‘AlDub’ gets Catholic socmed award

Alden Richards (seated, right) and Yaya Dub have their second date in the mansion of the de Explorers under the watchful eyes of Lola Tidora, Nidora and Tinidora. PHOTO FROM EAT BULAGA’S TWITTER ACCOUNT

FOR MOST show biz love teams, trending on Facebook and getting millions of tweets from fans are reward enough.

But trust the “AlDub” kalyeserye to up the ante, with its recent recognition as one of the awardees in the 4th Catholic Social Media Summit (CSMSv4) on Oct. 10 and 11.

The award to the popular love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza in the split screen segment of the noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga,” was an affirmation of the show’s “inspiring message” on values, chivalry, modesty, morality and respect for elders, among other virtues, Mon Bandril of the awards’ organizing committee said in a post on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

But the CBCP president, Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, stressed that it was not the bishops giving the award since the project was a lay initiative.

The Catholic Social Media Awards (CSMA), established by Youth Pinoy and Areopagus Communications Inc., hopes to instill a sense of responsibility among online communicators, Bandril said, adding that the CSMA also aims to encourage producers, directors, writers, actors and others in the entertainment industry to come out with more programs and content that are not only entertaining, “but also steeped in Christian values.”

Wally Bayola, the actor behind the character of “Lola Nidora” in the AlDub segment, and TAPE Productions, which produces “Eat Bulaga,” were also among the awardees.

Only Mendoza and Bayola were expected to attend the event in Sta. Rosa, Laguna province.