Dingdong, Jessa back for good?

Not many people are aware that Dingdong Avanzado and his wife Jessa Zaragoza have been home with their daughter Jayda for more than a month now (since July 10), making those close to them wonder if they have been burned out in the US after only more than one year there (so soon?) and are back for good?

“No,” said Jessa in an exclusive interview with Funfare. “We’re here only for vacation after a two-week series of shows in Australia. We are going back to the US tomorrow.”

But they’ll be back in October for Dingdong’s gall-bladder surgery.

“He can have the surgery in the US and avail of our medical insurance but it’s better to have it here para may mag-aalaga sa kanya. Here, libre pa ang duktor who is our friend.”

The couple migrated to California in August last year. Dingdong is working in the family’s real-estate business and I’m happy as wife and mother Monday through Friday. On weekends, I do shows in different places. So far, so good. The real-estate business is a bit down these days but we manage very well.”

On Aug. 25, she will have a show in Chicago called Beauty and the Beast with Elizabeth Ramsey, with Dingdong as guest; and another solo show on Sept. 22 in Monterey, California.

Jessa admitted that she had undergone a period of depression while adjusting to the “maid-less” life in the US (they’re based in Vallejo, California).

“I was like praning,” Jessa laughed, “missing every little thing back home. But gradually, I was able to adjust. I’ve gotten used to cooking, using big kalderos which I have to wash after. There, I have to cook not because I want to but because I have to. I have friends and I’ve started socializing.”

Since they plan to come home every chance they get, Dingdong and Jessa have changed their minds about selling their townhouse at an uppity subdivision in Quezon City.

The Pinay in Josh Hartnett’s movie

Josh Hartnett came, was seen and conquered the Filipinos with his being down-to-earth and being a “cowboy” during the five days he shot some scenes for the $18-M Hollywood movie I Come With The Rain in Mt. Diwalwal in Compostela Valley, megged by Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung (of Scent of Green Papaya fame).

One of those who came face-to-face and really up close with Hartnett was Thea Aquino, one of the six Pinays in the movie playing topless strippers who try to seduce Hartnett in one scene.

Did Hartnett give in?

“No,” said Thea. “All he did in the scene was look at us. He plays a private detective. Every time he looks at my character, he’s reminded of his traumatic past.”

More than 100 auditioned for the bit roles, including Maui Taylor, and Thea, encouraged by direk Maryo J. delos Reyes, must have gotten the director’s nod because she’s a dancer in real life.

Asked how Hartnett was on the set, Thea, 21, said, “He was very humble, friendly at mabait. In-between takes, he would pose for photographs with onlookers. Hindi siya masungit, hindi siya madamot. Even when he was tired, he was still smiling. I tried offering him Fortune cigarets, my brand. I told him, ‘This is the cheapest brand of cigaret in town.’ He smiled and got not just one stick but three. Marunong siya makisama. Mabait siya, sobra! He would take meals with us and eat whatever everybody else was eating. Wala siyang star complex.”

Thea was introduced in Mike Sandejas’ indie film Tulad ng Dati, also as a bar girl, shown at the 2006 Cinemalaya. In I Come With The Rain, she might get no more than a three-minute exposure but, she said, it’s okay.

“Just to be in a movie with a big Hollywood star like Josh Hartnett is good enough for me.”

According to movie writer Robert Silverio, who conducts an acting workshop where Thea was one of the students, director Tran Anh Hung got so fascinated with Thea.

“He’s now Thea’s boyfriend,” said Robert.

“MU (Mutual Understanding) lang kami,” Thea clarified.