AlDub Wedding: Reel or Real?

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this point of view before the actual event. See below for my post-script report and reaction after the fact.


PART 1- October 21, 2016, 930pm
New York City

Photo from Manny and April photography

I could be totally wrong in my belief that the supposedly-reel AlDub wedding is REAL. Other tweeters had cautioned against disappointment and heartbreak if it turns out that all this pomp and circumstance is just for show. One disgruntled journalist had called the fans as gullible and advised us to call off the charade. His suggestion is suspect since he proceeded to endorse a rival show, despite a previous seemingly-amiable relationship with the GMA network and the AlDub love team.

Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza are scheduled to be married in the much-awaited episode of the Kalyeserye segment of EAT Bulaga. On July 16, 2015, the split-screen romance started innocuously then, out of the blue, a phenomenon was born. It caught us unaware, captured our hearts & made us willing victims of a nationwide craze. The phenomenal love team inspired an unprecedented 41 million tweets last October 2015 at the Tamang Panahon event in the Philippine Arena.

The Oct. 22, 2016 marriage ceremony is touted by the wedding organizers and the AldubNation as the epic wedding of the year. The excitement had galvanized the fans into a Twitter party. The sixty-four dollar question is: Is the wedding REEL or REAL?

I say it’s for REAL. I am going out on a limb and proclaiming that Eat Bulaga just managed a genius twist of the ultimate surprise. A stunt like no other. Real priest, real recitation of the vows, real proclamation as husband and wife. Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Faulkerson.

I have a pragmatic view of the end result. It is a win-win situation. If it is REEL, I will be happy for the delicious feeling of excitement and the sense of camaraderie that has united the fans in a frenzy of speculations. I am grateful for the endorphin rush, a temporary respite from the worries of this world. This I believe, Alden and Maine are very much in love. I am hoping that the cameras are trained on their faces at all times so that we can see the real emotions on their faces. I am certain that if not now, the wedding will be inevitable, it will be SOON.

But if I am right and this is a REAL ceremony, I will explode in triumph and inexplicable joy. I will self-combust, as a result of days of tweeting and late-night live streams of the KS episodes here in New York. Forgive me, I will flap my arms and sway in an attempt of a dance. Fantastic, baby. The thought makes me excited already.

Why do I think this is REAL? This is like hiding in plain sight. Let me count the ways:


1. Pre-nuptial pictures- 150 plus pictures point towards a REAL event. Why spend thousands for just one 30-minute segment? Have you seen the engagement ring purported to be the E-ring gift from Maine’s birthday celebration? Why use a different engagement ring from what was shown on Kalyeserye?

2. Top-notch wedding crew- stylist, videographer, wedding coordinator, and imported flowers. Even Bossing Vic was impressed with hearing about Liz Uy and Jason Magbanua. I am convinced that the preparations have been well in place since Alden tweeted a dancing banana. Epic preparations for the real thing.

3. The haut couture Rosa Clara is an international franchise of wedding dresses. Even a pre-used wedding gown costs $1500. I don’t care how generous the EB producers are, they could not be THIS generous. Did you see the expression of awe on Maine’s face when she browsed around the shop?

4. Nicolette’s (Maine’s sis) and her family flew back from Korea in time for the event. She is a self-confessed AlDub fan but, would she come back for a fake wedding?

5. Decoy entourage- There is a mix of the reel and real in the entourage that is meant to whet our appetite and further confuse us. Why include Maine’s sister and friends, but not include Alden’s family? Well, because the AldubNation will implode before the event.

6. Suspicious tweets from friends- Alden's friend tweeted about the ring. Maine's friend posted about the first wedding among friends.

7. Alden and Maine- There is no way that there are no deep feelings between the two. The tell-tale glances, the subtle touches, the twinkle in their eyes, the off-cam reports of “tambols”. Alden, why are your ears so red? You’ve often told the fans, “Believe what you see”.

Finally, what I have secretly dreamed for you since last year will come true. You are both beautiful inside and out and you deserve to start a life together. Full of love, romance, laughter, and trust in God.

It looks like the event is cloaked in secrecy. But hey, I’m into you, Eat Bulaga. Well, I hope that I am right and the naysayers are wrong. As I said, if it’s reel, I will survive the very slight disappointment. The palpitations are part of my cardiac exercise. Hopia at my own risk. I am a grown woman. I will pick myself up and just blame it on my over-active imagination.

But if I am right, Oh my God!!!! I will brag, "I told you so". Expect me to be in cloud nine for a few weeks. It might even get me a free dinner from my sister-in-law. At the very least, I will scream like the rest of the believers. EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!



P.S. Reel but Real...
PART 2- 10/22/2016. 7am, New York City

With just three hours of sleep after live-streaming the event, I am here to report that it was not an official wedding. The priest was not real and no papers were signed. The presence of the Kalyeserye characters Tatay Dodong, Lola Babah, and the three Lolas (Nidora, Tidora, and Tinidora) firmly established that this was meant to be FICTION.

Eat Bulaga proved to be a bottomless pit of resources. No expenses were spared to create a beautiful and classy wedding worthy of the phenomenal love team.

