Kapuso heartthrob Alden Richards’ words from a 2023 interview resurfaced after Maine Mendoza, his former onscreen partner, revealed that she once fell in love with him.
The female half of the then-popular AlDub tandem shared this revelation on the “Tamang Panahon” podcast series with fellow “Dabarkads” Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Allan K and creative head Jenny Ferre.
Maine was asked about her true feelings regarding the “AlDub” phenomenon, particularly her tandem with Alden.
“Ako, na-in love talaga ko kay Alden, vocal naman ako. Kahit sino naman ‘yung magtanong sa’kin, sasagutin ko naman nang diretso. Na-in love ako sa kanya pero hindi siya nanligaw. Walang ganoon,” she shared.
“Alam din niya, kasi kung vocal ako sa lahat ng tao, pati kay Alden mismo. Alam ni Alden ‘yun, sinabi ko naman sa kanya rekta, pero hindi siya nanligaw,” Maine added.
The “Eat Bulaga” host also revealed that she asked Alden whether he had feelings for her too.
“Tinanong ko siya noon eh, kasi ang straightforward ko naman na tao. Tinanong ko siya rekta, ‘Sabihin mo na sa’kin, ano bang nararamdaman mo for me?’ Direkta kong tinanong sa kanya, gusto ko lang malaman,” she said.
“Sabi ko, ’Kung ano man ‘yan, tatanggapin ko naman. Kailangan ko lang malaman.’ Ta’s ayun, ang sabi lang niya, ‘Di ko pwedeng sabihin sa’yo kasi mawawala ‘yung magic,'” Maine added.
She also made sure they had “closure” before finally parting ways as a tandem.
“Grabe ‘yung relationship din namin ni Alden off cam. Pero may closure naman kaming dalawa. Napag-usapan namin lahat,” Maine said.
Maine also invited Alden to visit the “Dabarkads” so he could share his own story about the “AlDub” tandem.
Following Maine’s revelation, an entertainment website on Monday, August 18, revisited Alden’s 2023 interview, in which he admitted to “falling” for her.
ALSO READ: Alden Richards reveals he ‘fell’ for Maine Mendoza, says AlDub his ‘biggest romance’
“Yes, Tito Boy. Yes po. Hypocrite po kung hindi, and yes po, ayoko pong sabihing alam niya, pero I did confess,” the actor said before when he was asked by host Boy Abunda if he “fell” for his former onscreen tandem.
Alden also responded affirmatively when asked if he considered “AlDub” his “biggest romance” and “biggest breakup.”
Meanwhile, the comments section of CinemaBravo’s post quickly blew up as Pinoys compared his previous answer to Maine’s recent revelation.
“Kaya ayaw pumunta sa podcast nila Maine, baka kasi malaman ng tao ang totoo. He never confessed, but she did! And that’s that,” a Facebook user wrote.
“Gusto ni Maine si Alden and vice-versa, pero bakit hindi siya [nangligaw],” another user commented with a thinking face emoji.
“‘Di sya nag-confess, according to Maine in their recent podcast. She did confront Alden at sabi niya, ayaw niya sabihin. For whatever reason, hehehe,” commented a different Pinoy.
“She fell first. He fell, too, but he realized it too late. ‘Yun lang ‘yon,” another user claimed.
AlDub is a portmanteau of Alden’s name and “Yaya Dub,” the persona of Maine in “Eat Bulaga’s” “Kalyeserye” segment, which aired from July 2015 to December 2016.
At the time, Maine gained popularity for her viral Dubsmash videos, in which she lip-synced to famous dialogues and imitated personalities like Kris Aquino. This inspired her nickname in the segment.
The noontime segment followed Alden, dubbed the “Pambansang Bae,” and Yaya Dub’s courtship in the old-fashioned way, highlighting values such as respecting elders and waiting for the right moment, known as “tamang panahon.”
In mid-2018, the actors had gone their separate ways.
Maine is now married to actor-politician Arjo Atayde.
Meanwhile, there are claims that Alden is in a relationship with an entrepreneur.
