My Bebe Love Movie Review

I watched My Bebe Love movie together with my 7-year-old kid and my 57-year-old mom who are also AlDub fans.They made it a point that we watch on the first day because we were not sure up until when the box-office sales will be counted. I have never watched MMFF on a first day until now, for I expect that people would really flock into the cinemas on Christmas Day. I usually let a week pass to lessen the crowd to deal with. But my mom said that we have a new record to set. Haha! I agreed. I have never seen her this much into show business and it's all because of AlDub. 

The MMFF First Day Experience

My family and I decided to see the film early that day with hope that there would be a short line in ticket booths. But we were wrong. As early as 10 AM, when people are supposed to be hunting Ninongs and Ninangs, there were a lot of people, very much comparable to a mall opening day. We rushed to the ticket booth right away so we could grab tickets, because I feared that the tickets would be sold out before lunch. After a grueling time of painstakingly lining-up to get three tickets, we finally got to take our lunch. Since we got a 1 PM screening, though we lined up at 10 AM, we decided to rush our lunch and line up in front of the cinema 1 hour before our assigned slot; that would be 12 noon. That's what we did. Unfortunately, our expectation of being 'early' for the line was not the way we expected. "Standing Room Only" says the sign. Then I asked the cinema staff, "Kuya may pila na po ba sa My Bebe Love?" Then he answered apologetically, "Ma'am pasensya na po. Hindi na po nagpapapila dahil sa dami ng tao. Pasok na lang po kayo para makakuha po kayo ng upuan." 

I was expecting to stand beside one row of seats while waiting for an hour, to see half of the movie since it's just 12 noon, and to be offered a seat after. And I was wrong again. When we entered the cinema door, my eyes widened as silhouettes of people blocked the entire passage going inside; people were packed---tightly packed. No, you could not excuse yourself and squeeze in. We had no choice but to stand and wait while we're hearing the exchange of lines in the movie. After a few minutes, the space behind us was equally packed tightly with waiting moviegoers. I felt so trapped. Nevertheless, we stick with the plan. I have to find a way to get seats for my mom and my kid.

When we heard the bloopers coming, people started moving. We are like drift wood flowing with the waves of people. I had to carry my daughter so people won't step on her, and I've asked my mom to hold me tight and stay behind me. It was like a street rally. The people don't know how to move out while others are moving in. Since the security personnel can no longer squeeze themselves in, several concerned persons shouted: "Keep right! Para makalabas sila." It was like a magic word that people on the right side allowed those who are on the left side to squeeze in so they could give way to those moving out. People had been very nice enough looking after the children and the elderly. I even saw one PWD with crutches who was ushered by a stranger so that he could move ahead, "Saglit, paunahin nyo si kuya." Facing the guy, "Kuya, una ka na po." In a time that I felt we would be crushed with the number of people, everyone had been very nice. Everyone wanted to fairly share a space in the cinema just to see the movie. Thank you AlDub Nation for helping me find seats for my kid and my mom. All love to you. 

When we are finally seated, still, people kept coming in. They occupied the stairs, the landing area of the balcony part, the space behind the seats of the orchestra part, even the sides of the rows. It's a jam-packed movie house. And we knew that everyone held their breath when the film began, just as my kid held my arm and said, "Mommy, ayan na!"

The Movie

I told myself to lessen the usual expectations that I have in my common movie experience. "Jem, this is MMFF. You know the game." I made a mental note of the things to consider before watching the movie:

1. Remember the trailer and the expectation it sets. The trailer had been very clear of what we should expect: fun and kilig-filled moments. Nothing more, nothing less.

2. Remember that the movie preparation is younger than AlDub itself. It was not expected that AlDub would be part of this, so they overhauled the storyline and officially began only last August. Thus, preps were time-constraint.

3. You are going to watch a feel-good rom-com movie and not an academy awards entry. You just need to feel the good vibes and the romance.

These things made me appreciate the movie so much and allow me to enumerate my observations:

(SPOILER ALERT: Don't read if you haven't watched the film.)

The movie opened with Vito Carillo (Vic Sotto) in a wedding photo with a pretty woman who is supposed to be the deceased mother of Anna Carillo (Maine Mendoza). With Sotto in front of a mirror, I couldn't deny that despite his age, he is still charming. Then, a confrontation between a father and a stubborn daughter hit the ground running. The litany of a too-concerned father and the struggle of a newly-grad when she has to work in her father's company. It was a great start. The scene even ended with Mendoza mocking Sotto's words. It's as if I'm not watching a comedy film. The atmosphere between the two was so stern. Then the mood changed right away with Corazon Tala-Tala (Ai-Ai Delas Alas) and Dondi (Alden Richards) were flashed on screen. It was like Delas Alas brought the fun even just with her character, while Richards, though in a different handsome packaging, charmed the audience. It was a balance of what to expect all-throughout the film: A conflict that will drive the plot, and the much anticipated fun and romance.