BUT, everything seemed Real in the middle of the Reel. The genuine emotions that flowed between the “bride” and “groom” touched our hearts. They read their hand-written personal vows with such conviction and sincerity that the audience cried with them. Unscripted feelings and reactions were evident in the twinkle in their eyes and Alden's reddened ears.

The wedding rings are a mystery. There are reports that Alden bought the rings himself and had them engraved. If this is not romantic, then I don't know what is.

Their love is undeniable. The promise of forever was enough. Romance was in the air, and Alden and Maine glowed with an aura that can only be described as magical.

And the kiss. That 17-second kiss was just marvelous. EEEEEEEEE!!! Even now as I replayed the kissing scene (for the nth time), my smile stretches my face so much. I'm afraid it will snap back & crumple my face beyond recognition.

There is so much to be thankful for. The pair continues to bring joy to their fans. We can all relate to the romance of this unlikely story. The future is exciting. Richard Faulkerson Jr. may not have claimed his bride in real life yet, but in God's perfect time, Mrs. Richards will become Mrs. Faulkerson.

UPDATE: 3/21/19

REEL, it is. Sadly, it was not meant to be. AlDub is no more. Maine has her own love life now and Alden is exploring other career options. Some fans have taken sides and some have thrown ugly rumors left and right. I am not one of them. I am extremely disappointed, of course, but I accept that it was all just wishful thinking on my part. However, I am still grateful for the joy that AlDub brought into my life. For a few years, the possibility of a real-life romance made me smile and made my heart remember. AlDub was phenomenal and nothing can ever dispute that.

"Imagine You & Me": a movie review

"Imagine You & Me" (IYAM) is a blockbuster romantic comedy that was masterfully directed by Mike Tuviera for APT Productions. The stars are the hottest love team in the Philippines, Alden Richards as Andrew and Maine Mendoza as Gara. Mr. Tuviera presented a well-crafted movie as a gift that should delight not only their fans, but all those who appreciate a good film.

IYAM is a light-hearted movie with surprising depth, heart-tugging scenes, and enough twists and turns to the story. The movie unfolds like pieces in a puzzle, symbolic of the broken gemstone glued up to make it whole again. It is a tribute to overseas foreign workers (OFWs) who travel to other countries to provide for their families, who bond with their friends through karaoke and through shared confidences about life and love.

The supporting cast is par excellence. Cacai Bautista and Cai Cortez are hilarious as Gara’s roommates. “Ang Tataa?” still rings in my ears. Jasmine Curtis-Smith delivers an understated but poignant performance as a leukemia-stricken patient. I am most impressed with Irma Adlawan’s touching portrayal of the stepmom who longed to heal the rift between her and Andrew. She was willing to wait for the right time, to connect with the son of her beloved spouse. This is one special moment, an emotional breakthrough for these two characters.

Alden Richards is definitely one of the finest actors of his generation. His angst and sensitivity is riveting to watch. Alden's performance as a broken-hearted medical student is layered and nuanced, as he thaws out of his moods and begins to appreciate the efforts of those who love him. This line- “Please don’t break my heart like this. Binuo mo na ako (You already made me whole)” made me tear up (okay, I sobbed). In his future films, I would love for him to tackle more mature roles that will showcase his acting prowess that will sustain him for years to come.

Maine Mendoza has an effervescent presence that lights up the screen. Her Joie de vivre manifested in how she embraces her life as an OFW with odd jobs. Maine is adorable and likeable which merited comparison to Jennifer Aniston. I see her as without equal. For how could a dubsmash queen and a self-confessed introvert capture Alden’s heart and the whole AlDub nation? She is a natural comedienne who will probably surprise us once again. She will captivate us with more of her previously hidden talents. Didn’t she already prove that she is a talented writer and singer?

The breathtaking scenery of Como, Italy is the other star of the movie. The sweeping green hills and picturesque villas dotted around the lake are impressive, as well as the quaint town square with its charming cafes and cobblestone streets. Shayne Sarte deserves a standing ovation for the beautiful cinematography. It is serendipitous that the producer, Mr. Antonio Tuviera, fell in love with the place about five years ago and finally achieved his dream of making the movie with the phenomenal AlDub team . Maine and Alden unknowingly met in a teen show, only to accidentally start a split-screen romance in Eat Bulaga five years later. The undeniable chemistry and the public’s reaction to it is unprecedented and will not ever be replicated again. The hands of destiny are at work here.

So, come and see the movie. I have seen it twice, because I needed to fully absorb the kilig moments, especially that unmentionable scene at the end in Verona, Italy. That long 360-degree shot that took seven takes to perfect (and however many off-cam practice sessions). As Andrew said, there is no English translation for “kilig”. This tagalog word earned its way to the Oxford dictionary because of AlDub and in this movie, AlDub certainly did not disappoint. The “kilig” factor was “tagos sa bone marrow”, indeed.


Here's the fangirl squealing, EEEEEEEEEEE!!!! The lovelock says it all. AlDub is real.

