MANILA, Philippines — Dina Bonnevie could ha ve been one of the Philippines’ most notable Hollywood stars today had she chosen to accept the leading lady role offered to her opposite Mel Gibson.
Dina said she was not joking when she said it as she elicited laughter from the people on the set of “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda,” where her guesting was aired last Friday.
Renowned host Boy asked her what she had not become because of her children. Dina is mother to Danica Sotto-Pingris and Oyo Boy Sotto, both of whom are parents themselves.
“I didn’t become the leading lady of Mel Gibson in ‘East of Eden.’ No, it’s not a joke,” Dina said.
She continued, “I was offered to star in ‘East of Eden’ with Mel Gibson after I did ‘A Dangerous Life’ by Hal McElroy.”
Dina joined the cast of the 1988 television film about a foreign journalist covering the last days of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorshi p.
The actress, who currently stars on the afternoon drama “Abot Kamay na Pangarap,” said she was offered to live in Australia and start an acting career there.
“I was offered to live in Australia and be an actress there and eventually be in Hollywood, HBO. Eh ‘di dapat Hollywood actress na ako ngayon and I’m slaying it in the Met Gala. Hitsura ni Tyla, oh, ‘di ba?” she quipped.
She turned serious when she explained why she turned down the role.
“I didn’t become that because I chose my kids kasi at that time na nagpaalam ako kay Vic [Sotto, her ex-husband], sabi ko, kukunin ko ‘yung mga bata. Pupunta kami ng Australia and I’m gonna live there. Vic said, ‘If you do that, you will never see your kids again,'” the actress said.
On the other hand, her children made her a tougher person. She and Vic separated when she was only 23, after six years together. She was a young mother to two toddlers. Dina gave birth to Danica when she was 20 and, two years, later gave birth to Oyo.
Her situa tion prompted her to look for ways and means to provide for her children.
“I became an entrepreneur. I had to look for ways and means to make money aside from being an ac tress and a talk show host. I put up businesses and I became a successful businesswoman because of my inspiration, my kids. I wanted my kids to have a good life,” she said.
Apart from being smart with her money, Dina said her children also thought her to forgive and stop being judgmental.
“I became a forgiver and I stopped being judgmental kasi before I was so judgmental e. Masyado akong feelingera noon. Parang feeling ko, palagi akong tama. But then you realize you’re not always right. Marami ka ring mali,” she said. — Video from GMA Network YouTube channel
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MANILA, Philippines – A stellar Olympico goal by Ariana Markey was not enough for the Filipinas U17 team as they missed out on a semis slot in the 2024 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup, absorbing a draw against South Korea, 1-1, in their final match of the group stage in Indonesia on Sunday.
By virtue of goal difference, the South Koreans edged the Filipinas for the seco nd spot in Group A, where they will join North Korea in the semifinals. The podium finishers in the tournament qualify for the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
Markey’s heroics in the first half, as well as stellar defense led by keeper Gabrielle Barker were dashed at the 74th-minute mark, after the Koreans scored an opportunistic attempt by Beom Ye-ju inside the box.
Beom pounced on a late clearance by the Filipinas defense after Casey Phair brought down her defender right in front of goal. The Filipinas defense froze for a split second that gave Beom just enough space to take advantage and level the game.
The Filipinas coaching staff were left stunned by the no-call on Phair’s antics against Aiselyn Sia, as they were visibly protesting after the referee motioned for the goal.
Despite this, Filipinas continued to push on offense, and Baker and co. denied any other attempts by the South Koreans until the final whistle.
Still, shared points was simply not enough for the debutants to move on to the semifinals of the tournament.
The Filipinas finished third in Group A with four points built off of a win and a draw. In their first match of the tournament, they beat hosts Indonesia, 6-1.