Eugene Domingo
At 47, Eugene Domingo can still very well try for a baby if she pleases.
“Sa totoo lang, ang bongga ng itlog ko!” Eugene quipped, drawing laughter from show biz reporters in a recent visit to the set of her Sunday comedy anthology, “Dear Uge.”
“For real! My doctor happily told me that I could still bear a child. Eh anong gagawin natin doktora, i-announce ko sa labas? Na pwede pa akong magka-anak?” she crackingly jested.
But while this is the case, the award-winning actress—who’s in a relationship with an Italian film critic—is perfectly content with how things are.
“I’m not keen on having a baby anymore. Ang dami nang tao dito sa mundo—dadagdagan ko pa ba? OK na ’yun. Lola na, tapos may ganun pa? Now, I just want to enjoy myself, enjoy my savings and travel,” she pointed out. “I’m turning 48 in July. I’m not getting any younger.”
Besides, Eugene gets to put her “mother instincts” to use with her nieces and nephews. “I also have my future grandchildren, my godchildren,” she said. “I’m already happy as it is.”
Since she’s in a long-distance relationship, she meticulously plans her schedule and shoots “Dear Uge” episodes in advance so she can take her monthlong vacations in Italy with her amore, Danilo Bottoni.
“This is how things are if you love someone—kahit sa ibang planeta, pupuntahan mo! I’m studying Italian. And in July, my birth month, I will be going there again,” related the comedian, who expressed gratitude to her GMA 7 bosses for taking her personal life into consideration when it comes to her work schedule.
Now that “Dear Uge” is already on its fourth year, Eugene’s dream is to bring the program abroad for special episodes. In Italy, perhaps?
“That may be possible if I direct the show myself and use an iPhone to shoot! Italy is beautiful, with so many great places and food … people are nice,” she said.
“Dear Uge,” which features funny and heartwarming stories about the everyday lives of Filipino people, has a number of awards to its name, including best comedy program from the 2018 Catholic Mass Media Awards.
“We have been doing this for more than three years now. We try to deliver stories that people from all walks of life can relate to; something that has lessons and values,” she said.
Fans can also expect to see Michael V in the show for the first time soon. Eugene and the production also plan to have her BFF Ai-Ai delas Alas on board.
Asked if she misses doing drama or other “heavier” genres, Eugene—who won best actress at the 2013 Tokyo International Film Festival for “Barber’s Tales”—said she would rather stick to comedy for now.
“Comedy is more satisfying. We already have more than enough drama soaps,” she said. “I promised myself I would always tell funny stories and serve as an instrument to make people smile.”