Why Dindi is feeling rich in New York

She said she had gained 10 pounds but Dindi Gallardo still retained the figure — and the pretty face — that won her the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown in 1993 (with Ruffa Gutierrez as the Bb. Pilipinas-World winner that same year).

“I’m very, very happy here,” said Dindi when Funfare had an exclusive interview with her at the high-end Pipa restaurant in New York’s East Side.

It was very obvious in the glow on her face. Dindi showed up with her six-footer boyfriend — oops! correction, please. “My fiance,” said Dindi — Rich Smalley, 35, who is a quarter Irish, a quarter English, a quarter Danish and a quarter German.

“We’re getting married next year,” added Dindi, 37, who rudely interrupted her thriving movie career in the late ’90s in favor of a quieter, intrigue-free life in New York. “Nothing grand. It’s going to be a small, intimate wedding with only our families and close friends.”

And where do they plan to spend their honeymoon?

“In the Philippines, most likely,” said Dindi.

“I’ve been looking forward to visiting the Philippines,” said Rich.

Did she leave the Philippines with a broken heart (after she broke up with Gabby Concepcion)?

“Yes,” admitted Dindi, breaking into a big laugh, “I’m broken-hearted because I miss my family. They’re living somewhere in the States and I’m the only one here in New York.”

The truth is that she and Gabby had broken up before Dindi left.

Told that Gabby is back in Manila after an absence of 13 years and is successfully sorting out the mess in his life (court cases and all), Dindi said, “I’m happy for him,” even if, like in the case of Gabby and his ex-wife Sharon Cuneta, “we never had any ‘closure’. Good for him, good for him. I saw him in a TV show and he still looks good; parang hindi tumanda. He’s one of our finest actors and he could help bring back the glory days of showbiz.”

Rich seemed to be the perfect partner and soulmate for Dindi.

“Mabait ‘yan,” said Dindi. “At home,” which is just a few blocks away from the Pipa restaurant, “he cooks. We’re open with each other; no secrets kept from each other.”

During the extended dinner, Rich kept ordering food and actually serving not only Dindi but also me and my two companions, journalist Raoul Tidalgo and Funfare’s “beauty expert” Felix Manuel (a nurse, who started working in New York the day we met Dindi and Rich). He could be an actor but no, Rich, a drummer, would rather work behind the cameras working on soundtracks for films. Dindi is into writing scripts and she’s collaborating on one with Rich.

The sweethearts met in 2003.

“Rich was the neighbor of a good friend of mine,” related Dindi. “I was then on vacation in New York for summer and my friend introduced me to Rich. No, there were no sparks. It was when I came back that we started hanging out. By the end of that year, we were together na.”

Asked what he found lovable in Dindi, Rich said, “When we first met we established a great friendship based on good communication. I think I’ve never been able to communicate with a person as well as I do with Dindi.”

In the three years that they’ve been living together, Dindi and Rich have gotten to know each other inside-out. They’re compatible.

“What else do we have in common?” asked Dindi. “We both have a sense of humor.”

“We both love to eat, we love food and we love watching films,” added Rich.

“And we are both family-oriented,” said Dindi, a Catholic (while Rich is a Presbyterian). “He loves golf. That’s his life — golf, music and film.”

“Golf on the beach,” laughed Rich.

Asked if she missed showbiz, Dindi smiled.

“Not the tsismis and the intrigues but my friends and co-workers,” she said, “and the all-night shooting na walang tulugan. If ever I go back to showbiz, it would be as a director.”

After the dinner, we walked on the street where Dindi and Rich lived. We politely turned down their invitation for us to take a quick look at their pad in a condo building. Instead of going their way, the sweethearts opted to walk with us to the subway station, making sure that we were safe on our way back to Manhattan before kissing us goodbye.

I looked at them walk away, disappearing into a corner, holding hands, so in love.

Dindi has found Mr. Right, at last, and vice-versa.

No wonder she’s feeling “Rich” in the city that never sleeps.

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