Gelli and Regine bury the hatchet
Posted: 1:06 AM (Manila Time) | Feb. 02, 2003
Inquirer News Service

Love triangle

IN THE mid-'90s, when the love triangle of Regine Velasquez, Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen was the talk of the town, Regine and Gelli would never see each other on the eye.

They were rarely seen together in the same venue, except when Regine and Ariel had to do a concert tour abroad and Gelli insisted to go with the group.

Regine and Gelli also never agreed to grace a TV program at the same time. Apparently, they were still very bitter then about what happened and they were not ready to talk about that sensitive issue in their lives.

Even Gelli's older sister, Janice, once disclosed that she couldn't even keep Regine's CD in the car, since it would only antagonize Gelli.

Regine came into the romance of Ariel and Gelli and was tagged as an "interloper," when she ended up as the new girlfriend of Ariel. Gelli was left in the cold.

After several months, however, Ariel returned to Gelli's arms and eventually married her. Regine admitted she was "dumped."

Ariel and Gelli now have two sons - Joaqui and Julio.

Today, several years after that controversial episode in their lives, Regine and Gelli have decided to bury the hatchet. They have agreed to come face to face with each other as Gelli finally sits down with Regine for a one-on-one interview in a special episode of "Sis," 10 a.m. Monday, on GMA 7. The two are finally mending the gap inflicted by a bitter exchange of words and years of non-communication.

During the taping of the exclusive interview, a network insider said there were a few excruciatingly "queasy" moments between Regine and Gelli. It was understandable. That was their first encounter after a long time and after an unpleasant episode in their lives which they would now rather forget.

Will it mean closure for Regine and Gelli at last?

Regine will not only promote her upcoming Valentine concert (with Michel Legrand at the PICC on Feb. 14 and 15) in the TV program of her former boyfriend's wife. Regine will also relive those tumultuous times with Gelli and prove that the pain is no longer there.

Naturally, it is expected that the two will veer away from the topic because the sight of each other or even the mere mention of each other's name would stir memories of their love triangle.

But the erstwhile "rivals" for the love of one man will show the power of reconciliation on "Sis" tomorrow.

The interview is meant to boost the viewership of "Sis," which will be up against the new daily morning show of Tessie Tomas on ABS-CBN that will premiere on Monday.