MANILA, Philippines — As the host of GMA 7’s Dear Uge for three years now, Eugene Domingo has admittedly developed fondness for the show because it was also a witness to her romance with her Italian amore Danilo Bottoni.
“Madami. Naging witness na yung Dear Uge mula nung single ako hanggang sa nagkaroon ng love life, hanggang sa dumalaw na dito si love life…si Danilo Bottoni,” she said, adding that she’s going to Italy again in July for a one-month vacation to spend some quality time with her partner.
“Ganun talaga ‘pag mahal mo ang isang tao kahit nasa ibang planeta pupuntahan mo,” she said.
Eugene will be turning 48 on July 23. Did it ever cross her mind to have a baby?
“I’m not getting any younger so ayokong mag-anak,” she confessed, adding in jest, “Okey na, dami nang tao sa mundo ‘di ba? Dadagdagan ko pa ba? What I mean is, I just like to enjoy myself and travel and enjoy what I have already saved. I care for children and I have this mother instinct but it’s enough for me. I’m thankful that I’m helping my family, my nephews, other people but as of now gusto ko lang baby-hin yung sarili ko and him (Danilo).”
If you’ve been wondering why Eugene is not quite as active in the movies as she was five years ago, it’s because she has chosen to spend her days concentrating on Dear Uge and involving herself in the show’s creative process.
“Sapat na ito (Dear Uge) kasi twice a week naman (yung taping) and pangmatagalan kami mag-taping kasi umaalis ako.”
The last dramatic movie Eugene starred in was Barber’s Tales (2013). She said it would be her last drama because she could not eat properly when doing so.
“Kasi ang lungkot eh. I easily get sad when I’m hungry. I am more sensitive when I’m hungry that’s why it’s easy for me to cry. Kaya payat ako sa Barber’s Tales because I hardly ate,” she reasoned.
“Comedy na lang. Mas masarap ang comedy. There are lots of drama (shows) already. Comedy na tayo. Besides, nagawa ko na yung drama sa Barber’s Tales. Okey na yun. Naka-contribute na ako sa drama. And (part of) my contribution (to the industry) as an actress, I promise myself to always share funny stories. You know, be an instrument to make people smile and I think it’s very important to make people and viewers happy with what they watch,” said Eugene, who was wearing the Korean traditional attire hanbok when select members of the press, including The STAR, interviewed her on the Dear Uge set at Brgy. Mariana Multi-Purpose Hall of District IV in Q.C. recently.
“I always do a cameo (appearance) in every episode of Dear Uge. And for this episode, I am playing a Korean who speaks Japanese. My character is panggulo lang most of the time but it is still relevant to the story.”
Dear Uge, which started three years ago, is a comedy anthology starring Eugene and her sidekick, Divine Aucina. Eugene’s character Urbana Genoveva Esperanza or Uge hosts a web show titled Dear Uge where she features love stories.
The Sunday afternoon show has found its way to loyal Kapuso viewers because “it brings them good vibes or kilig,” Eugene said, adding, “We have a funny script, heartwarming but most importantly, it’s about the stories of the Filipinos. We are now concentrating on stories of Pinoys na nakakatuwa and at the same time, hindi nawawala yung kalokohan ni Uge. We give viewers everyday solutions to their everyday problems.”
Aside from Michael V and other Kapuso artists, Eugene is looking forward to have Ai-Ai delas Alas as guest.
Did she imagine that Dear Uge would stay this long?
She replied, “I had a strong feeling ever since we launched it because of its flexible concept. Every week, we give a chance for the actors of GMA and some senior actors to guest on the show. It is always fresh. How can you not be interested to see it every weekend? That’s why it’s not boring. There’s a lot of potential stories and other possibilities that we can tackle.”
(Dear Uge airs Sundays after Sunday Pinasaya on GMA’s Sunday Grande sa Hapon.)