Showbiz Chika

Given her husband’s reputation as a certified ladies’ man, rumor has it that Mariel Rodriguez has been frequenting the set of Guns and Roses so that she could keep an eye on Robin Padilla and his leading lady Bea Alonzo. But Mariel claimed that there’s no truth to such reports because she knows that the two are complete professionals. “Although wala pa naman talaga akong naririnig na ganon, pero siguro ganon talaga, yun ang interpretation nila. But I am very excited for their show. We respect Bea, we respect Robin’s work. Robin has good work ethics. Siguro hindi naman siya tatagal for the last 25 years in the movie industry kung wala siyang work ethics ‘di ba? Hindi [ako nabo-bother na baka magkadevelopan sila], ngayon pa,” said Mariel in an interview with Push.com.ph.

Incidentally, Bea is currently dating Mariel’s ex-boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo. When asked how she feels that the two are now an item, Mariel said that she’s really thrilled that Zanjoe has improved a lot when it comes to expressing his feelings. “I am happy na nasasabi niya yung nararamdaman niya openly, that’s good.” For the record, the bubbly TV host stressed that she has no angst towards Zanjoe even though they didn’t exactly part on good terms last year. “Wala naman talagang issue kasi Zanjoe and I were no longer together when I met Robin last year. So kumbaga may closure naman kaya there are no issues for us to worry about.”

In fact, Mariel can see herself being good friends with Zanjoe again. But there would have to be certain limitations because of her status as a married woman. “E sa akin naman lahat ng nakilala mo na tao dapat talaga meron kayong friendship, what more towards someone that you had a relationship with? It’s just that we have to respect na I’m married now, parang hindi rin proper na lalabas kayo, parang hindi ko nakita na ganon ‘di ba?”

In the meantime, Mariel’s excited to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with Robin. Although she’s been working almost 24/7 for Happy Yipee Yehey!, she made sure that they would still have quality time together at home. “Everyday is Valentine’s for us, kinikilig ako. Siyempre mag-uumpisa pa lang yung noontime show, so ang ang sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘Think of your work, don’t think about me first,’ very supportive naman siya. On my part, sinabihan ko din naman ang handler ko na basta Sunday and Monday ‘wag mo ko iko-commit ha. Wife ako n’yan. I’m really happy,” she beamed.

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For the first time ay muling nagkita sina Luis Manzano at Mariel Rodriguez sa ELive last Saturday. Matatandaang nagkaroon ng tampuhan ang dalawa at hindi nakapag-usap ng ilang buwan dahil nawala ring pansamantala sa telebisyon si Mariel nang magpakasal ito kay Robin Padilla.
Very awkward daw ang muling pagkikita nina Luis at Mariel pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon. “Noong una, admittedly, di ako magpapaka-plastik. Matagal na rin kaming hindi nagkita at nag-usap so di naman mawawala iyon, pero as it progressed, safe to say na nalalabas naman namin kung sino man kami, bilang magkaibigan kami dati,” pahayag ni Luis.

Kahit nakaramdam ng pagkailang si Luis ay inamin nito na hindi naman daw siya nagdalawang isip nang malaman niya na muling makakasama si Mariel. “Sabi ko, oo naman! No problem at all. I’m not gonna even think twice, sinabi nga sa isang part, yung sa amin ni Mariel was very very petty. Least of her worries yung sa amin,” paglilinaw pa ni Luis.

Ngayon daw ay muling isinasaayos at ibinabalik nina Luis at Mariel ang maganda nilang pagtuturingan bilang magkaibigan. “Hindi rin naman kasi pwedeng biglain yung sa amin. It was indeed, pero sana more talks din sana. Kasi iba rin naman yung napatutok rin kami bigla sa harap ng camera. Baby steps pa yung sa amin. Ayoko naman sabihin na okay na okay na, tapos na ang usapan. It was a good start din naman,” dagdag pa ng aktor.

Samantala, napabalita ring dumalaw diumano si Luis sa taping ng ex-girlfriend niyang si Angel Locsin sa Tagaytay. Muli na nga bang nagde-date ngayon ang dating magkasintahan? “Kaya kong sabihing walang katotohanan ‘yan, na nakita kami sa bar or sa mall, nagkita at nagkasama kami pero…” makahulugan pero bitin na sagot ni Luis sa isyu.

