Dalmin and Winnie share a happy marriage and it’s because they have an open communication with each other, they know how to give and take, and they accept each other’s faults. (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)

Every morning, you would hear her cheery laughter permeating through television and radio sound waves. She engages her partner Ariel Ureta in a playful banter, and TV host and radio anchor “seksing seksi” Winnie Cordero couldn’t be any more endearing to her audiences. One would think that after work, Winnie would simply drop her unbelievably lively constitution. But her joie de vivre extends even to her down time.

And who could blame her for being so happy? Winnie has an incredible zest for life and it is thanks to her wonderful family. She admits that her work is somewhat stressful, but it is husband Dalmin Erquieza who gives her the much-needed boost and support.

Winnie wasn’t always working with the fast-paced world of broadcasting. Years back, she was working for Monterey Foods Corporation. There, she met her future husband Dalmin. Because of his confident swagger and mysterious persona, Winnie got the impression that Dalmin was an arrogant playboy. But looks were deceiving.

Dalmin turned out to be her complete opposite. While Winnie was outgoing and bungisngis, Dalmin was quiet, soft-spoken, and conservative. When he first started courting her, Dalmin admitted, “I’m not romantic.” “May disclaimer pa siya!” Winnie laughs. But she found his honest naïveté charming nonetheless.

“He is awkwardly sweet,” she explains. Dalmin was not well-versed in romance and courtship, but he made an effort to make Winnie happy. He courted her with Goya chocolates and Chippy, because those were her favorite snacks. He showered her with white roses and complied with her every request.

“Pag may hinihiling ako sa kanya, kahit ano pa ‘yun, gagawin niya,” reveals Winnie. “Dati nga, may shooting ako sa liblib na lugar sa Antipolo. Dala ko ang kotse tapos sinabi ko sa kanya sunduin niya ako kasi tinatamad na ako mag-drive pauwi.” Dalmin took the bus and commuted to where Winnie was just so he could drive her home.

“We were happy for as long as we were together. Our relationship just developed and grew stronger in time,” relates Winnie. “We were already working then, and we were professionals. What we had was a very mature relationship.”

Dalmin and Winnie decided to live together and marriage seemed to be the inevitable next step for them. The only question was when they would finally tie the knot. Winnie reflects, “I think our fear at the time was the fact that many marriages were breaking up. We were afraid that once we finalize things, everything might just fall apart.”

Dalmin did not pressure Winnie into marriage, but instead gave her time and freedom to mull things over. “I did a retreat with ABS-CBN, so I had a lot of time to think,” Winnie recalls. “When I got back I told him, ‘Pakasal na tayo.’” Dalmin and Winnie got married on May 20, 1996 at Annabel’s Restaurant.

Still, Winnie had to adjust to the conservative values of the Erquieza family. “Masayahin ang pamilya namin. We were very liberated and hindi kami sanay mag-po at opo. We kiss our parents but they do the mano. Bungisngis ako at tawa ng tawa. Pero dapat sa kanila behaved ka at prim and proper,” says Winnie, enumerating their differences. “Pati sa pagluluto at sa paglasa ng pagkain, nanibago ako.”

The Corderos couldn’t get enough of salty dishes, but the Erquieza family likes their dishes bland. So Winnie concluded, “Di ba pag mahal mo, mag-aadjust ka talaga? I gave in because I love him.”

Now 13 years married, Dalmin and Winnie are the proud parents of Abbey and Bettina. Winnie is currently a segment host for ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda and co-anchor of DZMM’s Todo Todo Walang Preno, while Dalmin handles their family business. The couple has learned to find a happy medium between work and time for family.

“When I started in showbiz, never ako nakarinig ng complaint galing sa kanya, never ako nakarinig ng demands. Never siya nagalit because of my work and I’m thankful for that. He’s very supportive,” Winnie gushes. “The only time he would scold me was when I’d get hurt. When there are shows that would fold up, or if there are people in showbiz na linoko ako, he would tell me, ‘Hindi ka pa nasanay? ‘Yan ang mundo mo.’ Nakakagulat kasi wala siya sa mundo na ‘yun pero siya ang nakakaintindi.”

Dalmin loves Winnie so much that he supports her unfailingly and still manages to make her laugh despite their fights. He puts his “awkward sweetness” into action when he wants to get back on her good side. “Ang rule ko lang sa kanya, pag hindi pa ako okay, pabayaan lang niya muna ako. We respect each other’s emotions. Paminsan nga nagkagalit kami, tapos matutulog na ako sana. Bigla na lang nakaamoy ako ng parang patay. ‘Yun pala ‘yung unan sa tabi ko punong puno ng roses!” Winnie laughingly recounts.

“I love his surprises,” she adds. And considering her vivacious nature and the unpredictability of his romantic gestures, Dalmin and Winnie are sure to have a lot of pleasant surprises to expect in their future together.

On Each Other

He said: Madaling paki-bagayan si Winnie because by nature, artista talaga siya kaya madali siyang mag-adapt sa mga bagay. Her transition from being liberated to conservative was amazing. Emotional din si Winnie. Manuod nga lang siya ng Santino, naiiyak na.

She said: Dalmin’s awkwardly sweet, but I love him for being that way. He’s not really that romantic but he tries to be and that’s what I love about him. Matutuwa ka na lang kasi hindi tama ‘yung ginawa niya, pero cute pa din.

On Parenting

He said: Medyo strict ako, lalo na kasi babae mga anak. I’m a conservative father because that was my upbringing. Ayaw ko magalit sa mga bata, kaya ginagawa ko pinapakausap ko muna kay Winnie. ‘Pag hindi pa din makinig sa kanya, ‘yun na, kailangan ako na kumausap.

She said: Naniniwala ako sa disciplining process niya so kailangan ma-sustain ‘yun. Hindi kami nagkokontrahan sa harap ng mga bata. Pero ako ‘yung malumanay sa aming dalawa.

On Family Bonding

He said: ‘Pag dating sa bonding, matindi ang pamilya namin. ‘Yun anak ko nga nag-declare ng “Pizza Day” every Saturday.

She said: Bumili siya ng arcade! Bumili siya ng complete set ng Wii - may guitar, drums, at kung anu-anong accessories kaya ‘yun ang bonding namin. Superstar nga si Dalmin sa mga anak namin dahil sa Wii. Mahilig din kami mag-watch ng movies at kumanta. Actually our family enjoys all kinds of recreational activities.