EUGENE Domingo on relationship with rumored Italian husband Danilo Bottoni: "Luckily and fortunately, mas lalong naging intense yung love between me and Danilo. We realized how we really enjoy each other’s’ company and araw-araw nagpapasalamat ako na binigay siya sa akin ng Panginoon."
In December 2019, Danilo had to retire from his work. Then in March, lockdown was announced because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Eugene still finds herself lucky in terms of her lovelife is concerned.
"Danilo and I have been very blessed because when we decided na he should retire early, dahil napapagod na rin ako kakalipad sa Italy and we like to be together, tamang-tama ang timing.
"Mid-last year, he was able to retire, although we still have to fix some papers. We started living together since last year.
"When we arrived December last year, hanggang ngayon hindi pa kami nakakabalik sa Italy.
"Ang balita ko ay lockdown sa ibang regions ng Italy, but I hope very soon maayos na rin."
"We are just very thankful to God that we decided to be together at this point, kasi ang hirap.
"I really feel for partners, couples, and families na hindi magkasama lalo na sa panahon na ito.
"In fact, I signed up for this campaign or request for the government na payagan naman yung legit couples to travel basta mag-submit lang ng tamang requirements and protocols."
With their everyday life together, Eugene knew that they are compatible living in one roof.
“I learned na sa pagkakataon na magkasama kayo palagi ng partner mo, lalo na ngayon, mare-realize mo kung compatible kayo.
“Luckily and fortunately, mas lalong naging intense yung love between me and Danilo.
"We realized how we really enjoy each other’s’ company and araw-araw nagpapasalamat ako na binigay siya sa akin ng Panginoon."
As much as they would want to go to Italy, flight is yet unavailable.
“Ang wish sana namin soon ay mas maging maayos na to travel and mas safe yung feeling.
"Sa tingin ko, ang dami na naming lilinisin doon sa apartment namin sa Italy.
“Mag-iisang taon na kaming hindi umuuwi, baka nabuhay na yung mga alikabok doon.
“For practical reasons, gusto rin naming umuwi sa Italy, pero as of now, we have to follow, be obedient, and don’t be selfish.
"This is for the sake of all of us and the generations after us."
How did the pandemic and her faith in God change her outlook in life?
“Marami tayong naririnig na hindi magagandang balita.
"All in all, hindi pa rin tayo makapaniwala na tumigil ang ikot ng mundo at ang lahat ay nagbago.
"Ang natutunan ko, personally, we always go back to the basic, the simplest, and the most necessary which is already provided by God.
"Sa palagay ko, ito ay pagkakataong maging simple at appreciative sa kung ano ang ibinigay sa atin.
"Whatever it is that God has given us, pagyamanin na lang natin iyon sa pamamagitan ng pag-share.
"Every time we share and we achieve something, we glorify Him and His faithfulness to us.
"The impact of the pandemic for me has been very spiritual. Honestly, naisip ko dapat ang tao ay matutong makuntento.
"Ngayon na unti-unting nanunumbalik, sana huwag natin kalimutan ang nangyari and that we take care of ourselves, families, health, and most importantly our environment."
"During the peak of the pandemic, bukod sa supermarket at drug stores, na-realize ko na ang beauty salon ay necessary.
"Isa siyang essential dahil noong panahon na ‘yon, talagang nagkapalan, nagputian, at nag-dry ang buhok ng mga tao. Naglabasan ang totoong kulay.
"Pero after a while, naisip mo, ‘Tatanggapin ko na ‘to.’
"Kaming mga 40 and above, yung mga pa-Golden, napagod na rin sa kakakulay ng buhok.
"Ang latest post ko nga ay embrace the natural changes in your body. Sinalubong ko na siya."
Eugene is the host of her own comedy-anthology program on GMA titled Dear Uge.
It went off the air for a while, however, in August they resumed their taping observing all the necessary protocols and safety.
"Bago pa man nagkaroon ng pandemic, nagkaroon na kami ng transition. From letter format na nagbabasa ang character ko, nag-shift na kami to me, Eugene Domingo, as a major character in the episode.
"Ang difference lang, bago mag-pandemic, isang episode na natatapos din. Ngayon, dahil pandemic, for practical reasons, nagkaroon tayo ng part 1 and 2.
"Nakadagdag din sa excitement dahil kung mayroon tayong part 1 ng story, may cliffhanger na aabangan sa susunod na Sunday.
"Mostly, Dear Uge Presents’ fresh episodes talk about love, joy, and just celebrating life no matter what.
"Sa ngayon, ang Dear Uge Presents ay naghahatid ng masasaya at light episodes para naman makatulong sa mga manonood at ma-enjoy nila ang holiday season."
"Kami rin naman sa set ay nag-e-enjoy pero hindi namin kinakalimutan yung health protocols.
"Bago ang taping, isang buong buwan ang paghahanda ng team. Kapag malapit na ang taping, isang linggo rin ang paghahanda sa aming mga sarili to make sure na hindi kami exposed so as not to harm our health dahil magkakasama kami sa set.
"We also have our swab tests before taping and on the taping itself we have medics. Laging tsine-check ang aming temperature, all our tents are well-ventilated or else nakabukas para yung fresh air pumapasok.
"We consider everything that the Department of Health is advising us to do and we make sure na ang lahat ng mga tao ay mabilis kumilos para mabilis din kaming makauwi.
"We always think na ang mabigyan ng trabaho sa panahon ngayon ay isang napakalaking oportunidad at biyaya."
She is very much grateful to her viewers who's been supporting the show.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng patuloy na nanonood ng Dear Uge Presents kasi we are very excited to give you fresh episodes as much as we can.
“Sana every Sunday, fresh episode na tayo. Mahirap din kasi for practical reasons we have to budget everything, pero we also want to entertain you.
“Hopefully next year, our fifth year, ay mas magaganda pa at mas madalas na ang fresh episodes namin. Ite-tape na rin po namin ang susunod na episodes at mapapanood na po ninyo this January.
"Masaya rin ‘yan. Marami po kaming sorpresa para sa inyo.
“Hopefully, the next year will be more productive for all of us in a positive way.
"Sana lahat tayo ay manumbalik ang ating energy, pananampalataya, and creativity as an artist.
"Kahit na hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa larangan ng telebisyon at pelikula, sana ay hindi pa rin tayo mawala. Patuloy tayong mag-eksperimento, sumubok, lumaban."
"Isa ‘yan sa essentials ng buhay ang entertainment."