FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo, Philippine Star

These two photos of Alice Dixson were taken by her husband, Ronnie Miranda, who is a graphic artist. Based in Vancouver, the couple has been married for 11 years. Alice is back purposely to star in the hit TV5 soap Ang Babaeng Hampaslupa.

It felt like starting all over again.

On the first day she shot for the TV5 hit soap Babaeng Hampaslupa, Alice Dixson admitted that she experienced “first-time” jitters, “may konting kaba.” After all, the last time she acted was more than five years ago, in the movie Enteng Kabisote (as mother fairy Ina Magenta) and in the GMA soap Hanggang Kailan.

But the “jitters” were replaced by the excitement of working for the first time with the likes of Susan Roces, Freddie Webb and Jay Manalo, and the new breed of actors led by Alex Gonzaga and Martin Escudero. The fact that Eric Quizon was the soap’s director helped calm Alice’s nerves.

“I’ve worked with Eric as an actor in a few movies (Underage 2, etc.) and it’s a new experience working with him as my director,” added Alice. “Also in the cast is Eddie Garcia with whom I’ve worked in a few movies (Sa Ngalan ng Ama, etc.), and so with Joyce (Bernal, Eric’s co-director) in Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw which I did with Richard Gomez and Christopher de Leon.”

There wasn’t any “breaking the ice” stage, though.

“My first scenes were with Jay (as her husband) and I simply introduced myself to him. After that, nag-kuwentuhan na kami and we’ve been comfortable with each other since then,” said Alice who plays Susan’s daughter in Hampaslupa (with Alex as Alice and Jay’s daughter in an epic drama that spans three generations). “I was elated na pumayag siyang gawin ‘yung soap. I learned that we would be together only when I was here already. Then, we met during the story conference.”

	Alice (another shot by Ronnie)

In Vancouver where she and husband Ronnie Miranda are based, Alice is into commercial and residential real estate while Ronnie, a graphic artist, has his own business (gigapixel.com dealing with high-resolution photography). “Actually,” said Alice, “mas sikat siya kaysa sa akin doon,” adding, “even if I’m here, I continue doing business in Vancouver. I have partners there.” (Note: Visit www.gigapixel.com, Ronnie’s website, and marvel at his showcase of the beauty of Vancouver and some of his work.)

The TV5 offer came at the right time.

“In September last year, my mom (who’s based in the US) asked me if I could accompany her during her vacation here in December last year. I said, ‘Wala naman akong trabahong gagawin d’un, but let me see if I can find one, a TV guesting or something, para sulit naman ang pag-uwi ko.’ She said, ‘Okey, anak, ipagdadasal ko ‘yon.’ So I sent ‘feelers’ to my friends in the industry. TV5 initially contacted me for a sitcom guesting in December. Then, they told me that they were putting me instead in a new soap. I said, ‘What’s the role?’ N’ung ikinuwento nila sa akin, I liked it right away.”

Hampaslupa co-stars Alex Gonzaga (left) and Susan Roces who plays the matriarch of a troubled clan

When Alice, who was here two years ago to sort out family matters, asked Ronnie’s permission, his first reaction was, “What, how long are you going to be away?’ Siempre, it’s a soap at medyo may kahabaan. I gave him some time to think about it and when we talked again, he told me, ‘Sige, if it’s really what you want to do, okey lang.’ He gave me the opportunity to make my own decision. So I came back in January and my mom followed only last February.”

I told Alice that when married actresses based abroad (Ruffa Gutierrez, Sheryl Cruz and Nikki Valdez among them) come home to resume their rudely-interrupted showbiz careers, the first question that pops up in the mind of showbiz-watchers is, “Hmmmm, is anything wrong with the marriage?”

Thankfully, in Alice and Ronnie’s case, there’s none.

“Sa awa ng Diyos, knock on wood, everything’s okay with our marriage,” said Alice. She and Ronnie have been married for 11 years now. If that’s the trend (Showbiz couples breaking up, that is. — RFL), natatakot din ako. I hope it doesn’t happen to us.”

Up to now, the couple doesn’t have a child. After a “false alarm,” they decided to give up hope of ever having one.

Back at work, so far, it’s been so good — so very, very good, in fact, that TV5 has asked Alice to stay longer. Her initial contract was only until next month but TV5 might extend Babaeng Hampaslupa due to its wide following and put Alice in another show.

In May, Alice will go back to Vancouver to attend to pressing business matters and come back in June to start work on the new show.

A Bb. Pilipinas-International in 1986, how does Alice keep her beauty-queen figure?”

“No secret,” said Alice. “I eat whatever I like and I exercise a lot. Ganoon lang.”