Wednesday, April 30, 2025

A very boring couple

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‘Para din kayong hindi LDR kasi parang you do things together. Ganu’n lang ‘yung routine namin. — Bela Padilla’

BELA PADILLA

BELA Padilla is now more open about her Swiss boyfriend named Norman Ben Bay. She has posted their photos in her social media account. They met each other when she shot the movie “Meet Me in St. Gallen” on location in Switzerland four years ago.

“Pero one year pa lang kami officially on,” she said. “Friends muna kami. Never kaming nawalan ng communication all throughout those four years. Pero hindi ko agad binigyan ng chance na maging kami, kasi sobrang layo niya. Pero dahil sa pandemic, ayun, napag-isipan naming i-try this year.”

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She doesn’t find it difficult to try having a long-distance relationship (LDR). “We Facetime palagi. Busy rin siya but as of now, work from home muna siya. Para din kayong hindi LDR kasi parang you do things together. Ganu’n lang ‘yung routine namin. Very boring couple kasi kami, so masaya na kami sa gano’n. Hindi naghahanap ng excitement. Kaya siguro nagwo-work ‘yung LDR namin.”

They may come from different cultures but it’s not a problem for them. “Ang orientation ko naman kasi, hindi siya sobrang Pinoy, as I have a British father. Parang mas Western ako mag-isip so bagay sa akin ‘yung foreigner BF. ‘Yun ang mas nagwo-work for me. Kasi ‘yung first boyfriend ko was super through and through Pinoy. ‘Yung tipong bago ka lumabas ng bahay, you’ll send him your picture so he’d see kung gaano kaiksi ‘yung suot mo. Too much for me ‘yun, hindi ko kaya ‘yun. Nasa Pilipinas tayo, sobrang init guys. Tapos, panay ang tanong: ‘Kumain ka na ba?’ … Hindi kailangang laging nagtatanong. Kaya nag-wo-work siguro sa akin ‘yung relationship ko ngayon, kasi ang usapan namin ngayon mas serious, pero mas low key, minsan tanga lang ‘yung pinag-uusapan namin.”

Bela is just one of several actresses with a foreign boyfriend. Glaiza de Castro has an Irish fiance. Lovi Poe has a long-distance relationship with a British guy based in Los Angeles.

Pia Wurtzbach also has a British boyfriend. Those who are married to foreigners include Ina Raymundo (her hubby is Ukrainian), Jewel Mische (American), Lotlot de Leon (Lebanese), Rachelle Ann Go (British), Bangs Garcia (also British) and Beth Tamayo (American.)

***

Jennica Garcia has confirmed in an open letter addressed to their two daughters the rumor that she and husband of seven years, Alwyn Uytingco, have called it quits: “Athena and Severina, know that Nanay has no regrets. Yes, I get scared when I think about the coming months and years because this is not how I planned the two of you to grow up.

“But despite the heartache I am going through, I am able to keep the Joy in my heart and will continue to praise God with every cry because even if my plans have failed, I know that our loving Father’s plan for us is always good.

“His decision to allow this to happen in our life is not to destroy us. Never to destroy us, mga anak. Instead of sadness, lets rejoice because God is close to the brokenhearted. I will praise your name, Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, my Savior!”

Her fans feel sad for her since, before their separation, they seem to be a perfect couple who posts nothing but happy pictures of their family in social media. The fans want to know what caused the breakup. Someone insinuated it is financial.

When they got married, they prioritized their love life and their careers both took a nosedive. Someone even added: “Love is not enough when you’re faced with serious economic problems.” To which someone quipped: “Mayaman naman ang nanay ni Jennica na si Jean Garcia, ‘di sana humingi na lang sila ng tulong doon.”

Jennica used to be a talent of Manny Valera whose two other talents just gave birth recently: Janella Salvador and Sophie Albert.

***

Barbie Forteza is really one of GMA-7’s top young stars today. Her last primetime soap, “Anak ni Waray,” was a toprater, then they included her as a host-performer in “All Out Sundays.” Now, she topbills the new episode of the hit drama anthology on GMA, “I Can See You,” entitled “The Lookout.”

She will be supported by a powerhouse cast led by Christopher de Leon. Also in the cast are Adrian Alandy, Paul Salas, Benjie Paras, Arthur Solinap, Elijah Alejo and Marina Benipayo.

Barbie’s fans are glad she’s being paired with Paul Salas, with whom she has worked before in “Kara Mia” and they say they like their tandem on screen.

“The Lookout” was supposed to have been shown this week but because of the lockdown due to the surging number of covid cases, it was postponed for next week. Instead, “I Can See You” chose to replay the hit suspense-thriller episode, “Truly. Madly. Deadly” starring Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado.

Barbie says she’s happy to star in “The Lookout” episode of “I Can See You.” “Abangan ninyo kasi naiiba ang story nito at puro magagaling ang mga kasama ko,” she adds. “I’m so very happy to be given the opportunity to work with one of the country’s most acclaimed and respected actors, si Mr. Christopher de Leon. Wala akong masabi sa galing niya. I’m also happy to be paired with Paul Salas, for a change.”

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But of course, her loyal fans continue to inquire about her off cam inamorato, Jak Roberto. They want to know as to when the love birds will be paired again in a good project.

***

Christian Bables has won various awards for “Die Beautiful” and “Signal Rock.” Don’t look now but he has another great project up his sleeve, “Big Night,” where he is reunited with Jun Lana, his writer-director in “Die Beautiful.” They had a falling out when Christian backed out from “Born Beautiful,” the sequel to “Die Beautiful,” as he didn’t want to do another swishy gay role.

He was hoping to cultivate a career as a romantic leading man, but it didn’t happen, so he reconciled with Jun and agreed to do another screaming faggot role in the big comedy hit, “The Panti Sisters.” Now, they have finished lensing “Big Night,” where Christian plays another gay role.

“But ibang gay role ang character ko rito,” he says. “Not swishy but effeminate lang. Pero ang name ko is Dharna. Gay beautician ako rito and I was horrified when I found out na ang pangalan ko, nasa isang watchlist ng mga drug traffickers na puedeng ipatokhang anytime.”

His friends tell him not to worry since it’s not at all true that he’s a drug trafficker, but he cannot help it to be terribly afraid for his life, so he asks the help of the people in their community to find out why his name was included in the notorious list and how can he clear his name.

“The movie asks the question: how far would you go to clear your name?” adds Christian.

“’Yung character ko rito, kahit marami ng ibang natokhang sa lugar nila, tahimik lang siya, ayaw makialam kahit talamak ang social injustice sa paligid niya. That is, hanggang sa siya na mismo ang ma-involve.”

Christian is supported by a star-studded cast of first-rate actors who are all award winners themselves, including Gina Alajar, Ricky Davao, Eugene Domingo, Janice de Belen, John Arcilla, Martin del Rosario and Gina Pareno. Also in the cast are Soliman Cruz, Allan Paule, Nico Antonio, Awra Briguela, Cedric Juan, Ogie Diaz and Sue Prado.

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