Ni LITO MAÑAGO
Kilalang modelo si Joanne na tulad ni Derek ay may isa ring anak. Mahigit dalawang taon na ang relasyon nila at magka-live-in na sila.
“Practically, we are,” sagot ng aktor nang tanungin kung nagsasama na sila sa iisang bubong. “A year already!”
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At ang sekreto ng kanilang relasyon?
“I guess, what helps is everything that I’ve been through. I’ve been through some intense relationships, a lot of hurt na you learned from and you always look back and tell you not to make the same mistakes again, so, now it just doesn’t work, insecurities, wala na,” pagtatapat ni Derek.
“We all know that she’s a mom and she has a wonderful daughter (Sophie) and it’s like, it means a family,” kuwento ng 41-year old Filipino-British actor/TV host.
“Most definitely and I’m very appreciative of the sacrifices that she does. Like she’s out there right now, waiting for me and you know, and to think na sawang-sawa na siguro siya sa akin, magkasama kami ng one month sa Europe but she’s there outside to be with, to support me in another project that I’m going into so, everything is just nice, you know, I’m a family guy and with the daughter there...”
At his age, tila seryoso na si Derek na lumagay sa tahimik. Bilang paghahanda, tuluyan na niyang tinalikuran ang paglalaro ng frisbee at pagiging miyembro ng national team.
“Ngayon hindi na ako nagpi-frisbee,” pag-amin niya. “Mas gusto ko na lang makasama siya. I enjoy just waking up in the morning na siya ang kasama ko. Kung hindi ko siya kasama, siya ang unang hahanapin ko.”
Mula raw nang tumira sa kanya ang mag-inang Joanne at Sophie, nagbago na rin ang pananaw niya sa buhay.
“And ‘yung isang room ko, naging room na ni Sophie. I realized things na when we are going out of the mall, ‘I wanna buy Sophie a table, I wanna buy her a lampshade.’ Things that I will never do before. Parang before, ‘I wanna buy some rubber shoes, I wanna buy rims for my car,’ now it’s like let’s buy her night light sa kuwarto.”
Bukod sa kanyang bagong anak na babae, may panganay na anak si Derek sa kanyang previous marriage kay Mary Christine Jolly, si Austin Gabriel Jolly.
Kapiling niya si Austin dito sa Pilipinas ngayong Pasko.
For the second time, magkasamang muli sina Jennylyn Mercado at Derek sa All Of You na official entry ng Quantum Films, MJM Productions at Globe Studio para sa 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) na magsisimula sa December 25. Mula ito sa direksiyon ni Dan Villegas.