The Characters

 

Let's talk about Vic Sotto first. I thought that my thing for formal-looking professionals made me find Sotto charming in the opening of the movie. But as the movie goes on, I realized that it was because he is playing a role of a serious businessman who looks stiff and domineering. He is not the usual wacky character that he had been playing. He's a strict boss to Valeen Montenegro, as stern as he is with his daughter. Given that he is a widower, with a spoiled-brat for a kid, I definitely think the portrayal was near reality. The only time that he showed his wacky side was with his scene with a friend played by Joey De Leon. It was a "for the boys" usual conversation and ended up with fun for pun. Then another comic face when he was watching Delas Alas sing on stage, on top of her lungs. The rest of his scenes were serious and his lines go along well with his character. The jokes were no longer the slapstick-hitting-someone-hard-kind of comedy, but sarcasm. His character is limited to throw comedy through irony and on point punch lines. Every time Sotto argues with Delas Alas on different scenes, he consistently taunts her with his arrogance and sarcastic remarks. With the easily-pissed character of Delas Alas, the scene becomes not just a comedy, but a cliche of a blooming love affair out of conflict. Plus, Sotto reminds me of that one class bully that we secretly have a crush on. That guy who teases us until we don't have a choice but walk away. The attention they give slowly sinks in and tada! You got that childhood crush. Oh, come on! Witty bad boys were charming. What amused me most was his scene in front of his jigsaw puzzle, blankly staring at the pieces, figuring out how to put things together, literally and emotionally when he lost the two dear women in his life. That was a brief moment, but it really strikes me most. I hope Sotto could be given serious roles and make me cry one day. The biggest challenge for a comedian is to make your audience take you seriously and cry in your breaking moments. With what I've seen, I can definitely expect something like that from The Vic Sotto.

Next is Ai-Ai Delas Alas. The comedy queen made me laugh hard for a lot of times while watching. Maybe because of her 'bakya' character as Cora, or the very relational feeling of a woman who could be considered an old maid and no longer interested with love---a usual defense mechanism of women gravely hurt previously. Her confidence and ill temper made her a very typical old maid, so when she started expecting something to develop between her and Sotto, there is this sigh of relief and celebration for her new chance at love. I personally felt happy for her character and laughed at her silly moments that women usually encounter when we are into a guy. Notably, it was almost the same kilig moments of Maine Mendoza, which goes to show that romance does not change with age. That butterfly in your tummy would still be the same feeling even if you have grown older. The highlight of Delas Alas' acting for me was when she asked Richards how long he would need to study the course abroad. That moment when two years was mentioned and she turned her back against Richards, there was a sudden shift of emotion. Without a line---again, without a line---she made me understand her struggle to send him away through her facial expression, upon knowing that her beloved nephew would be away that long. The separation anxiety that almost all Filipinos know. That made me pause and thank Delas Alas for that brief touching moment. Had she talked, she could have made me cry.

Alden Richards started as the typical boy-next-door, which reminds me of his Alakdana days. The shy and gentle Dondi who stutters while introducing himself to a girl, who is overpowered by women, both Delas Alas and Mendoza, in the scenes. He was this push over of a nephew, a scared lot in front of his Aunt Cora, and a firm believer of destiny. Despite his weak character as a nephew, Dondi was a persistent admirer and a very charming one. He was a quiet boy until Anna came and turned his world upside down. He became conscious of how he looks, trying to impress a girl he likes, and quickly made all kilig-moments rolling with his girl. That is a cliche of men that no one can deny. I could say that his effect as Alden Richards was very much alike with Dondi's despite the different image he portrayed. Most likely, it would be the part of him as Richard Faulkerson Jr. Just as how Johnny Depp would say it, there is always a part of the actor that is present in all his roles. Whatever charm Richards has that transcends roles whenever he is with Mendoza, let's leave it to the phenomenon.

Maine Mendoza was amazing. Now, I don't know who resembles the real Maine Mendoza: Yaya Dub or Anna Carillo? She just changed masks. An overly confident, picky, spoiled-brat who stubbornly gets whatever she wants. I almost hated her because of her rude gestures of eye-rolling and that moment she argued when she conceitedly believes that her mom is so beautiful that she belittles Delas Alas in the process. I had to remind myself that I love Maine Mendoza. Hahaha! Anna is also a glamorous girl who can charm any guy who passes by. The way she did charm Dondi was very effective. She was that brat who can sway you into doing what she dearly wants. That kind of charm. She had been consistent with her character all throughout the film. That would be Anna, who is very not-Yaya-Dub. And I think that is the best test of talent in acting: the ability to wear faces that you've never worn before, and change them when the need arises. Mendoza doesn't only have a million facial expressions, but she would definitely portray millions of faces that I am confident she would slay.

