A Modern Fairy Tale

A Modern Fairy Tale The worlds of showbiz and basketball were reunited when Danica Sotto and Marc Pingris tied the knot last Saturday. As the newlyweds bask in the sun in Boracay for their honeymoon, let’s go back to the very beginning and find out how this story of true love came to be, in an exclusive interview with iGMA.tv just days prior to the wedding. In the afternoon of March 03, 2007, the much-anticipated union between professional league basketball player Marc Pingris and showbiz figure Danica Sotto took place at the Palms Country Club in Alabang. Guests were in tears during the highly emotional ceremony as the couple declared their lifetime vows in front of families, friends and God. They started out simply as friends. In fact, they met just after Danica experienced a bad breakup. “At that point, I was enjoying my life, alone! I wasn’t dating kasi ayoko na talaga.” But obviously, fate had other things in mind. Although uninterested in getting romantically involved with anyone at that time, let alone a basketball player, she soon found out that he was good company. “Naawa ako kasi mukhang mabait…So nagsasama ako ng friends pag lumalabas kami.” What were their dates like? “Pag mga movie, two girlfriends ko kasama, tapos siya. ‘Yung talagang OP (out of place) siya, pero nakaka-jive niya sila.” And on their second date, she asked her celebrity mom Dina Bonnevie to be their chaperone instead of her friends! Perfect Match Danica says that Marc has the qualities she wants in a husband and has even exceeded her expectations. “Mabait talaga siya,” she begins when asked what she loves most about Marc. “Isusubo na lang niya ‘yung kinakain niya ibibigay niya pa sa iba…For me nakikita ko kung gaano kabait ang isang tao with the way they value other people.” Although they grew up in different social backgrounds, theirs is a relationship that helps them grow as individuals. “Parang magaling din si God mag-match kasi, I learn from him and he learns from me. We compliment each other,” she says. “I came from a broken family, Pero naniniwala ako (that) a family should really stay together, dapat laging buo,” Danica stresses. She also believes that a family’s relationship with one another cultivates a person’s character. Both did not grow up in regular households. Danica’s parents Vic Sotto and Dina Bonnevie separated when she was still very young. Part of showbiz royalty, she grew up amidst the intrigues and controversies that involved the Sotto clan. Marc, meanwhile, was raised by his mom Erlinda and older sister Joan as his French father Jean Marc Pingris, left them when was still a baby. He grew up in Possurobia, Pangasinan and according to Danica, is very old-fashioned, “as in probinsyano, old-style na Filipino.” His belief in old-fashioned courtship even caught her parents by surprise. There was a time when Marc kept on asking their permission to visit Danica. “Bakit may sakit ka ba?” This was her father’s reaction when she told him about Marc’s intent to visit her. Unbelievably, this wasn’t a one time thing as Marc would ask permission before dropping by their house. Happily Ever After Danica believes that she and Marc are perfect for each other, but do her parents share these sentiments? She notes that when they became a couple, her parents reacted as any concerned parent would – they were worried. This was not unusual given the stereotype of high-profile basketball stars that are known to score points not just on the court, but with the ladies as well. Soon enough, Marc proved them wrong. Vic and Dina have learned to like him for who he is, kind, respectful and generous. Now that they are married, what lies ahead for the couple? Danica admits she isn’t ready yet for motherhood when asked about how big she wants her family to be. “Wala pa ako sa stage na ‘yan, parang di ko pa ata kaya maging nanay!” Nevertheless, she also told us that she would like to have two children -- a boy and a girl. Who says that true love no longer exists? Danica and Marc’s union is proof that there’s always the possibility of a happy ever after. – Text by Alula M. dela Cruz. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio.