Roselle getting married Jan. 2010

As a girl, I have always believed in the power and greatness of love. I have seen it put a smile on someone’s face, inspired someone to be better and rise above one’s limitations. I have also seen it shatter someone’s dreams, break one’s heart, and bring a person to a place full of pain and out of reach. Love is a formidable feeling! But whatever fate it brings, ecstasy or sorrow, I believe it is a risk worth taking. WHAT’S FOREVER FOR without those people who truly give our existence in this world, meaning?!

You must have guessed it: This is an excerpt from a personal note written by Roselle Nava on the jacket of her CD titled What’s Forever For (released by Viva Records). Listen to the CD and you will realize that Roselle has put her heart and soul into the 12 songs (all covers) including (aside from the title track) No More Rhyme, Lost in Space, I Love You All The Way, Heaven Knows, Fixing a Broken Heart, What Might Have Been, Miss You Like Crazy, Looking Through Your Eyes, As I Lay Me Down, Where Do Broken Hearts Go and What I Did For Love.

Roselle, 33, is wearing her heart on her sleeve for a good reason — she’s very much in love with Allen Tan, 32, her boyfriend of nine years whom she’s marrying on Jan. 17 next year at a wedding to be solemnized at the Manila Cathedral (reception follows at the Palacio de Manila, a tent located near Diamond Hotel on Roxas Boulevard).

Asked which song from the CD she’s dedicating to Allen, Roselle singled out Looking Through Your Eyes.

“The song explores all possibilities,” said Roselle. “You know, what you see in him and what he sees in you. It’s a very meaningful song; bagay na bagay sa amin ni Allen.”

Defying the belief that long years of going steady usually render the lovers bored, thus driving them to, well, seek greener pastures, Roselle and Allen have grown fonder for each other through the years. Didn’t they pass the so-called seven-year itch?

“Well,” admitted Roselle, “four years into our relationship, we agreed to give each other space for two months. We wanted to find out how it felt to be apart for a while. Kasi di ba kapag ganyan na katagal, parang nagiging boring na ‘yung relationship?”

The trial separation did them good.

“We became open with each other; we learned how to bond even better.”

Roselle and Allen met through a common friend.

“After that chance meeting, he started calling me, watching my shows and visiting me at home. Sometimes, he would even visit me on the set of Tabing-Ilog in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Ang layo n’un, ha! He was very patient, matiyaga.”

Roselle was more than impressed.

“He lived in the north (Novaliches, Quezon City) and I lived in the south (San Pedro, Laguna) and the distance didn’t stop him from visiting me at home regularly on weekends. Na-meet niya ang parents ko.”

How did Allen get adjusted to having a showbiz girlfriend?

“At first, para siyang naiilang when we went out at medyo may atensyon akong nakukuha. He’s very shy, very private. But he has gotten used to it. He knows na that it’s part of who I am and he has to accept that.”

They are close to each other’s families.

“Both our families are supportive of us. Allen has only one sibling while I have two (younger) brothers.”

After the wedding, Roselle will continue with her career.

“Boss Vic (del Rosario of the Viva Group of Companies) told me that okey lang naman dahil singer naman ako, hindi actress.”

Secure in his own space, Allen is giving Roselle the go-signal.

“What I also like about Allen is that he doesn’t make pakialam with my career.”

They plan to spend their honeymoon in Hong Kong and Macau.

“I’ve been to several countries but never to Hong Kong and Macau,” said Roselle. “The Ladies of the ’90s (including Jessa Zaragoza, Geneva Cruz and Rachel Alejandro) are having a US tour from end of January to first week of February. We might proceed to the US from Macau to visit Allen’s brother who is based there.”

Roselle is a B.S. Marketing and Management graduate (from La Salle) and Allen, Computer Science (from Colegio de San Lorenzo). Together with Roselle’s manager Baby Pacheco, the couple own and manage Music Corner which offers courses in dancing, voice and piano/guitar-playing.

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