What made me remember Kalyeserye in the movie were some scenes between Mendoza and Richards:

•  (Bulaga Pa More Finals-AlDub's first face to face meeting, with the wall and the kidnapping scene) Their first meeting in the movie. In a parking area. Turning their backs when the other was looking his/her way. With two vans. Maine peeking into the window. Looking into each others' eyes for the first time. 
• (Alden's Akyat-Ligaw in the Explorers' Mansion) First date. The ketchup instead of cake. The holding of hands.
• The almost kiss. - In all almost kisses they had in KS and TVCs

Despite all the good words I have for the artists, I have several reservations:

There were awkward moments for me as a parent. One is the conversation between Sotto and De Leon about his capacity to perform in bed. With my daughter clueless on what they were talking about, it was expected that she asked. And I found it difficult to explain as much as I find it uneasy to discuss as a woman about what these men are talking about. The punchline was good, but explaining it is a different story. The fact that you can take out the scene and the storyline won't be changed made me even frustrated. They could have considered the many kids who would be watching AlDub, one because kids love AlDub, two, because kids are rich on Christmas Day so they would definitely watch the film. Another awkward moment was the lengthy time given for Sotto and Delas Alas to exchange lines with their struggle initiating a bed scene. It could have been as wholesome as the scene under the tree, both tipsy, and an almost kiss. Cut. Then they woke up in bed. That would be less frustrating than what happened when my kid started asking again. Oh, another is when Delas Alas was walking with parted thighs. She could have held her back while walking and that would save me from, "Bakit ganon sya maglakad, Mommy?" Yes, it was rated PG, but a movie house is not a good place for sex education. I could not make my kid understand things while we're trying to enjoy the show. And sex is something I should discuss carefully with my daughter.

Next are the scenes that are too short to cultivate and develop the characters. Exchange of lines definitely make characters notable, so given the brief scenes provides less chances of a better portrayal of characters. This is why others would feel that the movie was rushed; because the scenes are fast-paced. They could have omitted several scenes that wouldn't affect the storyline. Maybe this is also affected by the exposure of side characters which are not necessary for the plot. Also, this might have been affected by the many endorsements within the film. I would like to laud this film for being discreet with the endorsements (unlike with the previous MMFF entries) though they are many, at least they were not part of the script. That was what I was thinking until the detergent commercial of Sotto serves as an intermission. Ugh. Can we just have the endorsements after the film? I bet these brands had already had their sales increase with the support of AlDub Nation even before the film. Maybe we can give the exposure to the artists instead.

Lastly, some problems were lightly dealt with such as: 

Anna's attitude problem - it was not definite what changed her mind in the end, and all those mischief went off unrebuked.

The hook up incident between Delas Alas and Sotto became a 'start' of a romantic mood which should not be the case. (Ok, ako na si Lola Nidora) The incident was not the problem of Richards and Mendoza. It was the mom-replacement issue that is their problem. The hook up was left hanging.

In the end, my expectations of My Bebe Love were met. It was filled with laughter and kilig, a celebration of life and love, and a reminder that it's never too late or too difficult to fall in love. These and all the giggles of my family are enough for me to give this movie a thumbs up. And I dream that Richards and Mendoza would be given more opportunities to explore more challenging roles.

"Mahal ko si Toyang" - When I Fell in Love with Valeen Montenegro

This is Toyang

also known as Valeen Montenegro

@valeentawak in her social media accounts

and when she caught my attention at Sunday PinaSaya, a Sunday noontime show at GMA,

I didn't realize that she was THE Valeen Montenegro from FHM 100 Sexiest of 2015

The first time I watched Sunday PinaSaya at GMA was because I want to watch Alden Richards. Then in their Kantaserye, one segment of the show that features a sort of musical comedy,  I noticed a fresh face in GMA. There is this girl named 'Toyang' (taken from a popular song of Eraserheads) wearing skimpy denim shorts and a crop top. I looked at her closely and thought of Nicole Kidman. 

Yeah, like Nicole Kidman in a Batman movie.

or a Nicole Kidman as Satine in Moulin Rogue

 or Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow in King Kong

We're you able to spot the difference?

I bet you would agree that this 'Toyang' is a head turner even with more clothes on. She's something. An eye candy at first glance. But wait, there's more!

As I was saying, this Toyang is played by a Valeen Montenegro. Since I'm not a TV person and if ever I watch TV, GMA is my only channel, so I don't really know her. She plays the role of a desperate belle in pursuit of Rico's (Jerald Napoles) affection. In the turn of events, I figured out that she became a panakip-butas or a mere replacement of a girlfriend who left for abroad.

