Mariel Rodriguez is excited about her transfer to TV5 but admits that leaving ABS-CBN was no easy matter. “It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make,” she explains. “But we all have to grow. I just want to make it clear that I have no problem with my ‘Happy, Yippee, Yehey’ family. My relationship with them will always remain the same.”
How does she feel about joining “Willtime Bigtime?” “It’s like a reunion,” she says. “Parang ‘Wowowee’ on TV5. I’m grateful that Kuya Willie wants me to be part of the show. Sa ‘Wowowee’ kasi it was Direk Bobot Mortiz who insisted that I join the show.”
What does her hubby, Robin Padilla, say on all the developments? “Binoe is my number 1 supporter,” she beams. “He always wants what’s good for me.”
When do they plan to have kids of their own? “Not anytime soon,” she says. “His kids are visiting from Australia and it’s so much fun. I like being their friend. I’m not yet ready to be a mother. For now, Robin is my baby. Our own baby can wait.”
Mariel and Binoe are destined to love from here to maternity and beyond!
Love in time
Lorna Tolentino is gearing up for her project in the Kapatid network. “The kind of LT they will see will depend on the role and story,” she says. “But one thing’s for sure, I always give my all to every endeavor.”
Every role is a dream role for her since she never plays it the same way twice. In real life, she’s an ever-supportive mom to her sons Rap and Renz who have both joined show biz as well. Her advice to them? “To be professional and a friend to everybody,” she says. “And to be happy for the success of others.”
Does she still feel the presence of her late great husband, Rudy Fernandez? “Oh yes, in all ways,” she beams. “At home, at work and in the industry as a whole, damang-dama ko pa rin si Daboy.”
Would she give herself a chance to fall in love again? “Maybe in time,” she muses. “If it’s meant to happen, it will come.”
In LT’s heart, she will forever be Da Girl of Daboy.
Like sister
Gelli de Belen is not yet at liberty to comment about her coming show on TV5, “Jellicious,” reportedly a cooking cum talk show like her sister Janice de Belen’s “Spoon” on cable TV.
Don’t they have unspoken sibling rivalry? “That doesn’t exist between Janice and me,” she points out. “Dalawa lang kami, iisipin pa ba namin yun? At the end of the day, we are sisters and all other stuff don’t matter to us. Besides we are kinda too old for that (laughs).”
Her marriage to Ariel Rivera is one of the few show-biz marriages that have remained intrigue-free. How do they manage to keep it that way? “Primarily because we don’t let our show-biz life define us,” she explains. “We both have the same priority which is our family. We don’t allow ourselves to be in a situation that can harm our family. Love and passion are not the only elements needed in a marriage, that’s why we constantly work on the other important stuff because love is already a given.”
Gelli’s got it all jelled in her la vida familia!
Paradise on earth
It is only fitting that the recent Miss World pageant was held at the Sheridan Beach Resort in Palawan—the world-class beauties were at a world-class resort. A lot of my show-biz friends consider Sheridan as their secret getaway.
Some nasty people have been trying hard to launch a smear campaign against the place (for very obvious “cash-ual” reasons), but one look and you will agree that this magnificent resort is paradise on earth. Keep up the great work in promoting Filipino tourism!
Jazz concert
Catch Aiza Seguerra and Cooky Chua in “Love Jazztified” on October 7 at the Music Museum. It’s their first collaboration onstage so don’t miss it (call 891-9999 or 0922-8382203).
E-mail wateringholeshangrila@yahoo.com.