While Gelli de Belen has embraced the freedom that social media provides, she is not one to get involved in any issues knowing how online bashing has become very common on social media. People nowadays have become much freer with their use of harsh words that often result in a lot of troubles.
It’s scary for her to read the inflammatory way of how people state their opinions “because it’s not only me who is going to be affected in case I’ve said or done something (online) but my family would be affected as well. So, I don’t want to be part of it.”
Come to think of it, we are in a world where everybody has an opinion. We are in a world where freedom has actually “killed” the freedom of others to speak up because no matter how good the intention is, there are those who will deliberately put you down, shut you up and hurt you.
“I think the best thing to do is just know when to talk and when to just shut up,” Gelli remarked.
What Gelli is willing to talk about is her life as a wife to her husband Ariel Rivera and as a mother to their children, Joaquin Andres and Julio Alessandro, who are now in their early 20s and are both based in Canada.
Married for 25 years now, Gelli and Ariel are among the celebrity real-life couples who are the epitome of the line “love is love.” It’s admirable how the couple has shown the importance of keeping the family intact after marriage.
I asked Gelli how they navigated the last 25 years and she said that even other married couples when asked the same question won’t be able to have a specific answer. She added, “Of course, that’s what we hope for (togetherness for life).”
“I just think, and I always say this, it’s mostly because of him. Why? Because women, we always want the relationship to work. That’s intrinsic, naturalesa na naming mga babae iyan. We will do anything just to make the relationship work kahit mag-tumbling-tumbling pa. But with men, if they are not as invested (in the relationship), kahit na anong tumbling mo, walang mangyayari.”
Gelli described Ariel as very generous with his time and whatever that he can give. “He will not only give a little but a lot. I’m so lucky. I thank God for giving me somebody like him.”
In any relationship, communication is important and Gelli couldn’t agree more. She believes that understanding each other is key to a lasting marriage. “That’s why, you really have to communicate and express what you feel.”
Gelli never denied how tough it was for her in the beginning that their home became an empty nest after their sons moved abroad.
“It was hard at first na ‘yung gumising kami na wala na sila Julio at Wacky, yun ang mahirap and every time we leave Canada or every time they leave the Philippines after a vacation, it’s drama. There’s really pain in my heart every time it happens. It’s not easy.”
But knowing that their children are safe and with Ariel’s mom guiding them in Canada, Gelli has nothing to be worried about.
Meanwhile, Gelli was surprised during her guesting on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda a few days ago when her husband appeared in a video message. He expressed on national TV how he loves his wife so much which made Gelli blush.
On the same video, Ariel asked his wife, “How do you see us spending our life together for the next 20, 30 years? What is your ultimate goal as we live the next few decades together?”
Gelli blushed some more and answered, “I think I just see us enjoying each other’s company, watching our children grow together, traveling more and just living life to the fullest.”
To have her own family is what she wanted and looked forward to since she was a little girl.
“I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to be a wife. That was clear to me. And it happened, talagang na-manifest ko siya.”
“What I am trying to manifest now is for whatever happiness we have right now in the family, to just continue on for the rest of our lives.”