Shots fired thru me. That was a personal and universal kind of role. Too much feels. Then on, I look forward to what would happen with Toyang.

On that same episode, after she accepted the marriage proposal of Rico, Ligaya (Julie Anne San Jose) who is the former girlfriend of Rico came back. That moment when Rico was carrying her as if they were married, right after she said yes to the proposal, Ligaya entered the scene and Rico literally dropped her like a hot potato. Poor Toyang.

There was no tear-jerking scene. It was comedy. But when I looked at Toyang's confused face, I felt really sorry. Then I realized she could speak her emotions even without any line.

Episodes of confusion for Rico and song numbers between Toyang and Ligaya happened. I was rooting for Rico and Ligaya that time, for I know that Toyang was pursuing the unrequited kind of affection. Despite that, the episode of the Kasalang Bayan (mass wedding) came where Toyang had her and Rico's name listed. There was this bitter rejection in Rico's face. Lines were exchanged and I felt that tinge of pain in Toyang's words when she returned her engagement ring. That scene nailed it. I cried in a middle of a musical comedy! How many people could actually do that? Credits also for Jerald Napoles' acting. I'm beginning to believe how handsome he is!

Thank goodness Toyang's story ended with finding new love with a brides groom during Eloi (Jose Manalo) and Lady Day's (AiAi Delas Alas) wedding. Then I gave out a sigh of relief. She deserves a new-found love.

Then she transformed.

and transformed

and transformed

and transformed

and transformed

 

 and transformed

And she can even be her great self for a host!

She's more than just a pretty face. Much more than a toned bod. She has talent and she's good at it. Indeed, versatile. She can even be a character actress! And in all her roles, big or small, you could sense her passion. Her transformation in every character, physically and emotionally. She exudes the feel for the role she's portraying. In all the segments in Sunday PinaSaya, she never failed to amuse me. She would be a desperate lass helplessly in love with a boy, she would be a formal-looking assistant to Judge MD, a clueless sexy sidekick of coach Cynthia, an old hag who vie for inheritance, and even an effective event host before Tamang Panahon aired on national TV. Name it, and she'll be it. A total performer. She's not just doing her thing and waiting for people to tell her she's pretty. Her talent is undeniably overcoming how beautiful she is. Keen eyes should take notice.

Toyang may not have ended up with Rico in Kantaserye, but we will always sing "Mahal ko si Toyang..." for all the fans and would-be fans of this fabulous and talented lady. More than a cover girl. More than one of the FHM 100 Sexiest. More than a sexy comedienne. Valeen Montenegro is more than we could ask for. She shouldn't be boxed with sexy, stereotyped roles because she can definitely rock any role! In fact, she will definitely do good in a lead.

Here is for a broader field in her showbiz career! Cheers!

This post wouldn't be the last about Valeen, for I believe that she only needs that break for everyone to take notice of her. Why?

Here's the cycle:
Supporters make producers take notice>>> Producers create exposure>>> Exposure increases possibility of fame thru supporters>>> Fame makes sponsors take notice>>> Sponsorship increases thru supporters>>>then back to producers for more exposure>>>repeat.

Tada! Great opportunities for Valeen!

Did you see where we enter? We are part of the cycle thrice. Then repeat. And so I appeal to all individuals like me who believe in Valeen to support her and her every project! We can do this ValeeNation! Valeenatics!

With much love and support, we will all rally with loud cheers:

"Mahal ka namin Toyang!"

*photo credits to Google images, ValeeNation and Valeenatics

Introversion: Better Way to Understand Maine 'Yaya Dub' Mendoza

With all the descriptions of Maine Mendoza coming from her family and closest friends, obviously, Maine is an introvert. She enjoys time spent alone or intimate gatherings with family and a handful of friends. She enjoys the beach, not a party along the beach. She spends time alone in her room doing her thing like blogging, dubsmashing, videos and make up. She is not the life of a party, nor a popular girl in school, nor a crowd-oriented type of girl. And just like all introverts, she had her own experience of bullying because she's different. She had that same moment that one prefers to be alone than frustrate herself with how she could possibly get along with the people around her. She indirectly shows her emotions. She has dreams and emotions that she keeps, and trust is a big deal before she opens her real self. These are just some of the many things an introvert could be, but for you to understand it more here is a definition from Encyclopedia Britannica:

"Introvert and extravert are basic personality types according to the theories of the 20th-century Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. According to these theories, an introvert is a person whose interest is generally directed inward toward his own feelings and thoughts, in contrast to an extravert, whose attention is directed toward other people and the outside world. The typical introvert is shy, contemplative, and reserved and tends to have difficulty adjusting to social situations. Excessive daydreaming and introspection, careful balancing of considerations before reaching decisions, and withdrawal under stress are also typical of the introverted personality. The extravert, by contrast, is characterized by outgoingness, responsiveness to other persons, activity, aggressiveness, and the ability to make quick decisions."

