Love isn’t forever–but that’s OK

Erich Gonzales (left) and Daniel Matsunaga

It was the depth of irony that, just before Valentine’s Day was celebrated last Feb. 14, some stellar romantic couples revealed that they had sadly discovered that love—was not forever.

Pacing the freshly head-bumped (nauntog) field were Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga, who not only were enamored with one another for years, but even costarred in a hit TV rom-com series, “Be My Lady.”

In that glowing, palpitating TV love saga, they played young lovers from different worlds and social classes who fought for their love against all odds—and won.

In real life, however, they ended up not just breaking up, but testily hinting at the unclear rankling issues that had soured their heretofore super-sweet relationship, some of them possibly financial in nature. Uh, oh, when money matters muddle the picture—love flies out of the window.

True enough, love has ended with a thud for Erich and Daniel, bereaving their “DanRich” tandem’s loyal followers and believers. Too bad, so sad for them, their idols eventually disbelieved  in love eternal—from forever to for never in one, fell swoop!

The unkindest cut of all was that it had to happen before the day of hearts—not the time of year when romantic fantasy is rudely revealed to be a ruse!

Erich and Daniel will pick themselves up and move on to other welcoming and loving arms, as stellarly beautiful luminaries are wont to do—but, what about the disappointed members of their peanut gallery? How can they believe in love eternal again after this rude awakening and “betrayal”?

The answer, we hope, is that this latest head-bumping experience could be the  knock on the noggin that will finally make them grow up and realize that there is  no fantasy, no forever—and that rough, ramshackle reality is all we have to rely and fall back on!

That may have zero “kilig value,” but if we work with it, it could turn out to be worth the heart and the hurt. Besides, what other real option do we have?

It would be even better if the hard-knocks education and realization we get from a nonfantasticating view of life and love eventually forces us to grow up and find happiness not in escaping from reality, but in accepting it as the only truth we have to live—and learn to love!

 Sports highlights

ANC’s 30-minute sports newscast, “Gametime,” is hosted by young sportscaster Migs Bustos, Monday to Friday, 9:30 p.m. He sums up the sports highlights of the day with fresh perspective and analysis.

Segments include updates on athletes’ best stat lines of the day, social media reactions to games, “Stuff Happens” on the lighter side of sports, plus a preview of coming sports events.

John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo

 Second anniversary

ABS-CBN TVplus marks its second anniversary with a thanksgiving blowout: A free movie marathon on Kapamilya Box Office, with John Lloyd Cruz-Sarah Geronimo hits, “You Changed My Life,” “A Very Special Love” and “It Takes a Man and a Woman.”

Other treats include “Haunted Mansion,” “The Impossible” and “Feast.” Mobile subscribers can also stream the movies online via abscbnmobile.com/kbo.