Alice Dixson with baby Aura
Alice Dixson was in a locked-in taping for the new GMA 7 series, “Legal Wives,” when she learned that her surrogate was about to give birth.
“The production didn’t know we were expecting. Only a few people knew and our scriptwriters knew. We kept it for the first two locked-in taping sessions, but at a certain point I needed to leave…I got home last Feb. 15. And then, on the 16th, at midnight, we received a call saying that the surrogate was in the hospital giving birth,” she related in a recent virtual press conference.
Alice, 52, then flew to Canada—where she’s a citizen—to fetch her baby girl, whom she named Aura. The actress was initially worried that she would no longer be able to return to the show. But the team, thankfully, still managed to accommodate her.
Full circle
“When I returned [to the Philippines], I still got in the last locked-in taping. I was so happy, because I didn’t think I would still make it. It was nice to be back and still able to complete the show. I will never forget the experience,” she said of “Legal Wives,” which also stars Dennis Trillo, Bianca Umali and Andrea Torres. “I felt that this show was a blessing, because of the professional and personal relationships I have made,” she said. “I will never forget this show.”
But now that shooting is finished, Alice can now devote herself to her baby. “It was difficult because I had to be away from her for two weeks. I also had a bad cold on the set. But now, I’m looking forward to being with her 100 percent,” said Alice, who’s in a relationship with a nonshowbiz man whose privacy she prefers to keep.
Motherhood in motherland
Meanwhile, in a guest appearance on “Eat Bulaga!” in May, Alice related that she cherished the process of bringing Aura to the Philippines, and going through mandatory quarantine together. “I embraced the experience because that’s a way to have bonding time with my baby and get to know her better,” she said.
Holding her baby for the first time, Alice said, filled her with happiness and relief. “I thought, ‘Am I going to be a good mom?’ I was so happy. But there were also some fears because of the things happening in the world right now. But I believe I was able to overcome those because I’m an optimistic person,” she said.
Alice described Aura as a “very intelligent baby.” At 4 months, her daughter can now “sit attentively” and “communicate her likes and dislikes.”
“I hope she grows to be a strong woman. My mom was strong and I learned from her to be persistent, to look at the bright side of things,” she said. “I hope she continues to bring brilliance and be somebody who will contribute to our community, as well.” INQ