Isabel Rivas is back in the biz
ACTRESS Isabel Rivas is back in the limelight after a hiatus of seven years. Her presence at the press conference of the new ABS- CBN teleserye “Los Bastardos” intrigued the interest of some members of the movie press more than the other four big name women playing significant characters in the series.
Ronaldo Valdez, in the role of patriarch Don Roman Cardinal, has sired an illigitmate son or bastard with her and other women including Rosanna Roces and former beauty titleholder Joyce Ann Burton. Danita Paner and Ana Abad Santos are likewise making their comeback via the small screen.
Based in Orange County, California, USA, she disclosed that being away from showbiz and the country that long was an interesting back story in itself before executive director Ruel Bayani offered her the most coveted role of Alba through long- distance communication.
Incidentally, Roxanne Barcelo played the younger Alba to slough off to Isabel’s character to the present time. The teleserye now focuses more on the villainous character of Isabel as wife to Ronaldo and mother to Diego Loyzaga, one of the bastards in the primetime drama.
The role given her by director Bayani, according to Isabel, was a double whammy for her family and acting career. It was a sentimental journey back to the country to be with her family and immediate relatives. She has now a grandchild, a toddler that she spoils rotten by daughter-in-law actress in semi-retirement Nadine Samonte.
Offhand, the last time Isabel was seen on teleserye was in the top-rated “Guns and Roses” where she played mother to female lead Bea Alonzo. After that she was almost incognito to local showbiz except that she was reported to have migrated to the US for good.
So what took her so long to return to the country?
In Isabel’s recollection, it was the beauty guru and good friend of hers and heaven- sent Cory Quirino who was mainly responsible for her leaving the country out of hopelessness.
At the time, Isabel was down to her last centavo. She was defrauded by a group of foreign investors of her life savings and investments.
All expenses paid by Quirino, she hied her off to the States for a breather and was left there for a little longer in the care of a common friend Roxanne Kardouzh.
Fortuitously, in one social swirl Isabel met a well-placed widowerbusinessman of Italian descent named Richard Vella. He proposed marriage, and long story short, she turned into a proverbial Cinderella, married well to a man who she thinks was the answer to her prayers for a lifetime partner who is devoted, caring and loving.
Isabel concluded with fondness that husband Richard has now become her number one fan. Before her departure, he made sure Isabel takes home to the country all the costumes and accoutrement needed for her shoot. He will follow her in December for their second honeymoon in the Philippines.