‘Forever’ and what else keeps Gladys & Chris together?

It’s a cliché, all right, but besides “forever” what else keeps Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas (real name: Christophe Sommereaux) together all these 25 years (11 years as “boyfriend-girlfriend” and 14 years as married couple, an event of “togetherness” which they celebrated with renewal of vows several weeks ago)?

Food, yes, glorious food!

“We both love to eat,” said Gladys, 40. “Chris is a Culinary Arts graduate and he loves to experiment. He mixes this and that at kapag tinikman mo, ang sarap! I am a Kapampangan and you know that we Kapampangan are noted for — food! By the way, did you know that Chris (half-French) once worked as chef at the Monaco Palace?” (No wonder Gladys was enlisted as endorser of two food companies, Mang Inasal [with Aiko Melendez] and Del Monte.)

The couple on a small stage with their children Gian Christophe, Gianna Aquisha and Grant Carlin (minus baby Gavin Cale) singing for guests

Three days before Chris turned 38 last March 21, he and Gladys invited their close movie-writer friends to sample food at their Estela Restaurant Bar & Lounge (opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.) located along Brickroad, Sta. Lucia East Centro Mall in Cainta, Rizal. After its soft opening early this year, Estela has already been attracting clientele consisting of “walk-ins,” families, barkadas and the couple’s friends (among them Victor Neri and Carlo Aquino, who is a car enthusiast like Chris), gorging on fusion cuisine (choices of Filipino, Italian, Spanish, French, etc.).

Asked why they named it Estela, Gladys explained, “Estela means Star and we chose it para may touch na pambabae. The interiors are done industrial style at ‘yan naman ang touch na panlalaki.”   

An old re-modeled (1961) white Beetle is used as attraction near the entrance. It’s among Chris’ vintage car collection that includes a 1977 red Camaro. Yes, Chris is also into the car business (while Gladys has her own skincare business).

“We also have a Happy Hour,” shared Gladys who promptly gathered Chris and their children (Gian Christophe, Gianna Aquisha and Grant Carlin, minus Gavin Cale who’s still a baby) at the rostrum (with a blown-up Beatles photo as backdrop) and rendered two songs for their guests who also included their business partners L.A.-based Laine Guerrero and businessman Harvey Gomez. (Not present were other partners Daniel Dupont and Eito Kunii.) “That’s just for light entertainment, kasi some of our clients love ng pa-chill-chill lang, you know.”

Our group sampled a few items from the menu: Estela’s Salad, Double Cut Pork Chop, Gambas and Lucban Longganisa Pasta, downed by shakes (take your pick: melon, banana, papaya, pineapple, etc.).

In a world like showbiz which is so full of temptations, how do Gladys and Chris keep their composure?

Business partners L.A.-based Laine Guerrero and businessman Harvey Gomez.

“Let me make it clear, ha. We are not a perfect couple. Wala namang perfect couple, di ba?,” stressed Gladys, adding that since she was 15, she has never had any other boyfriend.…and she never minds if, inevitably, Chris does admittedly get “attracted” to other girls but only up to there. “Wala akong pakialam kung mayroon man,” added Gladys, “basta ako ang huli. So what if I never had another boyfriend? Basta ako, one time big time.”

Asked further what she meant by that, Gladys laughed, “I can’t ask for anything better…if you know what I mean, hahaha!!!”

That, too, must be what keeps them together…”forever!”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)