On The Road with Dong-Yan

They say that traveling is broadening. Likewise, you have to travel with a person to know what he or she is really like because that’s when his or her real color surfaces.

For lovers like Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, traveling is much more than that. Travel recharges them after working so hard and, more important, it makes the ties that bind them stronger.

Needless to say, during the following Conversation, it’s obvious how very much in love they are, holding hands, swapping sticky glances, lovingly nudging each other who to answer first and, to cap the session, kissing each other on the lips and then laughing gleefully about it.

To prove that she’s supportive of Dingdong (and not, contrary to rumors, jealous with his other leading ladies), Marian even reminded Dingdong to plug She’s The One, with Bea Alonzo, his third movie for Star Cinema (after Segunda Mano with Kris Aquino and One More Try with Angelica Panganiban and Angel Locsin) now showing nationwide and his latest GMA show, Genesis, which premiered last Monday.

Okay, fasten your seatbelt, sit back and relax, and enjoy this fun ride with Dong-Yan.

How many local/foreign trips have you taken together so far?

Dingdong: We have lost count. We see to it that after continuous work, we try to relax whether sa Maynila lang or abroad. We deserve it. Siguro in one year, we each have a teleserye, so that means twice kami nagtra-travel pagkatapos ng shoot. Talagang private vacation ‘yon. Sometimes, we go abroad to help promote GMA shows, so hindi counted ang mga ‘yon…unless we extend our stay.

How do you choose your destination?

Marian: Dong checks out the places that we haven’t been to and then we choose which one to visit.

(To Marian): Early this year, Dingdong surprised you with a trip and you knew where you were going only when you checked in at the airport.

Marian: That was in Bali. I didn’t expect him to bring me there. Sobrang ganda ng place! It was a good thing not many people knew us there, halos wala kaming nakitang Filipino doon except for one, so we had a grand time strolling around, swimming and food-tripping.

Any favorite destination?

Dingdong: In the Philippines, a beach resort in Palawan, super-favorite ko ‘yon because of the quality of the sand and the water, plus the hospitality of the staff.

Marian: All the places that we have visited are special to me dahil siempre, kasama ko si Dong. But the most special was our trip to Madrid where we visited my Papa. It was Dong who planned it para mabisita ko si Papa.

Dingdong (Laughing): At first, I was trying to talk to him in Spanish. I sharpened my Spanish before we left Manila…

Marian:...Actually, marunong talaga mag-Spanish si Dong because he is part-Spaniard…

Dingdong:…But still, nag-nosebleed talaga ako. ‘Yon pala, magaling siya mag-Tagalog.

(To Marian): Approved ba ang Papa mo kay Dingdong?

Marian: Sabi naman ni Papa basta i-enjoy lang daw namin ‘yung ang buhay, na kung saan kami masaya susuportahan niya kami as long as we are happy.

Favorite place for shopping?

Marian: New York.

For sightseeing?

Marian: Halos all of them. In Asia, one of the most exciting is Cambodia, not much shopping pero ma-a-appreciate mo ang culture nila.

For strolling while holding hands?

Marian: Anywhere, hahahaha!

Dingdong: We can walk together for hours, even for days, just talking and talking, kahit walang ginagawa basta nag-uusap lang kami. We actually did that in Paris. Lakad lang kami nang lakad kasi naligaw kami, hahahaha! Sometimes there’s a lull but there’s always another topic to talk about. She’s fun to be with kaya walang problema.

For romance and privacy?

Marian: A lot! One of my favorite is a resort here, not the one Dong mentioned earlier.

For foodtripping?

Marian: Japan.

Dingdong: Sobra! Pangarap nga namin maka-seven meals a day so we could eat all kinds of food. Sarap kasi, eh.

Marian: Malakas ako kumain sa Japan pero mas malakas si Dong.

Which place do you want to go back to again and again?

Dingdong: Outside of the Philippines…Spain. Because I know it’s closest to her heart and she’d like to always see her dad. I have also fallen in love with the place.

Nice place to have a wedding in. Very romantic.

Marian: Naku, nababanggit ang wedding. Parang kinakabahan na naman ako, hehehehe!

(To Marian) So what place do you want to visit again and again?

Marian: Spain. We had many memorable experiences there. I really appreciated what Dong did para ma-surprise ko si Papa. I saw what a kind person Dong really is.

(To Dingdong) How did you endear yourself to Marian’s Papa?

Dingdong: Mahilig din siya sa food. At higit sa lahat…(Giving Marian a loving glance)…mahilig sa magagandang babae. Like me, he appreciates beauty.

Can you give Conversations readers tips as far as budgeting is concerned, places to go, food to eat, etc.?

Marian: Well, d’yan ako hanga kay Dong because before we go to a place, nagre-research muna talaga siya…places to see, nice restaurants to dine in, tourist spots to visit. Magaling siya sa planning.

(To Dingdong) In Genesis, your latest GMA series, you play Isaac. Any similarities between you and Isaac?

Dingdong: Si Isaac, committed sa pagmamahal sa tao, sa kapwa, sa pamilya saka sa bansa. Parang ako sa pagmamahal ko sa family, kay Marian at sa aking mga kaibigan, eh, hanggang dulo talaga, walang iwanan.

Agree, Marian?

Marian: Agree! Like Isaac, Dong is masyadong dedicated to everything he does, to his career talagang 100 percent ang binibigay niya. Sa akin as his girlfriend, he is just as dedicated. Sobrang magmahal. Sa four years naming pagsasama, nakita ko kung gaano niya kamahal ang pamilya niya.

(To Dingdong) How is Marian as a daughter?

Dingdong: Sobrang malambing. I saw it when we were in Spain. Her dad is also malambing. I guess Marian got that trait from her dad. Being malambing is a great way to show affection.

Marian: Parang pusa, hehehehe!

Dingdong: You see Marian na sobrang ganda, sobrang sexy, parang strong ang personality pero merong pagkakataon na parang nagiging baby rin siya.

Marian (to Dingdong): Sige, ibuking mo!

Speaking of babies, how many do you want to have, if and when?

Marian: Mga dalawampu, ‘chos! Hahahaha!

Dingdong: O, kaya mo?

Marian: Kasi solong anak ako so lagi kong jino-joke na gusto ko talagang madaming anak. (Actually, Marian has some half-siblings.)

Dingdong: Sige, gagawin natin!

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