How does Maine's introversion affect how she performs? 

She enjoys indirect encounter than direct one.

Maine is definitely confident in all her Dubsmash videos, blog posts and in other social media accounts. You might have noticed how she finds it uncomfortable to be on-screen, which is very evident when she performs in Broadway Centrum. I'm not talking about her production number because that is rehearsed. You could check her appearance in EB when she needs to present herself. You have to admit that during AlDub's 2nd date in Broadway, there was a sort of holding back with her dubsmash and dance while addressing the studio audience for the first time. It was not as careless, not as wacky, not as Yaya Dub as she is in her Kalyeserye stints. This is not just about getting used to something. She's familiar with crowds because of every Barangay that they visit, but going to Broadway and presenting herself is something she could not rehearse. Yes, introverts put effort in preparing for social situations. It is a must. Never would they want to be caught off-guard because that is really stressful. In fact, she even said in her first interview with Ms. Jessica Soho that she rehearses her Dubsmash facial expressions before she airs. Rehearsal is needed for her live performances.

 

 This is in line with her confidence in social media. In social media, you always have the option to respond or not. There is a wall of privacy that you can always open and close when you want to. There is a wall that divides you from your audience. You don't need rehearsals because you always have the option to be present or not. This is the comfort she enjoys online that keeps her confident in her social media interactions, just like all typical introverts in social media. But when she had the chance to appear on live national TV, that is different. She has to rehearse. There are no options of not reacting especially in the kind of improv theater that they have in Kalyeserye. The good thing about her role in Kalyeserye is that, she could rehearse her Dubsmash unlike with what JOWAPAO does. Then when they take out the Dubsmash one time, people reacted as if she's cold towards Alden. Wrong. She is confident in Dubsmashing because there is a certain wall that divides her real self, her real words, her real reactions, with what the song is really talking about. It's like, she can disown the message of the song anytime, while she can own it at that moment in her character. Why? Those are lyrics and not her own, which is very different from whatever she would really say. That is her comfort zone. That wall that divides her real self with her act, just as how social media does for her and her audience. So, don't take her as somebody cold if she delays reactions over things unexpected. Introverts have the tendency to ALWAYS reflect before reacting, and it goes like this: step back, gather thoughts, draw insight, find the courage to let it out, then let go of it. Reacting is a process for introverts. This is the reason why they come up with insights than just words. They never enjoy petty talks, and they believe that words have to be meant and have to be meaningful. And so she finds blogging as a good hobby. She steps back, gathers her thoughts, draws insights, finds the courage to let it out, blogs it, then repeat. Again, it is not a matter of getting used to.

I bet you noticed how she had been holding back her voice whenever she speaks. Notice how good she is in presenting sponsors, but finds it difficult to initiate an interview with a sugod-bahay winner. The best way she found to keep that sense of 'wall' between herself and her act is when she makes her voice tiny as an indication of 'pabebe.' Also, when Alden asked her if she has found what she's looking for, she answered with an 'Opo' in the character of Gasgas Abelgas. She wants to be in character not because she wants us to laugh, but because that keeps her comfortable. No, she is not comfortable opening up her real self all-out. She would rather take roles and play them great. That is why she is confident in photo shoots where she can play roles of models and not herself. You must have noticed how she changes so much in TVCs. It is not the usual change. You can detect a different person in her every role, which I think is a great trait for an actress. But she is not confident in interviews because this require her to open up her thoughts as Maine Mendoza. Remember her fansign interview with Ricky Lo? You could see it in her face how shy she is whenever she shows her answer. Then compare her first live spontaneous interview last Thursday during AlDub's 15th Weeksary. I felt that urge to tell everyone to stop asking her a lot of personal questions. That is so awkward for an introvert. Ask her to tell a story, a fact, recite a script, but never about herself on the spot, on live national TV. She's good in concealing her emotions and putting on a mask of character, so the only time she would not be able to do so is when she didn't prepare for it, but that is really frustrating.

 See how she transforms:

Maine enjoys indirect encounter than a direct one, that is why she's comfortable with fansigns and dubsmash, than speaking to Alden when they air live at EB. And it's not because it's Alden. She's comfortable with the call during Sunday PinaSaya. Again, the wall she has between her and the audience. She's comfortable speaking with him during their long table date, second date and other instances that they are not under the spotlight. It's the crowd. It's the audience, because introverts exert a lot of energy to be with groups of people and interact. It is not their comfort zone.

