Marian, Dingdong back today from holiday in Bali

When Dingdong Dantes turned 33 last Aug. 2, he treated his girlfriend Marian Rivera to an exclusive outing on an island off Quezon, together with Dingdong’s family and some close friends.

It was Marian’s turn to celebrate her birthday yesterday and Dingdong fulfilled his promise to bring her to “paradise” which turned out to be Bali, Indonesia. They left Sunday and should be back today.

As late as last Saturday when she guested on Startalk just a few hours after she renewed her exclusive contract with GMA, Marian said that she was “clueless” where Dingdong was taking her.

“He was keeping my passport so I didn’t know,” said Marian. “He made me choose between a place where I can do shopping or a place where I can relax. He reminded me to bring certain items.”

It was only when they checked in at the airport did Marian learn where they were headed for — a real paradise for lovers. Last night, the sweethearts were scheduled to share a special candle-lit dinner at a famous restaurant on the island.

There’s a rumor that Marian and Dingdong are secretly engaged. When Startalk host Lolit Solis took note of the expensive ring Marian was wearing on her right hand and asked if it was an engagement ring, Marian denied the engagement yarn and said, “Kung engagement ring, dapat mas malaki kaysa dito,” adding (as her fans present at the studio cheered), “if and when Dong and I get engaged, I will come back to Startalk and announce it to the whole world.”

Since she has everything — a loving boyfriend and everything else a girl could ask for — Marian was tongue-tied when asked what her birthday wish was.

“Well,” she finally said, “I am happy where I am now. And yes, ‘yung renewal ng GMA contract ko is a very good birthday gift. Forever Kapuso tayo.”

The Kapuso network gave Marian a fitting “royal” treatment during the contract-signing held at the exclusive Manila Polo Golf & Country Club, with all the network bigwigs present led by lawyer Felipe L. Gozon (chairman & CEO), Felipe Yalong (executive vice president & chief financial officer), Gilberto Duavit (president & COO), Rams David (president of All Access to Artists), Annette Gozon-Abrogar (GMA Films president), Marivin Arayata (vice president for Entertainment), Redgie Acuña-Magno (vice president for Drama Productions), Gigi Santiago-Lara (assistant vice president for Alternative Productions) and Angela Javier-Cruz (assistant vice president for Corporate Communications). 

Big Boss FLG called Marian “Reyna ng GMA,” so she rightfully deserved a “regal” affair.

For sure, when word got around that Marian’s GMA contract was expiring, other networks scrambled over one another to hire her.

Proving that loyalty is alive and well in an industry often described as “ungrateful,” Marian stuck to GMA to which she said she owes what she is and where she is now — “Kung hindi sa GMA, walang Marian Rivera.” No, she wasn’t dazzled (blinded) by offers of bigger money. Bless her!

Dingdong’s GMA contract is expiring soon and, like Marian, he values loyalty more than money so the good guess is that he will stay where he belongs.

“Did I consult Dong about my contract renewal?” Marian repeated the oft-asked question. “No, I did not. He has a different manager.”

When she comes back, Marian and her manager (Tony Tuviera’s group) will sit down with GMA executives to discuss the nitty-gritty of her new shows.

Miss Bohol pageant also rich source of showbiz material

Did you know that the Miss Bohol pageant is, like national beauty searches, also a rich source of showbiz material?

According to Funfare contributor Leo Udtohan, this year’s batch, chosen as part of the recent Sandugo Festival, could produce another Rich Asuncion who was discovered for the GMA reality-TV show StarStruck after she placed first runner-up in the Miss Bohol contest a few years ago.

Named 2013 Miss Bohol Sandugo was Brigitte Tanoja Burato of Alicia town, 18, a dean’s lister sophomore at the University of San Carlos where she’s the reigning Miss University of San Carlos School of Business & Economics and last year’s Miss Olive C-USC Campus. First runner-up and Miss Photogenic was Shaila Mae Rebortera of Baclayon (hometown of Cesar Montano) and second runner-up was Dae Narah Garcia of Talibon town whose family lineage includes former Pres. Carlos P. Garcia. 

Leo called the roll of Miss Bohol beauties who have ventured into showbiz or become national celebrities: like Rich, to wit: Olivia Solis (Miss Bohol 1957) who became actress in Visayan films, Delia Canda-de la Serna (Miss Bohol 1962) won Miss Philippines 1962-Visayas or third runner-up to Lalaine Benett who became the 1963 Miss Universe third runner-up; Emma Mumar (1968 Miss Bohol) was a semi-finalist in 1968 Bb. Pilipinas; Irah Noemi Naron (Miss Bohol Sandugo 1995) who was a semi-finalist in the Mutya ng Pilipinas 1996; Cherry Mae Bacaro (Miss Bohol Sandugo 2003) who was Bb. Pilipinas 2003 semi-finalist; Anna Maris Igpit (Miss Bohol Sandugo 2005) who won Bb. Pilipinas-World 2006 and voted as Top 5 Prettiest and Top 20 in the swimwear competition in 2006 Miss World contest; and Ely Rose Apple Angcon (Miss Bohol Sandugo 2011 first runner-up) who was selected finalist for the Olay White Bar Ambassador in 2011.

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