MANILA, Philippines — In this age of short-lived marriages, in and out of showbiz, it’s refreshing to note that there are unions that last. Yes, long and lasting love.

Think of Robert Arevalo and Barbara Perez. She gave up a Hollywood contract to marry the love of her life.

Carlitos Siguion Reyna and Bibeth Orteza. They’re also partners professionally. He directs her scripts. Carlitos and Bibeth are currently separated, in a manner of speaking. He’s teaching film in the Singapore campus of his alma mater, New York University. Their two children, Aya and Rafa, are studying in the US.

Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama, whose beautiful children (Ruffa, Richard and Raymond) shine in showbiz.

Charo Santos and Cesar Concio, whose two sons are now in their mid-20s.

Dolphy and Zsa Zsa Padilla are not married but their love story has stood the test of time. They have clocked in more than 20 years of togetherness. The King of Comedy is true to his word that Zsa Zsa is the last woman in his life.

More solid marriages: Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado, despite the troubled times that they faced.

Jinggoy Estrada and Precy Vitug. Tirso Cruz III and Lyn Ynchausti. Ronnie Ricketts and Mariz.

Boyet de Leon and Sandy Andolong. Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen. Tito Sotto and Helen Gamboa.

Joey de Leon and Eileen Macapagal. Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres. Anton Lagdameo and Dawn Zulueta.

Not to forget Celeste Legaspi and Nonoy Gallardo, Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez, Art Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez, Tessie Tomas and Roger Pulin, Pilar Pilapil and Pastor Bernie Peñas, Federico Moreno and Sheila Magdayao, ER Ejercito and Maita Sanchez, Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan, Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, Vilma Santos and Ralph Recto, Vicky Morales and King Reino, Grace Poe and Neil Llamanzares, Regine Tolentino and Lander Vera Perez, Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez, Albert Martinez and Liezl Sumilang, Gladys Reyes and Christopher Roxas, Fred Elizalde and Liza Macuja.

Lea Salonga says her marriage to Rob Chen remains stable despite rumors to the contrary.

How about Ricky Davao and Jackie Lou Blanco? Well, they still stay under one roof with their children.

Surely, Observer missed some names.

Only death ended the marriages of Susan Roces and Fernando Poe Jr., Boots Anson and Pete Roa, Marita Zobel and Boy Roxas, Lorna Tolentino and Rudy Fernandez, Gloria Romero and Juancho Gutierrez (they reconciled after being separated for 10 years), Shirley Gorospe and Zaldy Zshornack.

Like Dolphy and Zsa Zsa, Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villaroel are not married, but their union appears to be holding on. Ditto Gloria Diaz and Mike de Jesus. As they say, “Marriage is only a piece of paper.”

The marriages of international beauties Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Aurora Pijuan, Gemma Cruz, and Melanie Marquez didn’t work. But then Melanie found her “Ikalawang Gloria” in Adam Lawyer, an American.

More lasting is the marriage of Stella Marquez of Colombia to George Araneta. Armi Kuusela of Finland remained married to Virgilio Hilario until his death.

But let’s see if the marriage between Priscilla Mereilles of Brazil to John Estrada will last.

It is really over for Agot Isidro and Manu Sandejas (weather man of TV5).

It appears forever for Christine Jacob and Paco Sandejas, Manu’s brother.

There are openly gay relationships which work. Boy Abunda and Bong Quintana. Jon Santos and his American (or Canadian?) husband. They were legally married abroad.

Then there’s that young actor with a princely name. He reportedly tied the knot with a Pinoy gay in New York. And there’s the loudest whisper that this young Pinay singer who made a name abroad is a lesbian. She is reportedly having an affair with an American girl.

So there you have the many and varied faces of love.

Ronald Constantino, a stalwart in entertainment journalism, has been covering show business since the mid-1960s. He served as two-term president of the Philippine Movie Press Club in the ’70s.