I am now appealing to AlDub nation. Let's do our best not only in supporting Maine, but also protecting her from all things that would harm her in showbiz. The entertainment industry is a business for crowds, which is not comfortable for an introvert. There might be times that she wouldn't get that chance to 'recharge' after attending to all social situations. She needs that so much so she won't get burned out. With the demand for AlDub, it is possible that the industry might exhaust her down to her last energy. We shouldn't let that happen. And we should not be the source of stress and pressure. Let's enjoy whatever she can share and offer to everyone. She needs complete control over her privacy, her me-time, and her personal life.

Thank you, Maine.

Speaking as an introvert, I would like to personally thank our dear Maine Mendoza for proving to the world that introverts may not be as many as extraverts, but we are as productive and as contributive to society as they are.  We may be a minority in number, but we are not to be taken for granted. Even the system of education does not cater to our needs and our struggle begins since childhood, but we can rise and prove ourselves worthy of recognition. Many would not understand, but you gave way for awareness. Thank you and AlDub you!

(Disclaimer: this post is based on observations of Maine Mendoza coming from a perspective of a fan, and the knowledge of the writer about the theory of personality)

Alden Richards before and after AlDub: An Opinion

There are things given about Alden Richards that made him a celebrity:
1. That boy-next-door look
2. His bedimpled smile
3. His talent in acting and singing

(ctto)

But Alden spent years in showbiz specifically in the Kapuso network without creating much buzz.

Why? Simple. Because all things that we mentioned above can be found in other young actors in and out of the network where he works. He couldn't stand out among the rest because the qualities he has is common in the showbiz industry.

I have several opinions that would explain why he had been that 'stable' before and only when AlDub came that his career became this phenomenal. Before AlDub, Alden is:

1. A control freak.

He had been a very guarded, stiff and cautious person. That is a good sign of discipline and control. He even admitted one time that he has this Obsessive-Compulsiveness in him. This might came from his series of painful experiences that made him build a wall around him to keep his emotions secured. People who had been in pain before has the tendency to withdraw from the same emotions. Was it really just about family priorities when he broke up with his girl after his mother died? Or was it because he doesn't want a commitment that might anytime bring him pain? There are three ways people respond to pain: they come out hard and stiff, or they come out soft and weak, or they learn and they adopt. In this case, Alden obviously hardened himself to keep him safe from future pain. With such control over himself and his emotions, he managed to harness his talent in acting. He learned to set aside his real feelings from what is pure work. Remember the line, "Ready na ako"? What do you think he is ready for?

Then Yaya Dub and Kalyeserye came...

Yaya Dub and Kalyeserye slowly broke the fortress he had long established, and so we see him cry so often every now and then. It is not because it is his forte, but because he can no longer keep his emotions at bay. He lost his control and after a long while, he became vulnerable to emotions again, giving him the sense of liberation. We can now see how transparent his emotions are not only in tears, but in unexpected "caller of DJ Bae." That made the difference. Everyone wants the truth. We can always watch a show, but seeing real emotions can attract real emotions for feedback. When AlDub gave us real and sincere reactions, AlDub nation returned the favor. That made it so different, because it's not just usual admiration, but the nature of requited emotions among social beings. It is our nature to give back what we receive. And so now, Alden became Tisoy who is expressive with his emotions. He would find it awkward at times, but nevertheless he would be brave enough to let others (esp. Maine) know.

2. Scared to step out of the box. 

He started with the idea that showbiz is about being good-looking, and so he didn't not want to break that.We knew how he started fulfilling his mom's dream, and that, if I'm not mistaken, had been grounded on his good looks. Then his first break in showbiz was grounded on his talent for bagging a role out of audition. He had drama and thriller roles and he's great! But looks and talent is a common selling point in showbiz. It's as good as not counted for a big break. These grounds were those that he had been trying to preserve. And so, whenever you would see Alden before AlDub, he would wear the same face, the same smile, the same charm that all good-looking men in showbiz are wearing. He would play roles with good acting, but it's the same good acting as others do. In short, he limited himself to playing the safe side. His creativity suffered. I must say that he studied how the industry goes and he learned how to market himself. That is very much evident with how he handled himself. But being a part of a market simply places you among all competitors for the demand. You will not sell if that's the case.

Then Yaya Dub and Kalyeserye came...

Alden slowly began breaking his self-imposed stereotypes on how things SHOULD be done. His creativity was unleashed when he was required to be spontaneous in Kalyeserye. He started to loosen up and realized that a bedimpled smile is not the only projection that can entertain your audience. He is wearing wacky faces most of the time now, which still looks good on him. He dubsmashes as if contorting his face with exaggeration, and still looks incredibly gorgeous. Why? Because creativity enhances art that begets beauty. Do you have any idea where that came from? A girl who entertained people so much that she became the most beautiful and most admired---Maine Mendoza.

Despite these two things he had to conquer along the way, let us not forget to note one incredible thing about Alden that made the difference --- his Faith. 

