Alice Dixson: I don’t know what lesson #YolandaPH is teaching us
If people are saying super typhoon Yolanda is teaching us a lesson, Alice Dixson doesn’t know what is.
“Yung iba wala naman silang ginagawa. 'Yung sa Ondoy na lang, the whole community was not deserving of that.”
The star of “When the Love is Gone” has a few ideas about how the perils of future Yolandas can be lessened.
“I believe infrastructure in the Philippines needs to be improved. Kasi we’re not putting out money into cleaning our sewerage systems. We’re not putting money into improving quality of life for ourselves and future generations. Ine-expand ang Espana year after year pero patuloy pa rin ang baha.”
Although she has lived in Canada for years, Alice knows how it is to be stranded at home due to floods brought about by heavy rains.
“Nakatira kami sa Taytay at nababaha ang lugar namin, lalo na sa Marcos Highway (which is near this part of Rizal)” she recalls. “Only a boat can pass through the place.”
Personal storms
Most everyone knows that Alice has her own share of personal storms. She and husband Ronnie Miranda, whom she married in Canada, divorced after more than 10 years of being together.
The failed marriage has taught her a couple of lessons.
“First, you can’t change anybody. Second, I learned how to be selfless and put somebody’s welfare ahead of mine. And third, I learned that I must continue to be self-sufficient. Let’s say namatay ang partner mo, you can’t rely on him or her. You must think of what ifs.”
The experience has also made her realize that one doesn’t have to be married to stay in a relationship.
“I’m not willing to give marriage another try kasi there are a lot of committed couples who spend their lifetime together without getting married.”
This also why she can relate to Audrey, her character in "Where the Love is Gone." Audrey is in a turbulent marriage and has to fight for her daughter’s (Andi Eigenmann) right to be happy.
“I’ve loved and lost,” admits Alice. And, just like her character in the Viva film, only fate can tell how the wounds from a broken marriage can heal.
“If poeple are meant to be together, they will be together. There are people who get divorced and get back together again and get divorced again.”
