Marian Rivera appears, albeit half in jest, more on the defensive lately since news of the split between Dingdong Dantes and Karylle were confirmed. In a press presentation of the "One True Love" shoot in Parañaque, Marian kept on evading all the talk on what caused the breakup, which has obviously affected her. Amidst all of these, GMA-7 and its film partner Regal Entertainment seem happy with their prized love team.
Our colleague, Marinel Cruz, reported:
“Lumayo ka sa ‘kin. Kaya tayo nagiging topic ng tsismis,” Marian Rivera told on-screen partner Dingdong Dantes after a short session with photographers on the set of their upcoming movie, “One True Love.”
The lensmen and a group of entertainment writers recently visited the set in Posadas Village, Sucat, Parañaque. The two lead stars had been filming there for a week, logging more than 18 hours a day.
“Tama na ang mga sweet poses. Ayaw ko na ng tsimis,” Marian said, maybe just half in jest. That signaled the end of the 10-minute photo op. The photographers earlier requested Dingdong and Marian, in a royal blue mini-dress and silver-colored slippers, to sit beside each other— real close— on a bench by the village pool.
Dingdong has been in the news lately after breaking up with singer-actress Karylle, his girlfriend of three years. People have been pointing to Marian as the cause. She has consistently, vigorously, denied this.
Dingdong and Marian first teamed up in the top-rating Pinoy adaptation of the Mexican telenovela, “Marimar,” on GMA 7. The successful tandem was followed by another top-rating show, Mars Ravelo’s “Dyesebel.”
“One True Love” is their first big-screen project, a co-production of GMA Films and Regal Entertainment.
The actors were scheduled to shoot the honeymoon scene later that day. “Sasayawan nila ang isa’t isa,” director Mac Alejandre said of the scene.
Marian hastened to add, “It’s just a fun scene. Mabuti hindi seryoso.”
Alejandre said there were three other movie sets: a house in Tiera Pura, in Fairview, Quezon City, where most of the scenes with Iza Calzado were shot. Dingdong and Marian’s wedding scene were filmed at Fernbrook Gardens in Alabang, Muntinlupa. A Quezon City hospital was the venue, the director said, of a “touching scene that would reveal a big twist.”
In “One True Love,” Dingdong plays Migs, a medical intern set to marry Joy (Marian), a nurse. Days before the wedding, however, his ex-girlfriend Bella (Iza) returns from the United States, single and still very much in love with him. Migs then figures in an accident and suffers from lacunar amnesia, the type that blocks out specific time periods from one’s memory. In his case, he can’t remember the three years he has been in love with Joy, leaving him only with memories of Bella. To Joy, this is unacceptable. She vows to make Migs remember, even if it means competing with Bella.
At press time, filming was halfway through. Alejandre is confident that the movie will beat the deadline for its nationwide screening on Nov. 19. “I don’t think the fact that we’re rushing would have an effect on the outcome. We’re primed for this. Some of the best films were done in really short a time,” Alejandre explained.
Dingdong and Marian chatted with the writers and TV crew over lunch at the village clubhouse. Both actors had fried chicken and spring rolls. Later, Regal Entertainment supervising producer Manny Valera, who was celebrating his birthday that day, turned up with cake and ice cream.
Dingdong said he had been on the set for three straight days. “We are using one of the model units as the house that Migs and Joy share. The administrator forbade us to sleep in there. That was tough, especially on workdays that we finished filming at 3 a.m.,” said the actor, looking relaxed in a floral buttoned-down shirt, jeans and rubber slippers.
Alejandre confessed that Dingdong and Marian were “sweet” on- and off-cam. “Their closeness doesn’t end when I say cut,” he added. “It begins when they arrive on the set and ends when they leave for home. I was part of the team that built the Marimar-Sergio tandem. This is something we had hoped for. We’re happy about this — even though people have other interpretations.”
“One True Love” also stars Bianca King, Jennica Garcia, Pinky Marquez, Chinggoy Alonso, Tessie Tomas and Boots Anson-Roa.
Recently in Marian Rivera Category
After finally admitting they have indeed gone separate ways, Dingdong Dantes and Karylle still left people in the dark on what really caused their relationship to end.
But, according to Dingdong, it's definitely not a "third party," referring to his perennial screen partner Marian Rivera.
“Wala. No third party at all. Yun ang isang klarong bagay,” Dingdong told GMA News on Wednesday.
Apparently, Dingdong's intriguing comment that they now had different priorities was the most logical reason. But what priorities? Dingdong's television and movie career? Karylle's musical theater or recording career? But that has been a given for a long time, even before they were a couple.
I'm sure there's more than meets the eye. According to Dingdong, everything will be revealed at the right time.
