Gelli de Belen's tips on finding Mr. Right
Looking for Mr. Right? Ask Gelli de Belen. She and husband Ariel Rivera have been married for 17 years.
On a set break while taping “Confessions of a Torpe,” her TV5 series with Ogie Alcasid and Alice Dixson, Ariel would suddenly text her, “How are you doing?”
Non-negotiable
Her commitment to family is non-negotiable.
“Mahihirapan ako pagpunta sa Canada (where she and Ariel want their sons Joaqui, 15 and Julio, 13 to study college). Pero okay lang kasi kasama ko pamilya ko.”
Her track record as wife and mother are the reasons why you take Gelli’s word about choosing a future life partner, seriously.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga bagets to make sure the person you end up with is okay, check mo muna kung paano siya sa pamilya nya, sa magulang niya. Malamang, pag sila nagkapamilya, ganon din sila kasi yon ang kinalakhan nila.”
No low point
Gelli herself thinks she has found Mr. Right because she and Ariel never had a low point in their marriage. Contrary to what others think of artists like Ariel, Gelli never saw her husband lapse into mood swings.
Their differences are minor, and she just laughs at them.
“Kapag linagay niya ang isang bagay dito at linipat mo don, hindi nya agad ito mahahanap kahit malapit mo lang linagay.”
Right here, right now
Ariel also has a thing about doing things right here, right now.
“Naisipan lang niya kahapon, gusto na niya gawin ngayon. Pag naisipan niyang gawin ang ilaw, gagawin nya yon kahit gabi, kahit pwede namang bukas na.”
But don’t get her wrong. Gelli is not complaining. She’s just as amused as ever.
When she goes home after a hectic day of taping for “Face the People,” Gelli leaves the problems about poverty, family fights and others she encounters in the show, to become plain wife and mother.
Blessed and loving it
“Noong una, medyo mabigat (pag uwi ko). Pero ngayon, iniiwan ko na lang sa studio (ang problema.)”
Gelli knows that when she’s home, she’s no longer a celebrity. She’s a homemaker.
And she knows she is blessed.
“Sino ako para magreklamo? Ganon ang buhay nila (her guests in “Face the People”) everyday. Mas malaki ang mga problema nila, kung paano mahatiran ng bigas ang anak nila at iba pa. Ako, one episode lang ma-sestress.”
Gelli appreciates what she has. And it shows. She looks younger than her 40 years. Surely, a lot of women are dying to be in her shoes.