Being prayerful is not very common in showbiz and that made him a cut above the rest. He was not very vocal about his faith before, but when it became part of his 'packaging,' he broke celebrity stereotypes wherein popular celebrities eventually lose faith. His faith on the other hand strengthens in the middle of a shooting career. And for that, God gave him __________. Fill in the blank!

A Love Letter for AlDub Nation

Thank you is not enough, so I wrote this letter for AlDub Nation.

 (ctto)

Dear AlDub Nation, 

I was never a fan of any artist before, because I usually pick my favorite songs, movies or anything showbiz based on the material and not really the artist. So if an artist is consistent, they would usually end up in my list of favorites. That’s it. Until AlDub and AlDub Nation came.

Since I’m not really into showbiz, I even tried blogging about events, but eventually stopped since I don’t know who the artists are. They usually promote albums, and I couldn’t write about them for I don’t know how they got that break of recording an album. Zero background is never good for writing. I had never been interested with showbiz until AlDub and AlDub Nation came.

I am not a TV person. In fact, I can live without TV as long as I have internet for news. I watch TV for news and that’s it. Until AlDub and AlDub Nation came.

I was a Kapuso ever since I can remember watching TV, because our TV then, only had GMA. We couldn’t watch other shows because our place is a certified deadspot for other TV channels. We grew up Kapuso, and yet never changed channels even if we can already afford cable connection. Growing up, I stopped watching TV when I stepped into college, then became a yuppie, because study and work consumes most of my waking hours. Until AlDub and AlDub Nation came.

I became a fan, a TV person, and a Kapuso again. And for all the things I’ve become since this AlDub phenomenon, I would like to thank, not only AlDub, but also the AlDub Nation.

A lot has been said about AlDub, and my words for Alden and Maine would just be a reiteration of all good things said before. So I prefer to talk about us, AlDub Nation. If there are millions of reasons to love AlDub, and so we can tweet 41 million about it, there are millions of reasons to love you, AlDub Nation. Here are seven of them:

(forgive me with my limited perspective because this is my first time to be a fan)

1.    It’s so organized it feels like another society.
A usual fandom would have big fan accounts that would give updates. AlDub Nation has more. We are organized according to purpose. There are accounts:

• to set the trend and set the Official Hashtag for the day starting 12 midnight
• to set reminders on what to avoid in tweeting so that tweets would be counted
• to monitor if hashtags are spammed or incorrect, so they would be deleted and stopped from spreading
• to warn the nation with spammed hashtags and those incorrect ones that climb the trend list and divide the number of tweets
• to remind, reprimand, discipline fans who can’t help breaking AlDub’s theme of spreading love and avoiding hate(rs)
• to discipline fans who start bashing other artists and their fans
• to report and encourage the nation to block accounts that bash AlDub instead of starting twitter wars
• to post statistical updates of trend list whether nationwide or worldwide, number of tweets, heat maps that illustrate the globe and where most tweets come from, the peak of number of tweets per minute, the rate of tweets per hour and the official count within 24 hours
• to defend AlDub from bashers, not through bashing, but through logical explanation and research to make valid points (arguments are so good, I tilt my hat to you, guys)
• to conduct twitter threads for forums that discuss the phenomenon
• to research (or stalk) previous interviews, videos, TV appearances, blog and social media posts of AlDub for more kilig
• to establish connection and meaning among things happening with AlDub (on and off cam/Twitter/IG) and their connection with divine intervention and destiny for more kilig
• to investigate issues and controversies and give clarifications for the nation
• to make clips for slow motion, zoom in, and to make the nation kilig over and over thru replay
• to update BTS (behind the scene) photos and videos for any AlDub project: photoshoot, film shoot, TVC shoot, mall tours, etc.
• to determine chapters based on location. And take note: fan chapters are based on towns, under a provincial chapter, under a country chapter. (i.e. AlDub/MaiDen Taytay is under AD/MD Rizal, which is under AD/MD CALABARZON, while those abroad identify themselves by country or city like AD/MD SG for Singapore Chapter). These accounts host twitter parties and keep the conversations on going for 24 hours as we receive updates from trendsetters, issues, fan arts, fan fictions, statistics and parody account kilig moments.
• to determine teams according to various ways people watch Eat Bulaga! (i.e. team replay, team twitter, team puyaters, team abroad (for live stream), while team bahay and team arena were organized for the Tamang Panahon event)
• to entertain through parody accounts of characters and props from Kalyeserye who usually add kilig every now and then thru their own twitterserye where fans create ideal kilig moments among these fictional characters
• to provide livestreams and youtube videos for team abroad and team replay
• to post fan arts that anticipate or recall all the kilig and fun of every episode thru digital and traditional artworks
• to post fan fictions that sometimes aim to predict what would happen next in the series, eventually building more anticipation
• to identify AlDub Nation citizens like me who spend time to tweet, watch and support Kalyeserye of Eat Bulaga

2.    Everyone’s committed with the benefit of AlDub and the nation. It was never for ourselves.
It has always been about AlDub and AlDub Nation. No fan accounts were singled out and considered dominant over the other. Since we serve different purposes, we respect one others' differences and believe that all are fans. All are equal. We work together for just one goal: support AlDub. Updates are consistent because other fans want to share the kilig and anticipation with other fans. It was never about who gets more access or what, or who gets closer with whom. It is always about getting updates and sharing them with the entire nation. Walang pasikat.

