Gelli on relationships: ‘It’s not all romance’

“ARIEL and I have been together for almost half of my life,” says Gelli de Belen.

For actress and TV host Gelli de Belen, relationships are not just about passion and romance. Married to singer Ariel Rivera for almost 14 years now, Gelli believes that once the initial kilig starts to fizzle, constant communication becomes the driving force of a marriage.

“Ariel and I have been together for almost half of my life. And it’s not all passion; it’s not all romance. That will only take [the relationship] for the first three or five years. Napapalitan ng deeper connection from years of being together and knowing each other,” she said during the recent press launch of her coming show on TV5, “Gellicious.”

Gelli, 38, said she knows her husband so well that she can discern his mood without her even asking. “Buntong-hininga pa lang! I can tell whether he’s exhausted or sick the minute he enters the room. I can tell whether he’s happy or riled up by the look in his eyes,” she said.

The way she and Ariel can communicate without need for words, Gelli said, is one of the many things she treasures about their marriage.

“More than the romance, you will realize that this is even better. Not everybody is blessed to have a partner that you can understand, and understand you in such way,” she said.

The celebrity couple don’t go out on dates as frequently as they used to. But to keep the fire burning, Gelli makes sure to spend quality time with her husband and two kids, Joaqui, 12, and Julio, 10, every day.

“One of our bonding moments is driving the kids to school, and fetching them every day. All the time in between, Ariel and I are together. We watch DVDs and work out at home. We eat out and also watch movies in cinemas. And sometimes we go to Tagaytay,” she related.

Gelli also relishes all the little surprises and sweet, unexpected gestures from Ariel time and again. “It spices up our love life,” she said.

But like any other couple, Gelli admitted that she and Ariel have had their share of tampuhans and misunderstandings in the past. Luckily, Gelli said they seem to have gone past that particular phase in their marriage. “Bago pa umabot sa bangayan o sa away, naiisip ko nang ayaw niya ’yung ginawa ko.”

Has she ever suspected her husband of having affairs with other women?

“Kailangan good boy siya! Wala siyang choice. Siguraduhin niyang wala,” she said, laughing.

Back to 5

Gelli has recently signed a two-year contract with TV5. And for the first time in 18 years, she returned to the network that jump-started her TV career.

Gelli was in the original cast of the 1994 gag show “Tropang Trumpo,” alongside Michael V, Ogie Alcasid, Earl Ignacio and Carmina Villaroel.

For her first project with the revitalized Kapatid network, Gelli will host “Gellicious,” a food magazine show that will feature some the country’s best restaurants, street food, exotic delicacies and other gastronomic delights. It will premiere on October 24 at 11 a.m.

Asked what food best describes Ariel, Gelli said: “Kare-kare, because it’s rich, delicious and complete!”

As for herself, she fancies herself as the rice: “You can’t eat kare-kare without rice!”