Altar date put off

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines—TV host Mariel Rodriguez said she watched Olivia Lamasan’s “Madrasta” many times to prep herself as a stepmom to Robin Padilla’s teenage daughters Queenie and Kylie.

“I kept thinking this could happen in real life—daughters normally make things difficult for their step moms in the beginning. It didn’t help that the lead character was also named Mariel,” she told the Inquirer during a press con at the Capitol Resort Hotel here.

MARIEL Rodriguez

Mariel, 27, married Robin, 41, on Sept. 10, 2010. The actor has two more kids—Ali and Zhen-Zhen—with former wife Liezl Sicangco, who lives in Australia.

“I also have a step mom. So I asked myself, ‘How do I want her to treat me?’” Mariel said. “It was good that Queenie, Kylie and I have a lot in common.”

The Catholic wedding that Mariel planned with Robin, who converted to Islam in the 1990s, was postponed after retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz cited possible violations of the Roman Catholic rules.

Mariel said she tries not to dwell on it. “My lolo is the sweetest,” she related. “In a text message, he told me, ‘Don’t worry about your Catholic wedding. What’s important is that you’re happy.’”

She said she learns a lot from Robin, but that she also influences him in many ways. “His outlook in life is so serious. With me around…he has learned to relax a bit.”

Mariel, with “Happy Yipee Yehey” co-hosts Randy Santiago, John Estrada, Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Manalo and Matteo Guidicelli, joined Pangasinenses in celebrating the Pista’y Dayat (Feast of the Bounties of the Sea) with a show held at the Lingayen beach front, Capitol Compound.

Mariel said she’s happy that comedienne Pokwang will be joining the ABS-CBN noontime show starting May 7, as confirmed by executive producer Marvi Gelito in the press con. “I prayed for Pokwang and I to work together again,” Mariel said.