3.    Selflessness is evident in everyone especially with big fan-base accounts. Bayanihan, from a dying culture, became a common trait for the nation, and hopefully for Filipinos once more.
All things are done voluntarily which inspires and motivates everyone to take their own role and participate for the love of AlDub and the entire nation. Bayanihan is in the mind of everyone, so this went out of Twitter world and began outside with charity works such as a Blood Drive in partnership with Red Cross and other chapters that conducted their outreach activities in nursing homes and orphanages near their chapters. AlDub nation began nation-building and we will continue to do so as we placed AlDub on top of national and worldwide trends for international recognition, which brings Philippines on a limelight. We have made noise on the possibility of considering Philippines for worldwide promotion of different international merchandise, where Filipinos do not just reach out to the world. Now, the world reaches out to us as we picked the curiosity of the world and international artists. This is just the beginning. Our unity can be coursed through other campaigns for the country, just as how Eat Bulaga! initiated a charity event like Tamang Panahon for AlDUb libraries all over the Philippines. We can build our nation once again.

4.    Creativity flourished out of inspiration.
Fan arts, fan fictions, AlDub-inspired songs, customized merchandise and the likes made their way to social media and local markets and they get free promotion thru AlDub Nation! We help them promote their pages and find ways how these sellers can be contacted by possible clients. "Para sa ekonomiya," we say. Really it is. We support these as we support AlDub! So many people got inspired, which includes me. I am currently trying to finish my novel that has been long postponed. Inspiration and support can really go a long way!

5.    Meeting strangers had never been so much fun. One effortlessly belongs. Twitter parties rock!
Because I only use Twitter as an extension of my Facebook account and blog before, I only have a handful of followers. As of now, I already have 884 followers because of AlDub Nation. They see my account worth following for updates, while some even started conversations especially during Twitter parties! These are complete strangers with the same goal in mind: to support AlDub, and that is enough to bridge the differences we all have. It never felt so comfortable in the company of people you don’t know. They address you as if they know you long time ago, with the same impression that AlDub fans would never snub another AlDub fan. With that, the nation has become a family. For an introvert like me, this is the number one reason I fell in love with the nation.

6.    It’s so influential that you feel so important as fans.
I can still recall when AlDub nation called the attention of TAPE Inc. boss, @DirekMike, Mr. Michael Tuviera to revise Alden’s segment in Sunday PinaSaya so that it won’t need to objectify Alden as a sex symbol with all the kissing, which is so far from the good role model image he upholds in Kalyeserye and in real life. The following Sunday, the segment was revised, and another Sunday gave way for a different segment that is much more fun and caters to Alden’s hosting skills. And recently, just as how a lot of fans requested for Maine to call during Alden’s segment, after the Tamang Panahon event, Maine together with Sunday PinaSaya production pranked Alden with an unexpected call from her, which caught Alden off guard. Also, the updates from the first photoshoot of AlDub for My Bebe Love, their movie for the Metro Manila Film Festival, were uploaded by no other than their director @DirekJoey, Mr. Jose Javier Reyes. Has any director done that for fans? With these, never had I felt so important as a fan when it comes to certain concerns or requests. I’ve always pictured a fan as a passive spectator at the other side of the screen, but AlDub Nation made all the difference. We are so big, we made all the difference.

7.    AlDub fans settle our misunderstandings instead of just hating each other over differences. We know how to compromise just to bridge individual differences, because we know that "united we stand, divided we fall."
Since we are a nation, we’re so big that it is difficult to handle and to maintain peace. Different points of view would occasionally come out and some fans would misunderstand others. There are those that commit mistakes, and others tend to correct them. Despite all these, we were able to maintain unity by settling differences wherein some learn to admit their mistake and ask for forgiveness, while others find the courage to forgive. We began to believe that those who do not possess such values for unity are not AlDub fans at all. Because we live up to our trademark: Make love, not war. In fact, we believe in fraternal correction; that when another tells you to correct something, we always see it as constructive criticism and cooperate. The best example of real and sincere pakikisama that I have witnessed.

These are just some of the reasons that I love you, AlDub Nation! I am so proud of AlDub and the entire nation. Thank you so much! AlDub you all!

With much love,

Jem Robles