MARCO GUMABAO was needled in the zoom presscon of Viva-TV5’s Saturday night drama, “Di Na Muli”, because his sweet photos with hit vlogger Ivana Alawi were all over the internet that day.
Writers say it’s obvious with the way he holds Ivana’s thigh that something romantic is going on between them, but Marco is non-committal.
When someone quipped that he looks like he is in love, he just laughed instead of making a concrete reply. And doesn’t he also look so inspired? “Lagi naman akong inspired,” he says, without elaborating any more.
His leading lady, Julia Barretto, comes to his rescue and speaks for him.
“Hayaan nyo na lang muna si Marco,” she says. “I’m sure he will talk about it when he is ready. I think everyone is still in shock with the revelation and he is still overwhelmed.
" Marco kasi is the type of guy na kapag private life niya ang pinag-uusapan, he wants it to remain private lang. Di ba, Marcs?”
To which Marco wholeheartedly agreed. It’s obvious that the two of them are really good friends, but they won’t be romantically linked as Julia’s romance with Gerald Anderson is now an open book.
“Julia and I have been friends for a long time,” says Marco.
“We used to get invited sa birthday parties when we were kids with our respective parents. Then when Julia had her 17th birthday, she invited me and we kept our friendship through the years. Nagsasama pa nga kami sa aming vlogs.”
But it’s only now that they get to work with each other. “Di Na Muli” is Julia’s first teleserye project with Viva since she left ABS-CBN and Marco was with Viva earlier than her.
“It’s so nice to be working with her,” says Marco.
Kung may nagawa kang tama sa eksena nyo, she congratulates you. She tells you, good job.
"She is so very honest that she also tells you kung nakukulangan siya sa trabaho nyo. Hindi siya natatakot to share her feelings.’’
Working together also has another benefit for them.
“Yes, in doing ‘Di Na Muli’, we became even closer as friends kasi lock in taping ito for one month kaya naging magkasama kami on the location site nang matagal-tagal.
"Naninibago siya noong una kasi first time niya to do lock in taping. E, ako, third locking taping ko na so inalalayan ko siya to allay her anxieties kasi matagal siyang mawawala sa family niya.”
Don’t miss “Di Na Muli” which is now being shown on TV5 every Saturday at 7:30 PM, and also on Cignal and in Vivamax streaming.
