The Tagalog saying goes: O, pag-ibig, pag pumasok sa puso ninuman. Hahamakin lahat masunod ka lamang!
Roughly translated, that means: Oh, love when you enter anybody’s heart, you will defy everything
That, in a nutshell, sums up the love story of Bernard "BJ" Palanca, 29, and Meryll Soriano, 23, who got married in civil rites last Sept. 8 at the San Juan Municipal Hall, with San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito officiating. Bernard’s mom (Pita Revilla, widow of Bernard Palanca Sr.; now married to Dr. Lorenzo Hocson) and his aunts (Tina Revilla-Valencia and Maritess Revilla ex-Araneta, among them) and other relatives were present. But where, oh, where were Meryll’s relatives (mom Becbec Soriano, dad Willie Revillame, Meryll’s aunt Maricel Soriano and stepdad, etc.)? Not one of them was around. Yes, they "boycotted" the affair because they didn’t want Meryll to get married just yet for reasons you’ll know by and by.
The whirlwind marriage, deemed to have been done "in haste," was surrounded by all sorts of nasty rumors, drug addiction and all (which, again, you’ll know by and by).
But Bernard and Meryll are in love and they listen only to the beating of their hearts and turn a deaf ear even to the objections of Meryll’s family.
Last Thursday afternoon, Bernard and Meryll sat for an exclusive Conversation, their first with any newspaper after that "hasty wedding." I looked at them closely for any tell-tale signs – did their eyes have the "glazed look" common among drug addicts? Were they incoherent, unfocused? Did they have shrunken cheeks or look emaciated? – and I didn’t see any. All I saw were the eyes of two people in love, fixed on each other.
Now, the question: Can love conquer all (including parental objection)?
Here are Bernard and Meryll telling their own story.
How are the newly-weds?
Bernard: Wonderful! I love calling her "my wife." Everytime I introduce her as "my wife," ang sarap ng feeling.
Are you sure you’ve made the right decision?
Bernard: Oh yes, we are.
Are you sure you’re right for each other?
Bernard: Yes. I wouldn’t have proposed to her if I had any doubt.
Wasn’t it a spur-of-the-moment decision?
Meryll: No. We’ve been discussing it.
Bernard: We’ve been planning it since April.
Meryll: BJ has already proposed to me at that time.
Bernard: Although we haven’t really started planning anything yet. We started planning only last July.
How long have you been going steady?
Bernard: Almost a year.
Meryll: Since September last year.
How did your romance start?
Bernard: I started making her kulit on Sept. 30 last year. We were introduced to each other during the birthday party of my cousin.
Meryll: Actually, we knew each other na but we were not really that close. But after Sept. 30, talagang he was persistent na in pursuing me. At first, I tried to ignore him until last January when I couldn’t stand him anymore. Makulit talaga siya!
What do you like about each other?
Bernard: Her being true and sincere; she’s not showbiz, just like me.
Meryll: We never make each other feel that we are showbiz.
Why the seeming haste in getting married?
Meryll: I think it’s the right time. I’m 23 and old enough to decide for myself.
There’s a rumor that you’re pregnant.
Meryll: No, I’m not.
Bernard: My mom was at first shocked when I approached her, kasi I said, "Mom, we have something to tell you."
Meryll: She thought that I was pregnant.
Bernard: So I told her, "No, we’re getting married." She said, "Huh?" But she didn’t object.
The whole Revilla clan has welcomed you with open arms.
Meryll: They’re all nice to me. They make me feel that I’m a member of the family.
On the contrary, your family doesn’t approve of the marriage.
Meryll: They’ll soon understand, I hope.
I heard that what your mom, Becbec, and your dad, Willie, don’t like is not Bernard but your decision to get married now. It’s too soon daw. They think that you should get to know each other better before making such a serious decision.
Meryll: Actually, they have nothing to worry about. Maybe they just don’t understand because, siempre, I’m their first child getting married. Parents feel that way, di ba? Maybe they’re not ready to lose a daughter and gain a son.
There are rumors that just a few weeks before you got married, you were both confined at the basement, Bernard at Makati Med and Meryll at Medical City in Pasig City, for drug addiction.
