“It’s a big challenge for me to play Anthony Real as I’ve never experienced being a two-timer,” he says. “I know a lot of guys with two wives, but nakakahiya namang mag-research ako sa kanila. In the story, I have two families. Si Maricel Soriano in Manila and our adopted son, Mark Justin Alvarez. Si Lovi Poe sa Cebu and our baby. Imagine, maintaining and balancing your time with two families. He never intended such a thing to happen but, we’re all human, so nangyari.”
It’s his first time to work with Maricel. “I was initially star struck at kinabahan noong una kaming magkaeksena, kasi alam naman natin ang stature niya sa showbiz. But we had great bonding right away. Needless to say, she’s really an accomplished actress so you have to be on your toes and always give your best when you’re doing a scene with her. Si Lovi naman, nagkasama na kami sa movie, ‘Tiktik’, so kilala na namin ang isa’t isa. It’s always a delight to work with her as she’s also very serious with her craft.”
That night of “Dalawang Mrs. Real” presscon at GMA’’s Studio 7, his GF Marian Rivera was taping the trailer and doing the pictorial at Studio 6 for her new dance musical show, simply titled “Marian”, helmed by Louie Ignacio. We first went to Marian’s interview with selected columnists then transferred to Dong’s studio. She said she’d invite Dong to guest in her show as he’s a good dancer.
“Ready ako, anytime!” says Dong. “I’m really happy for her kasi gusto niya talagang magkaroon ng dance show.”
Marian is leaving for the U.S. on June 13 to do shows for PLDT in San Franciso, L.A., San Diego and Las Vegas. Dong is also leaving for the U.S. to do promo shows for GMA Pinoy TV. Will they meet each other there? “Hindi siguro kasi malayo ang pupuntahan ko, sa Chicago,” he says. “She’ll be staying there longer, for two weeks. Ako, 3 days lang. I go there on June 20 and June 23, balik na ako agad dito. I can’t be away for a long time because of ‘Dalawang Mrs. Real’.”
