The Isabel Oli - Paolo Contis love story

They’ve managed to keep their relationship away from the scrutiny of the public except for a one-time controversy over a supposed third party. Paolo Contis and Isabel Oli exclusively share with iGMA how they got together and reveal their secret to keeping young love alive. Theirs was definitely not love at first. It’s not that neither made an impression when they first worked together in the primetime hit Sugo,, but just that they had almost opposite personalities. She Said, He Said “Hindi naman kami nagpapansinan nung sa Sugo eh. ‘Yung ‘hi’ (and) ‘hello’ lang. Tahimik lang ako sa isang corner," Isabel recalls. Apparently it was because of this commercial model’s quiet ways that Paolo took notice of her. He interpreted her silence as being snobbish. “(Si Paolo) pala, naiirita sa (tahimik lang)," she adds. Soon after, Paolo gave her chocolates and flowers and for her birthday, he prodded the Sugo staff to gift her with a Chihuahua which he bought himself. The birthday package included clothes, food, vitamins and shampoo. Isabel notes of the incident, “Siya ‘yung bumili ng dog mismo, ‘yung cage iba-ibang tao na. Nagtataka nga ako…Alam pala niya na Chihuahua ‘yung gusto ko." Initially, Isabel gave not much thought about Paolo’s generosity and thoughtfulness, until December 2005. By then, she says “Medyo nagpaparinig na talaga. Kumapal 'yung mukha." But Paolo has another version of their love story. “Sa Sugo, di nga kami nag-uusap. She (grew) on me. Eventually, makikita mo, gumaganda. Mabait," he jokes. “Eventually, maaawa ka na lang kasi di nakikipag-usap. Tahimik siya eh, so kakausapin mo na. Mahihiya (pero) patawa ka ng patawa." On her first impression of Isabel, he says “Naawa nga ako. She's so fragile, kung binatukan mo masisira. Sa utak mo, she needs to be protected. So umentra ‘yung sigang Paolo. Di naman kailangan, ganun lang talaga ako. Actually alam niya ‘yun. Kaya nga dati ayaw niya ako." True Colors So how did he win Isabel’s heart? “(Hindi) ko siya binigyan ng choice na bastedin ako eh," Paolo jokes. “Wala siyang choice." He further notes that he believes in showing one’s true colors when courting a girl. If he did just that, he or Isabel would suffer should she choose him but have a different notion of who he truly is, he says. In his case, Paolo did not hide his profanity or stopped being snobbish at times. “I didn't even put my best foot forward. Suplado minsan. Kapag nag-best foot ka, eventually para kang tanga. Kailangan mong maging plastic sa syota mo! Alam niyang palamura ako. And I wanted her to know who I am." The actor is thankful that Isabel accepted him for who he was and agreed to enter into a relationship with him. “Naging okay naman siya. Natanggap niya kung ano ako. ‘Yun yung risk na tinake ko naman." However either of them saw how love bloomed, it’s certain that it’s what keeps them together. Isabel says what she loves most about Paolo is that he’s honest, “(and) sincere, loving, sobrang sweet and sobrang thoughtful." As for Paolo, he loves Isabel’s sense of humor best. “(Hindi) nakikita ng lahat. Ngayon kasi medyo lumalabas na." He adds, “(She) is the type of girl na pwede mong iwan. Alam mong walang gagawing (masama). Pwera na lang kung may mambastos." Aside from gaining Isabel’s love, it seems Paolo has also endeared himself to Isabel’s family by being true to himself. isabel oli She notes, “(They) love Paolo. Kasi naman, he’s not trying naman to please (everyone). ‘Pag punta niya sa bahay, ganun lang. Kung sino siya, ‘yun na ‘yun, at ‘yun yung nagustuhan ng mommy ko, kasi hindi siya plastic or ‘yung nagpapa-impress." The young star has similarly gained the affection of Paolo’s kin. “I make it a point na kilala siya ng family ko. Kasi pwede pang pagsimulan ng gulo ‘yan eh. I'm close to her family. (And) my family likes her. Anytime she wants to, she can go to my place. Magka-text sila minsan ng mom (ko)," he says. Kilig Moments How does a celebrity couple like Paolo and Isabel spend their time together when they’re not on the set? “Minsan, nandun kami sa mga fancy restaurant, for fun lang. Pero most of the time talaga, nagfa-fast food talaga kami. (Usually,) nasa Max’s kami, kasi nga I endorse Max’s. Minsan, nasa Tagaytay na pala kami with my family, ganun lang. Ganun kami ka-weird. Walang plano," she says. And who foots the bills? “Pao. Kahit na nung naging kami na, ayaw na ayaw niya na ako (ang magbabayad). Minsan lang na ako. Ayaw niya talaga, pero uunahan ko talaga siya. Hanggang ngayon, ganun kami -- unahan," Isabel adds. A true romantic, Paolo has also taken the extra step in making his lady love feel extra special. “I closed a restaurant and made MYMP sing for her last year. Wala lang occasion. Just because it was Wednesday," he notes. The same incident comes to mind when Isabel is asked about the kind of surprises Paolo has given her. “Ang dami niyang surprise! Like MYMP, sobrang love ko sila, and nung Valentine’s last year, akala ko kakain lang kami sa labas, tapos bigla na lang pumasok yung MYMP. (Nagulat ako.) Kami lang dalawa sa room ha! Wala akong nasabi. Nagtakip na lang ako ng mukha, tapos nag-iiiyak na ako…Tapos nung nag-concert yung MYMP, nag-dedicate sila ng isang song for me, galing din sa kanya," she recalls. Another moment that Isabel fully remembers is when she had a show in Bacolod. Paolo took her there and went back to Manila, only to go back again that same day to fetch her. “Hindi ko alam nandun na pala siya sa Bacolod nung time na nagte-text kami. (He asked,) ‘Gusto mo sunduin kita?’ Pero nandun na siya sa airport! Ganun siya ka-praning. Ganun siya ka-sweet na tao." For Keeps While Isabel’s personal life remain just that, Paolo’s previous relationships are public knowledge as these were with other celebrities as well. When asked what makes Isabel different from his previous girlfriends, and he replies, “Lahat sila iba. The thing with Isabel is, (we’re) relaxed. Ganun din kasi yung ginawa naming set-up. (And) mas kalog siya. Walang pressure." Aside from the qualities previously mentioned, another significant difference in this link up is that they have no anniversary. “Lahat naman ng relationships ko may anniversary. Ayun nagtapos," he quickly adds. Does it mean this one is for keeps? When asked if she can see herself growing old with Paolo, Isabel answers, “(Kapag) nasa isang relationship ako, bago ako pumasok, sisiguraduhin ko talaga na he’s very serious with me. It’s just a waste of time na spending together na wala palang mangyayari, wala palang pupuntahan." While young love can be fickle and uncertain, it will no longer be a surprise should we see Paolo and Isabel walk down the aisle someday. - iGMA.tv