Team Abroad: Empire Columbia Park Cinema Theater in North Bergen, New Jersey

The AlDub Serendipity

The Aldub love team is a pleasant surprise. It is a fortunate happenstance of a split-screen romance that went viral. Their undeniable chemistry propelled this love team to unprecedented stardom that had defied expectations. The Aldub serendipity is a phenomenon that was meant to be. Five years after a chance meeting at a teen event, fate intervened, bringing an unlikely pair together. Yes, it is serendipity; a magical coming together. On July 16, 2015, the Aldub Nation was born in the Philippines.

The Beginning

Yaya Dub, as played by Maine Mendoza, was in a remote location in the baranggay for the long-running show Eat Bulaga. We are all witnesses to Yaya Dub's giddy reaction when she spotted her crush, Alden, watching her on a TV monitor as she performed her dub smash song. Alden Richards was in a television studio for the noontime TV show Eat Bulaga. The micro-expressions on Yaya Dub's face are familiar to us; haven't we all responded the same before with our old crushes in our teen years? One of the hosts, Allan K, noticed and started to tease Yaya Dub, who became even more flustered. The writers and producers took notice of the attraction and ran with the notion of a love story through split screen. Little did they know that the whole nation would be hooked as well.

The Aldub Phenomenon

The Aldub phenomenon has swept the Philippines. Last October 24, the Tamang Panahon event was held in the magnificent 55,000-seater Philippine Arena. The hashtag #AlDubEBTamangPanahon drew 41 million tweets and shattered world records. Of course, the Twitter world was perplexed by this Filipino love team that commanded such devotion. The Aldub fans cross all demographics and transcend all walks of life. Sociologists, pop culture experts, businessmen, and advertising executives scrambled to understand this social media phenomenon. The internet world became curious about our quirky pabebe wave. I must admit, I have started greeting friends (even non-Pinoys) with a pabebe wave.

Alden and Maine are the new Filipino superstars. Success couldn’t happen to a more kind-hearted couple; they are both beautiful inside and out. As the song goes, God has given them to each other. The Aldub team spelled the rebirth of Eat Bulaga to greater heights. The song "God Gave Me You" by Bryan White appropriately captured the blessings each brought to each other, and to the Aldub Nation. The interaction between Alden and Maine had awakened long-forgotten “kilig” feelings. Respect for elders and the traditional custom of courtship took center stage.

Magic of Romance

There is magic with the first blush of romance when everything is beautiful and energizing. I could relate to the extra heartbeat, that momentary loss of concentration, and that sweet, giddy feeling. And I found myself smiling in remembrance. It doesn’t matter that happily-ever-afters do not always happen, but love is a feeling meant to be shared, even if we’re mere witnesses to a blossoming relationship. We cheered with the first handshake, the first date, and the first hug. Now, we wait with bated breath for the first kiss. If this reel romance turns into a reality, I will be joining in the celebration. Fantastic, Baby.

The Haters and why I don't care

Some elitist and intellectual snobs scoffed at the adulation heaped on Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. What irked me was the condescending attitude of some critics who chided the fans for what they called low-brow humor. The crab mentality surfaced again. The self-proclaimed high-browers have admitted that they have not even seen the show, but deigned to write scathing criticisms. These are the same people who demand political and social responsibilities in our entertainment shows (duh!). They ignored that 100% of the proceeds from the Tamang Panahon show went to create public libraries all around the Philippines. Miserable people may not appreciate the simple joys of romantic love, witty comebacks, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Innovative Television

I am a proud fan. The Kalyeserye episodes provided me with countless hours of enjoyment. Pure entertainment. Innovative television. I stand in awe of the creative genius of the writers and the spontaneous improvisations from a loose script by the three hosts (JoWaPao- Jose, Wally, and Paolo). Stand-up comedy at its best. The extemporaneous repartee between the baranggay cast and the studio hosts Tito, Vic, and Joey contributed to the amusement. Allan K’s shrieks mingled with my own.

The show was meant to be a distraction from the mind-numbing challenge of my Advanced Statistics class. Aldub provided me a much-needed respite from the stress of my doctoral studies. As I listened to the audio via my cellphone on my drive home, the traffic on the Belt Parkway had become much more tolerable. I drove with a smile on my face. Priceless.

What will be, will be. If it is meant to be.

At the end of the day, the non-fans/critics should just let us all be. Let AlDub be. Let the fans exult in our fandom. Our happiness is of no concern to any of the critics. Nobody can dictate what gives us pleasure. They will never understand; their loss.

What matters most is that Alden and Maine remain true to themselves. If this romance blooms further, the fandom will rejoice. What the fans need to remember is that the magic happened because of the two of them, not one more than the other.

If July 16 had not happened, they could have achieved individual success, but I doubt it would have been nearly as remarkable as the phenomenon they have become as a team. As far as I am concerned, July 16 evened the playing field; it did not matter that Maine was the neophyte and Alden had five years of showbiz experience. The chemistry is inexplicable; perhaps it is just that- serendipity.

And if the naysayers still bother you, you could shove them, unfriend them, unfollow them, or delete them. Or you can try this: Give them your best I-don't-care-what-you-think expression. Stick out your tongue and tell them, “Wala kang pake!” (None of your business!)



Video credit: Eat Bulaga