She knows when love begins and ends

Desiree del Valle deserves a pat on the back. Three years of keeping love alive in the fickle world she and boyfriend Vhong Navarro are in is a feat.

While other showbiz couples create scandals left and right a few months into their relationship, Vhong and Desiree are quietly coasting along, unmindful of the troubled waters their peers tread dangerously in.

“Others may find it weird,” Desiree says. “But Vhong and I still have to figure in a fight all these years we’ve been together.”

Down with those eyebrows now. Here is one couple for whom rivalry is unheard-of, for whom the idea of giving each other space is as sacred as life itself.

Unlike other girlfriends who watch over their boyfriend like a hawk, Desiree keeps her distance when she has to. She doesn’t visit him on the set, knowing that “it’s work,” and Vhong needs total focus.

There are exceptions to the rule, though. One is when Vhong marked his birthday on the Lastikman set and Desiree came over with food for everybody.

She knows how to position herself to let her man shine. At a premiere night of Vhong’s movies, Desiree stayed glued to her seat until everyone in the audience left. She only rose from where she was seated when Vhong’s sons came over. Then, they left, with Vhong and Desiree quietly holding hands.

Desiree knows her supah-papalicious boyfriend is the object of many a girl’s desire. But instead of feeling insecure, she even feels proud.

“After all, he’s Lastikman. He has a unique way of carrying himself, of projecting his personality,” explains Desiree.

And she understands the girls who fall for Vhong’s charms. In fact, Desiree adds, “I’ll still feel attracted to Vhong, even if I’m not his girlfriend.”

That’s how he has kept the green-eyed monster from rearing its ugly head in their relationship so far.

Laughter is also serving as the glue that keeps their bond as strong as solid rock. Vhong’s natural sense of humor continues to bowl Desiree over. But oh, she admits, there were one or two times when he unknowingly made her cry.

“That’s when I watched this touching episode of Lastikman, and his Maalaala Mo Kaya guesting,” recalls Desiree.

Her boyfriend has given her no reason to cry since.

“Vhong is easy to love,” Desiree coos. “He’s open to me. And I’ll still take him even if he’s not the star of Supah Papalicious or Lastikman, even if he’s just one of those dancers we see on TV.”

Ah love!

It was Vhong’s turn to give Desiree space when she went to Boracay to shoot Star Cinema and Viva Films’ When Love Begins.

Desiree stars as one of Anne Curtis’ high society friends in the romantic film which opens in 150 theaters nationwide on April 30.

Off-cam, Desiree gladly acted as resident mom on the set. Her co-stars, like AJ Dee and Rafael Rosell, with whom she shared scenes with, sought her out when they needed someone to talk to during shooting lulls or after they called it a day.

Desiree didn’t mind. After all, she’s been acting as stepmom to Vhong’s two young sons for the past three years.

The boys and their father will miss Desiree next month, when she tours the US for a series of shows with other performers. And while she’s there, Desiree will grab the chance to rekindle ties with her California-based family.

“I’m so excited because I’ll be extending my stay so I can celebrate my 26th birthday on May 28 there,” reports Desiree.

“It’s been so long since I spent my special day with my family in the US. I’d go there for the Christmas holidays, or for a close relative’s birthday, but not on my natal day.”

Desiree will not be idle when she comes back. She was tapped as one of the stars of the upcoming The Weddings.

Lucky in love, lucky in career. What more can Desiree del Valle ask for?