NASUGBU, Batangas —“We have the same taste in food, except for his penchant for exotic dishes. He likes fried worms and crawling ants,” said actress Marian Rivera in Filipino, while sharing sliced green mangoes and bagoong with boyfriend Dingdong Dantes.

We were in the sprawling Canyon Cove Resort, where Inquirer Entertainment was visiting the real- and reel-life couple on the set of the GMA 7 drama series Endless Love.

Marian had taken a break and just finished a sandwich when the plate of mangoes was served. “We always slice out the crust from loaf bread. We both like kamias with rock salt. Dapat ang tubig may yelo,” she said. Dingdong also had a small serving of cashew nuts.

Marian said liking the same things helped her and Dong become effective actors. She explained: “We are able to better help one another. We can talk with our eyes. One look, and I know what he wants.”

Endless Love is about Johnny (Dingdong) and Jenny (Marian), who grew up thinking they were siblings. Their lives are disrupted when they learn of a baby-switching case in the hospital where Jenny was born.

“It’s tough playing Jenny,” Marian admitted. “Unlike her, I’m not the type to keep quiet when treated shabbily. Dong put it succinctly: “Mahirap sa kanya maging mabait.”