Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@paulinemendoza_
Filipino viewers are fond of “shipping” their favorite onscreen couples. More often than not, these viewers think that actors and actresses who happened to be paired up in several projects are in a relationship in some way or the other. Some avid fans even go as far as to ask for confirmation on the relationship status of these onscreen couples.
This is what happened to “Kambal, Karibal” stars Jeric Gonzales and Pauline Mendoza. A netizen, PauRic (@pauricisreal), confronted Gonzales on Twitter on Wednesday.
“Lalaki ka ba talaga @imJericGonzales [Jeric Gonzales] (Are you a real man @imJericGonzales)?” the netizen asked.
“Pagmalaki mo naman yung jowa mong si @iammendozapau [Pauline Mendoza]. Hindi ung lagi sya na lang nagpopost nakatakip pa mukha mo (For once be proud of your girlfriend @iammendozapau. She is the only one posting photos of the two of you and your face is even covered in them).”
Lalaki ka ba talaga @imJericGonzales? Pagmalaki mo naman yung jowa mong si @iammendozapau. Hindi ung lagi sya na lang nagpopost nakatakip pa mukha mo 💜
— PauRic (@pauricisreal) June 13, 2018
Gonzales replied to the netizen: “Parekoy naghanap pa ako ng net just to reply to you. Alam mo parekoy I admire you and I love you for loving Pau and showing your concern pero Parekoy naman whatever it is na meron kami sana naman magkaroon ka ng respeto na maghintay na manggaling samen.”
(Parekoy, I searched for an internet connection just to reply to you. You know what parekoy, I admire you and I love you for loving Pauline and showing your concern, but parekoy, I hope you have the respect to wait for a confirmation from us [Pau and me] on whatever it is that we have.)
Parekoy naghanap pa ako ng net just to reply to you. Alam mo parekoy I admire you and I love you for loving Pau and showing your concern pero Parekoy naman whatever it is na meron kami sana naman magkaroon ka ng respeto na maghintay na manggaling samen
— Jeric Gonzales (@imJericGonzales) June 13, 2018
“Kase Parekoy alam mo kapag hindi ka pa sure sa isang bagay at wala ka pang ebidensya lalu na hindi pa nanggagaling sa amin sana wag mo kaming pangunahan dahil karapatan din namin magsalita kung kailan namin gusto o hindi,” the actor continued.
(Because parekoy, if you are not sure about one thing and you don’t have evidence especially one [a confirmation] that has come from us, I hope you don’t get ahead of us as it is also our right to confirm or not.)
Kase Parekoy alam mo kapag hindi ka pa sure sa isang bagay at wala ka pang ebidensya lalu na hindi pa nanggagaling sa amin sana wag mo kaming pangunahan dahil karapatan din namin magsalita kung kailan namin gusto o hindi. At isa pa parekoy hindi mo kailangan
— Jeric Gonzales (@imJericGonzales) June 13, 2018
Gonzales ended his reply with a call for respect from the netizen. Although the actor refused to label the status of his relationship with Mendoza, he said that they were happy with what they had.
“At isa pa parekoy hindi mo kailangang gumamit ng mga hindi magagandang salita para lang sabihin ang saloobin mo dahil hindi natin kailangan magkasakitan dito. Respeto Parekoy respeto lang sana. Pero maraming salamat sa iyong concern pero sa ngayon masaya kami sa kung ano meron kaming lahat.”
(And one more thing parekoy, you don’t have to use bad language in conveying your feelings because we don’t need to hurt each other [emotionally] online. Respect parekoy, I am hoping you respect us. Nonetheless, I am very thankful for your concern, but for now we are happy with what [relationship] we have.)
Gumamit ng mga hindi magagandang salita para lang sabihin ang saloobin mo dahil hindi natin kailangan magkasakitan dito. Respeto Parekoy respeto lang sana. Pero maraming salamat sa iyong concern pero sa ngayon masaya kami sa kung ano meron kaming lahat.
— Jeric Gonzales (@imJericGonzales) June 13, 2018
Mendoza replied to the netizen as well, asking the netizen who he or she was and what he or she was saying.
https://twitter.com/iammendozapau/status/1006789849746112512
The netizen tweeted about the “Kambal, Karibal” stars once more: “Nakakaasar kasing gf na nya si pauline pero parang wala lang tapos magsasabi pa ng ibang babae. Sakit nun for pau.”
(It is irritating that he is in a relationship with Pauline but he seems to act like he is not and even mentions another girl. It must be painful for Pauline.)
Mendoza shut down the rumor that she and Gonzales are in a relationship when she replied that they were “just close friends.”
https://twitter.com/iammendozapau/status/1006793968141721603
Aside from “Kambal, Karibal,” Gonzales and Mendoza have been paired up in drama anthologies “Wagas” from GMA News TV and “Magpakailanman” from GMA 7. /ra
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