“Masasagot naman ang lahat na yan. Di ko naman itinatanggi yon at hindi ko naman iniiwasan yon because I also believe that some people who want to know, they have the right to know because we’re in this industry at magkasama dito noong naging kami,” Dingdong added.
Dingdong, however, revealed he still keeps close contact with Karylle on "issues."
“Yes we discuss issues. Nag-di-discuss kami like normal, walang pagkakaiba. Kung meron kailangang pag-usapan at i-resolve, napag-uusapan namin ng maayos.”
As Karylle remained unavailable for further comment on the breakup, Dingdong says he is trying to forget the hurt by concentrating more on work and devote time for his family.
“Ako, all I am thinking of right now is to concentrate on the movie ('One True Love' with Marian) because patapos na siya. At the same time, during my free time, I devote my attention sa pamilya ko na talang nandyan palagi para sa akin.”
A looming announcement that may not happen at all.
First of all, a confirmation. Sources all close to the couple confirmed that Dingdong Dantes and Karylle have indeed split. Actually, for them, it's old news. They have long separated, they say. The reason? Well, that's where they all provide conflicting claims, from both growing distant from each other to the never-ending rumors of a love triangle with Marian Rivera.
Dingdong was all over the news the past week saying that he and Karylle will end all speculation and reveal the truth by way of a media interview. But it seems that won't happen as Karylle is reportedly now making herself scarce, even to Dingdong, as the truth about their relationship is slowly being leaked outside of their circle. "I'm still waiting for her," Dingdong responded to our SMS last Friday.
Another source was quite emotional: "Zsa Zsa (Padilla) is upset."
This source even went as far as claiming that Karylle's mother was arranging for her daughter's transfer to ABS-CBN after she found out that GMA-7 did not intend to stop the circus, all adding fire to the controversy that involves its current top stars, who are allegedly using her daughter to keep them prominent in sleazy entertainment press write-ups. But the frenzy may not even benefit both Dingdong and Marian. It will place Dingdong in a bad light because it would seem that he "dumped" Karylle for his once slumping "career" that found new life in an on-screen partnership with Marian, who whether she likes it or not, will be viewed as the villain, the "third party" in the off-screen troubled romance, even if she dedicates a two-hour special on a Sunday night just denying she had anything to do with the supposed separation.
Maybe this is the reason for the extended silence on the matter. Maybe both sides are thinking it over. Maybe the network is doing some serious crisis management. But whatever's the score, Dingdong and Karylle should end this once and for all. And they should be honest and direct about it. As the controversy grows, who knows who else might get hurt.
Annabelle Rama is furious at GMA-7 senior vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante for what she claims as an act of "sabotage" on the opening day of her son Richard Gutierrez's movie with KC Concepcion, "For the First Time", last August 27.
Galvante's "brainless" move, Rama said, was authorizing the staging of the birthday concert "Let's Celebrate" of Richard's fellow GMA-7 contract artists Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera on the same night.
Rama went as far as charging Galvante as having "never really liked Richard" in an exclusive interview with Inquirer Entertainment. “Sabotahe,” Rama said. “Sa umpisa pa lang magkagalit na talaga kami ni Wilma. Si Annette and Felipe Gozon lang ang may gusto kay Richard.” Atty. Felipe Gozon is GMA Network chair while his daughter, Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar is GMA Films president.
Rama claims GMA-7 did not support the promotion of "For the First Time," a production of Star Cinema, the film outfit of rival ABS-CBN. GMA-7 agreed to loan out its contract star Gutierrez for the project in exchange for another pairing with KC under GMA Films to be directed by Jose Javier Reyes set to open on Valentine's Day next year.
“Tinapatan nila ang lahat ng TV appearances ni Richard sa ABS-CBN. Kung may utak s’ya (Galvante), dapat naisip n’yang this is Richard’s movie,” Rama further told Inquirer Entertainment.
For her part, Galvante denied any sabotage and said there was no intention to pit Dingdong and Marian's show against the first-day screening of Richard and KC's movie. She claimed the Araneta Coliseum, the concert venue, was unavailable on August 29 and 30, the original dates the network considered for the show. She also said they didn't consider staging the concert at another venue because of an existing agreement between GMA-7 and the Araneta group.
Rama said she was only protecting the interests of her son. She said Richard leaving the network was an option but said it was an issue "too early" to discuss.
Holding simultaneous show biz events are being considered in local show biz as head-on competition, regardless of whether it is a film showing or a concert. However observers see nothing wrong with it.
Seiko Films producer Robbie Tan even sees this as "healthy" and provide audiences more choices. Others even think it is not a head-on battle because the concert is a one-night event while the movie has screenings the whole day and would be shown on theaters for at least a week.
