Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andolong proud to have beauty queen daughter

MANILA – Celebrity couple Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong were a picture of extremely proud parents after their daughter, Mariel, bagged the Binibining Pilipinas International crown on Sunday night.

Calling his daughter’s win the “most exciting time of my life,” de Leon said: “I am so proud of her. I’ve been dreaming of this. I’ve been wanting something really, really good for Mariel.”

The veteran actor admitted that he particularly prayed for Mariel to win the Miss International crown.

Following her win, de Leon only has one advice to his daughter. “It’s always humility and victory. Once you’re really grounded, you will make it. That really counts a lot,” he said.

Meanwhile, Andolong couldn’t help but gush over how special this victory is for their family.

“She’s a princess. She’s our princess. Now she’s a queen. This is very special. This has been her dream. Second time na nga and finally, she won. She really prepared for this. Talagang determined,” she said.

Mariel previously joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2013 and finished in the Top 15.

Now a titleholder, Mariel said: “I haven’t absorbed anything yet. Miss International is the crown I’ve also wanted besides [the Universe]. I am really proud of how far I’ve come. It’s just the start of another adventure.”

She also thanked her parents for their unwavering support.

“Thank you nanay, tatay for all the love and support that you’ve given me since birth. I love you so much and this one’s for you,” she said.

Aside from Mariel, the other winners include: Binibining Pilipinas Universe Rachel Peters, Binibining Pilipinas Globe Nelda Ibe; Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Chanel Olive Thomas; Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Sonja Rodriguez; and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Elizabeth Durado Clenci.

• WATCH: Mariel de Leon's Q&A

Charmaine Elima and Kristel Guelos finished in first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Christopher de Leon' son diagnosed with cancer

MANILA -- Miguel de Leon, the son of celebrity couple Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, has been diagnosed with cancer.

In her official Instagram account, Andolong confirmed that Miguel is now battling testicular cancer. But the "Home Sweetie Home" star is hopeful that it can still be cured with chemotherapy.


"He had his first chemo early this evening. He is still slightly sedated often which makes it hard to for us to find the right timing to show him that we are beside him and to talk to him. But on the second day of our visit, he was a little lucid and the minute he heard my voice he reached for my hand to squeeze and I saw the most beautiful smile I've ever seen in him," Andolong recalled.

"When it was my husband's turn he was just so overwhelmed to see his tatay who kept kissing him and broke into tears with no sound but with so much relief and love not only on his part but ours as well," she said.

Andolong then extended her appreciation to their family and friends for their support during what she described as "the greatest challenge" they have to face as parents.

"This recent adversity our family had to face made our faith in our good and merciful GOD extremely stronger, our love for each other immensely deeper," Andolong wrote in the caption.

She also said they "wholeheartedly accepted God's test, hard as it may be, and placed our full and complete trust in Him!"

"Our faith never wavered or waned. Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," Andolong said.

Based on Andolong's posts, they are in San Francisco, although De Leon flew back to Manila. The veteran actor is part of Book 2 of the hit primetime series "Ikaw Lamang" with Kim Chiu and Coco Martin.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com