“Okay ang chemistry namin with her,” says Danica. 'Masaya siyang kasama." “Sa aming tatlo, siya ang pinakamaliit ang waistline,” says LJ. “Sana, kahit bumalik pa si Mariel kapag okay na siya, manatiling regular co-host din si Ate Gelli kasi the more, the merrier. Mas masaya kung apat kami uli.”
And how does Gelli find them? “Naku, mga bata sila. And I’ve known them since they were kids. Itong si Danica, kapitbahay namin noong naka-stroller pa sila ni Oyo, e. Si LJ naman, pareho kami noon ng manager, the late Tito Douglas Quijano, and little sister ko yan. So, di na sila iba sa’kin. Heto ngayon, mga co-hosts ko na.”
What comforting words would they want to convey to Mariel after her latest miscarriage? “Yun talaga ang bumulaga sa’kin kaninang umaga and I felt so saddened by the news,” says Gelli. “Wala yatang comforting words sa dictionary na I can offer to them except to say that I’m praying for them so they can rise above this as early as possible. Let’s just give them time and space. Maybe God has other plans for them.” “It’s really painful, what they’re going through,” says LJ. “There are times we may not understand what’s happening, lalo na nga’t this is not the first time it happened to them. But let’s just trust God in His infinite wisdom at baka iba nga ang plans Niya for them.”
“To Ma, which is how we call Mariel, I just want her to know that we are really praying hard for her,” says Danica. “We’re all very sad but I’m sure may purpose ang lahat ng pinagdaraanan nila and with God’s help, malalampasan din nila lahat ng mga hamon ng buhay sa kanila.”
And what can we expect in the 3rd season of “Happy Wife, Happy Life”? “Definitely more informative, more fun episodes,” says LJ. “And more food trips. People like it when we go to little known places na may mga masarap palang kainan doon. We’ll also feature new fun places for kids like Kidzania and Dinosaur Park.”
Gelli is really super busy these days as she’s also hosting “Happy ng Truck ng Bayan” and taping for the new TV5 sitcom on Sundays, “Misterless Misis”, where she plays Liza, the lonely wife of an OFW in Dubai. How does she juggle her time?
“I think the most important element is may katuwang ako sa mga gawain ko sa bahay,” she says. “Napakasuwerte ko talaga, kasi si Ariel, kapag wala ako, maaasahan ko siya sa paghatid-sundo sa dalawang anak namin at sa iba pa mang mga kailangan sa bahay. Lagi niya kong dinadamayan, kaya hindi ko na yun pinoproblema.”
They’ve been married for 18 years and it’s still going strong. What’s their secret? “You know, marriage is a never ending process of learning and, up to now, may instances pa rin na nagugulat ako na, a, ganyan pala si Ariel. Marriage is also a journey that you make together and I think very important yung attitude mo. You think of what you can contribute to enhance the marriage, not just what you can get from your partner.”