Meryll: You know how it is in showbiz. When you’re losing weight, they say you’re a drug addict. When you’re gaining weight, they say you’re pregnant. I was in the hospital not because of drug addiction but due to UTI (Urinary Track Infection) and a colon ailment. The doctor said I have an abnormally long colon. I often suffer from constipation. The problem is that I don’t drink enough water.
Bernard: I was away...somewhere...to a secret place where I run to when I need some space, some privacy. I go to that secret place to sort things out and to deal with my problem by myself.
What your parents are worried about daw is that you were not in the "right frame of mind" and you were making such a serious decision. They just wanted both of you to take your time and think things over.
Bernard: I knew with all my heart that I wanted to marry her.
Didn’t you go out of your way to ask the permission of Meryll’s parents?
Bernard: I didn’t get the chance, kasi...So many things happened. But I will ask their permission before our church wedding.
When do you plan to get married in church?
Meryll: When we have sorted things out; when we shall have made peace with my parents.
What if you make peace next week?
Meryll: Naku naman, not so soon!
Bernard: We have to save for it pa.
How soon do you plan to have a child?
Meryll: Not so soon.
They say that once you have a child, once you give your parents a grandchild, it would melt their hearts and make them forgive you – you know, forgive and forget.
Meryll: That’s what they say. Sana nga.
How close are you to your dad?
Meryll: Honestly? Not that close.
I thought that you have regular communication, that you’re okay with each other.
Meryll: You know, my dad is passionate about his work and I try to understand that. He also has his own family now to attend to.
Have you found maybe a "father figure" in Bernard besides a friend, a husband and a soulmate?
Meryll: Parang ganoon na nga.
Bernard: No problem on that score. My own dad died when I was only three years old but I never longed for a father figure. At first, my father figure was my Lolo (actor Armando Goyena). Then, my stepdad (a doctor) came along and he has been there for me, for us, so I never felt like I lost my (biological) father at all. All my life, I’ve been surrounded by my younger siblings – my brother Mico, our sister who’s now in the States, and our half-siblings – and I, in a way, act not just as a brother but also like a father to them. I’ve been brought up knowing how to take care of a family.
What are your plans now?
Bernard: As my mom wishes, we plan to stay with her for one year so we can save before we move to our own place.
Meryll: I’m now taking up fashion designing (at a local school). I still want to go to London to study filmmaking for a year.
It’s public knowledge that you were into drugs. Would you say that you’re off drugs, that you’re now clean-living?
Bernard: I know that I have a "bad past" and "a reputation," and people look at me in a different way. But I can say that I am "clean" now. If anybody has any doubt, we’re ready to undergo a drug test. I’ve been off drugs years ago.
Meryll: They can check anytime.
There’s a rumor that it was you who influenced Meryll to take drugs.
Bernard: As I said, if we have to undergo a drug test, we’re ready. We have nothing to hide.
Meryll: The truth is that when I was in the hospital, I really wanted to go to the basement not for drug rehab but to do research. You see, I’m planning to write a story/script for CineMalaya about people who are in that situation – you know, people who are being rehabilitated and women who are suffering from post-partum depression.
What are you busy with now?
Meryll: I’ve just finished two movies, Rotonda and On the Red Corner, which were shown at the recent CineMalaya. I’m busy with Super Inggo (the new ABS-CBN fantaserye). And I’m planning to have a one-woman exhibit. I’m also into photography.
Bernard: I just finished Pedro Penduko (another ABS-CBN fantaserye, with Pinoy Big Brother graduate Matt Evans in the title role) where I played a kapre (an ugly giant).
Have you talked to your mom and dad? You left your mom’s home against her wishes a month ago and moved to Bernard’s family.
Meryll: We have yet to talk – in due time.
Are you making any effort to maybe appease Meryll’s parents?
Bernard: I’ve been texting her mom but she has never replied – yet. Her dad has just arrived from Las Vegas (where Willie hosted a staging of the ABS-CBN show Wowowee before a big crowd) and I have yet to talk to him.
What assurance can you give them that their daughter is in good hands?
Bernard: I can assure them that I will take good care of Meryll.
I wonder, how would you sound calling Meryll’s dad "Daddy?"
Bernard: In the meantime, while there are things to iron out, I’ll be calling him Tito or Sir. But I’d love to call him Daddy.