Mariel: I'm not pregnant

Actress-host Mariel Rodriguez vehemently denied reports that she is pregnant by her showbiz sweetheart Zanjoe Marudo.

In an interview, Rodriquez said that she's now busy with her superheroine character "Varga" who will soon be part of ABS-CBN's "Mars Ravelo's Presents: Isang Lakas."

"Ayaw ni Varga niyan. Mahirap naman yatang tumakbo at makipaglaban sa bad men kung buntis, kaya hindi 'yon totoo," she said.

Aside from denying that she's on her way to motherhood, the  "Wowowee" co-host also downplayed issues that she's now living in with Marudo in a condo. "Hindi yan totoo dahil hindi naman sa condominium unit nakatira si Zanjoe," she said.

Maria Erlinda Termulo in real life, Rodriguez started her career as a commercial model before she went into hosting.

She was also one of the hosts of the reality show "Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus."

Rodriguez also appears in several drama and comedy shows on ABS-CBN. With a report from DZMM's Laila Chikadora.

Mariel Rodriguez defends Christmas gift of boyfriend Zanjoe Marudo

Nang magdesisyon sina Mariel Rodriguez at Zanjoe Marudo na maging open tungkol sa kanilang relationship, marami ang natuwa dahil bihira nga lang naman sa mga artista ang umaamin pagdating sa kanilang love life.

Pero sa pagiging bukas nina Mariel at Zanjoe sa kanilang relasyon ay ang paminsan-minsang pagbato rin sa kanila ng mga intriga. Sa katatapos nga na holidays ay may lumabas na kuwento na isang mumurahing silver necklace at Bench gift certicate lang daw ang regalo ni Zanjoe kay Mariel, na endorser naman ng clothing line na Meg.

Dinepensahan naman ni Mariel ang boyfriend nang makausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang TV host last Saturday, January 17, sa dressing room ng Entertainment Live.

"It's a white-gold heart shaped necklace with diamonds, so I don't know why people make it api. Nahihiya nga ako kay Zanjoe, naaawa ako sa kanya," sabi ni Mariel.

Dagdag niya, "I love it and it was not even an issue. Alam mo ba na I was the only person na pinag-isipan ni Zanjoe ng gift? It's a surprise kasi nilagay niya yun sa isang malaking box, tapos nandun sa loob yung gift niya. Iisipin mo, ‘Ano ba ito?' Box na malaki tapos nandun pala sa loob yung necklace."

Regarding the gift certificate from Bench, nilinaw naman ni Mariel na biro lang ito ng boyfriend lalo't alam naman nito na endorser siya ng Meg.

"Joke niya lang yun, niloloko lang niya ang mga tao," ngiti ni Mariel. "Alam mo naman yun, mahilig magsalita ng kung anu-ano. Sabi ko nga, ‘Sira-ulo talaga ito! Bench, e, Meg endorser ako!' Definitely, hindi siya puwede."

THE SECRET OF A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP. Masaya at kuntento raw si Mariel sa itinatakbo ng relasyon sa boyfriend. Ito ay sa kabila ng busy schedule nila, lalo na raw ni Zanjoe. Mariel realized na ang mas malalim na pang-unawa at suporta ang kailangan ng boyfriend ngayon.

"We're okay, we're happy," sabi ni Mariel. "I'm so happy nga for him dahil sobrang busy siya ngayon. Dyosa just ended, mayroon siyang Weddings, Parekoy, and mayroon pang isang soap na big time talaga.

"For a relationship like us to work out, kailangan talaga you have to be understanding. He has no time in the world because of his sked."

TWO SHOWS. Happy with her love life and showbiz career, sinabi ni Mariel na sobra niyang mahal at ine-enjoy ang dalawang shows na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya ng ABS-CBN—ang Entertainment Live at Wowowee.

"I'm fabulous and I'm very happy!" bulalas ni Mariel. "I love E-Live kasi matagal ko nang kasama ang mga co-host ko dito, so we're very comfortable with each other. Kita mo naman kami ni Luis [Manzano], kumportable kami sa isa't isa. Si Toni [Gonzaga], from the very start pa lang, and si Bianca [Gonzales] na friend ko na ever since. I'm happy with the show and I love it so much. I'm used na sa mga intriga. Kailangan because it's our job, trabaho namin yun.

"Magti-three years na kami sa Wowowee. Masaya and nakita ko na ngayon na pamilya talaga kaming lahat, even the staff. So, sobrang mahal ko rin yung show," pagtatapos ni Mariel.