the importance of staying positive after you get your heart broken. His advice: “Keep yourself busy, and take all the negative vibes out of your life. Move on!”
