Eugene Domingo’s love story gives hope to singles over 40

by Nathalie M. toMada Philstar.com

EUGENE Domingo’s love story gives hope to singles in their 40s and beyond who are still looking for “The One.”

The Ten Little Mistresses star thought she’d be single forever until she met her now-significant other, Italian movie critic Danilo Bottoni.

The topic of Eugene’s relationship cropped up during The STAR’s oneon-one interview with her regarding Ten Little Mistresses, the first Filipino Amazon Original Movie, which is still No. 1 on Prime Video Philippines a week after its streaming premiere.

Incidentally, the murdermystery comedy is directed by The IdeaFirst Company’s Jun Robles Lana, the same director of Barber’s Tales, the drama that paved the way for Eugene to find love.

In 2014, the film competed at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, where it won the Third Place-Audience Award. But the “biggest reward” there was meeting Danilo.

“When Danilo and I first met, walang ayos ang buhok ko, dry na dry. Malungkot…I was just there, parang lost, but (I was thinking) anyway, I’m here, so might as well enjoy. That was my state when he found me,” the 51-year-old actresscomedienne said.

No sparks flew on that first meeting though. Admittedly, she was then at a point in her life where she thought she would be “single forever”.

“Hindi talaga nag-click yung first niyang sinabi for the reason that personally, give up na ako nun. Parang

I was already accepting the fact that I would be single forever and maybe I would just go to a convent,”

Eugene further shared with The STAR.

“Promise yun talaga ang plano ko, pumasok sa convent! May dala-dala akong isang sako ng pera, ibibigay ko (sa kanila). But, by the way ha, convent sa Italy hahaha!

“Parang, ‘This is my cash, please take care of me, I’m single, I’ll pray with you… and be singing with you.’

Yun ang nasa isip ko, forever single na ako.”

But contrary to her “plans,” someone unexpected came along. At the Udine filmfest, Danilo approached her because he had seen her previous comedy hit films, from Kimmy Dora to Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. In fact, they were already friends on Facebook.

Eugene recalled, “He was there and he said, ‘We’re friends on Facebook, can I invite you to have pizza with me?’ That’s it. Parang nahilo na ako hahaha! I said no.

“Because whenever I’m in a festival, medyo sineset aside ko yung ‘hashtag landian’ because I have work and I have a responsibility.

But as soon as hawak ko na yung trophy (for Barber’s Tales), ready na ako makipag-landian. Pero ‘di ko na siya nakita.”

That wasn’t going to be the end of the story though.

Eugene was quick to add, “After nun, I chased him.”

The couple has been

YOUR TANONG, MY SAGOT IN LAS VEGAS, PART 1. Atty.

Michael J. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya at the Radiant Spa in Las Vegas in “Your Tanong, My Sagot.” Among the questions Atty. Gurfinkel answers are – From Richard (top left): My friend came to the U.S. as a student and overstayed. Can she adjust her status by marrying her U.S. citizen boyfriend?; From Jeff (top right): My parents refuse to be petitioned by me. How long would it take if I petition my brothers, instead?; From Girlie and Rudy (bottom): If Rudy’s petition for his stepson will take 11 years, are there other, faster options to have his stepson to come to the U.S.? Watch Part 1 of “Your Tanong, My Sagot” at the Radiant Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada on an encore of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, February 26 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. (Advertising Supplement)