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Ever since it was announced that Toni Gonzaga and Mariel Rodriguez would both be on Happy Yipee Yehey!, people have been wondering how they would work together after their controversial falling out last year. But during the press con of their upcoming noontime show, they refused to say how they managed to overcome their misgivings about their friendship. “Kasi kung i-elaborate pa namin, ang haba na e. Tsaka ang hirap na rin pong mag-explain at magkwento dahil ang tagal na. Kahit ano pang sabihin namin, yung ibang tao may mindset na about us, so hayaan na lang namin. Ang importante, kaya kami nagkasama ulit ni Ma, hindi dahil may show, pero dahil matagal na rin kaming naging okay, actually last year pa naman. Siguro ngayon magiging sensationalized lang dahil ngayon lang ulit kami makikita na magkasama together,” said Toni who previously accused Mariel of betraying her several times.

Mariel admitted that she was scared that they would never be able to revive their friendship. But one thing she learned from what they went through is the fact that anything could be solved through proper communication. “Ako nagkaroon ng ganong worry na baka hindi na maibalik yung dating samahan, because the friendship matters. If you don’t care about the friendship, [deadma na] ‘di ba? Pero yun nga siguro yung magic dahil maganda yung foundation ng friendship namin [kaya nalampasan namin yung misunderstanding namin noon]. But it’s what happens after which matters now, na ngayon okay na kami.”

Toni further shared that they didn’t expect to be part of the same show soon after their reconciliation. But it’s definitely meant to happen especially because they can’t deny the fact that they work so well together as hosts. “Ako sobra akong na-excite sa idea na inofferan ako ulit mag-noontime show, mahirap naman tumanggi. Si Mariel naman, setting aside yung mga pinagdaanan namin, we worked together for many years already. Yung chemistry at rapport na nabuo namin, hindi mo makukuha na yun, buo na yun. So ang sarap ng feeling na magkakasama kayo sa isang show.”

At this point, Toni and Mariel were honest enough to say, however, that they’re not yet one hundred percent okay with each other. Not because they have lingering doubts about their friendship, but it’s just that they’re still in the process of working things out. “When you experience new storm or a bump in the road, tapos magsisimula kayo ulit, you take it one step at a time. It’s a work in progress,” said Toni. To which Mariel added, “Parang sa mag-boyfriend at girlfriend ‘di ba? Ganon naman talaga yun e. Ito yung natural na nararamdaman namin ngayon. Hindi naman yung mine-measure na, ‘Ay mas close kami noon!’ Hindi na pinaplano, meron siyang tamang panahon.”

For now they’re still planning when they would spend quality time with their good friend Bianca Gonzalez who’s really thrilled with Mariel and Toni’s reconciliation. “Siya ang pinakamasaya ngayon. We still have to set a date kasi ngayon we have dry runs for the show. Basta dadating tayo d’yan,” Mariel stated.

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Sa darating na Sabado ay muli nating mapapanood sa telebisyon si Mariel Rodriguez sa pinakabagong noon time show na Happy Yippie Yehey. Marami ang nag-aabang sa pagbabalik ng TV host. Noong Sabado ay nag-guest si Mariel sa Entertainment Live matapos siyang mawala ng ilang buwan. Naikuwento niya dito na masaya siya bilang may bahay ni Robin Padilla.

“Nagpaka-wife ako. Alam n’yo namang bagong kasal kami ni Robin, so kailangan kong maging mabuting maybahay, and I’m very happy being a wife. Very happy ang aming married life. Mas maalaga si Robin sa akin rather than ako ang mas maalaga sa kanya,” pahayag ni Mariel.

Masaya rin si Mariel sa pagkakaayos nila ni Toni Gonzaga. “Noong una, it was kinda awkward. Oo small talk may ganun, noong finally nadoon na, it felt good kasi nailabas na. The nice thing is during the time na we were talking, ang daming nangyari sa amin, kaming dalawa. Iba yung journey na pinag-uusapan namin ngayon. It’s a different level din. It’s a new chapter,” masayang kuwento pa ni Mariel.

Maging si Toni ay excited na rin sa show na pagsasamahan nila ni Mariel. “Nag-dry run na kami for the segments for the flow of the show. It was very relaxing, it was smooth. Di kami nag-trabaho at nagkita ni Mariel ng matagal. Noong pagsabak namin, walang adjustment na nangyari kasi memorize ko na siya, memorize na rin niya ako. We’re looking forward to something bigger, better, happier, so yung mga bagay na hurtful ay ayaw na naming pag-usapan. We both agreed with that, na huwag na nating pag-usapan,” kuwento naman ni Toni.

Nagkaayos na rin sina Mariel at ang nakatampuhan din noon na si Luis Manzano. Napag-usapan ng dalawa kung ano ang naging problema nila at na-solve naman nila ito. Ngayon ay masaya na muli ang pagkakaibigan nina Mariel, Toni at Luis.

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