Is Eula Valdes ready to marry long-time partner?
Eula Valdes and Rocky Salumbides, a model and a former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate, have been together for almost five years. But they have yet to tie the knot, the way Ai-Ai delas Alas and Jed Salang recently did in Las Vegas.
There seems to be no legal impediment. Rocky gets along well with Eula’s teenaged son and eight-year-old daughter. So what’s keeping them from taking the plunge?
“Gusto niya (Rocky),” Eula told reporters in an interview at the presscon of her upcoming fantaserye, “Cassandra: Warrior Angel” with Eula Caballero.
“Nakikita ko ang sarili kong tumanda na kasama siya. Masarap ikasal. Kaya lang baka mag-iba na kapag legal na. Mas may right ka na (sa tao at sa relasyon). Mas malakas na ang loob mo.”
You got it right. Eula is afraid to lose the no-holds-barred life she enjoys these days. This free spirit is afraid of losing control. So that piece of paper can wait.
Read related: Eula denies split with long-time partner
At 40, Eula is content staying in one room with her children, playing volleyball now and then, and having a partner who understands her mood swings.
“Ang mga anak ko ang source of joy ko,” the doting mother gushes. “Kampante ako pag nanonood kami ng TV sa room. Minsan, hinihintay ko ang bunso ko sa Kumon classes niya. Kinukunan ko sila ng picture pag tulog sila.”
Rocky knows Eula so well he has another name for her: Julio (Maria Julia is Eula’s real name), He calls her Julio whenever she’s behind the wheel.
Driving as therapy
“It’s therapy for me,” Eula describes what driving her car to places near and far does to her. “Pag nag-da-drive ako, iba ang boses ko. Julio ang tawag sa akin.”
Eula admits that full, almost masculine voice swings to the other side of the spectrum. It morphs into that of a little girl’s.
“That’s when my children say, ‘Pinapasukan na naman ng Sto. Nino si Mama.”
The multiple personas don’t bother Eula. It’s who she is, and who she’ll ever be.
“Hindi lang dual ang personality ko. Marami. Magtatanong ako tapos ako rin ang sumasagot pero ibang boses. Nag-iiba ang boses ko depende sa topic (at hand).”
And that’s why Eula is happy her job allows her to assume as many characters as she can – with changes of voice and tone to match. It’s the perfect venue for someone whose character is as complex as hers.
Also read: The secret to Eula Valdes's happy love life
“Cassandra” is an example. Eula V’s is a double character – a mother in search for her identity and a babaylan who has turned to the dark side.
Eula V also tried something she has never done before: strap herself on a harness and do some action scenes as a warrior mom (to Eula Caballero’s character).
The muay thai trainings she was required to get come in handy. So too, did the volleyball games Eula plays when she’s free.
Paying it forward
Supporting a teen actress like her younger namesake also gives Eula V the not-to-be-missed chance of paying it forward.
“Hindi ako magiging ganito kung hindi ako sinurportahan noon,” she explains.
Eula V knows she won’t have her cabinet of awards if no one allowed her to prove herself back then.
Since taping hasn’t started yet, Eula V is banking on feedback she got about her co-star.
“Sabi ni Eric Quizon (one of the directors of ‘Cassandra’) magaling na artista si Eula (Caballero),” states Eula V. “I’m taking his word for it. Hindi naman siya bibigyan ng ganitong project ng TV5 if she can’t deliver.”
That’s something viewers will judge for themselves as well when “Cassandra: Warrior Angel” premieres next month on TV5’s primetime slot.
