Alexa Ilacad denies cheating on ex-bf Nash Aguas, dating Joshua Garcia

Alexa Ilacad (left) and Joshua Garcia

While it’s true that she has grown closer to Joshua Garcia while taping the soap “The Killer Bride,” Alexa Ilacad denied that they’re “secretly dating,” like not a few show biz observers have been insinuating on social media.

“We were like, ‘Huh, really?’ Joshua and I just laugh it off. People can be so creative! We have formed a friendship, as with the rest of the cast. But he’s not courting me,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for her first starring film, “Santigwar,” which will open in cinemas on Oct. 30.

What sparked such rumors? Alexa could only surmise that people started linking them because of the mere fact that they’re both single.

“There are photos of us together, which are mostly to promote our show. We have behind-the-scenes videos that show us just goofing around. But apparently, some people thought there’s more to those posts than what they actually are,” the 19-year-old actress said.

“But Joshua’s fans have been kind to me,” she added. “They don’t bash me. They simply ask for clarification or ask if there’s any truth to what they have been reading.”

As a coworker, Joshua has been nothing but supportive of her. “He tells me that my character is a good one. He encourages me to play with it, find more ways to make things more interesting,” she related.

Asked if she thinks Joshua is “boyfriend material,” she said: “Of course. I saw how he was with Julia (Barretto, his ex-girlfriend); how he treats girls in general. He’s very kind and warm.”

Produced by Reality Entertainment and Horseshoe Studios, “Santigwar” is a horror flick that centers on Hasmin (Alexa), a faith healer/spirit warrior who has been in a decade-long hunt for the aswang clan who killed her mother. Also in the cast are Marco Gallo, Marlo Mortel, Mich Liggayu, MJ Lastimosa and Aubrey Miles.

“I’m still nervous, to be honest,” she admitted. “But I’m taking this as a challenge and a big blessing.”

Meanwhile, the Star Magic talent couldn’t help but vent out her frustration about the incessant bashing she has been receiving from fans of Nash Aguas, with whom she had a “mutual understanding” for close to five years.

It has already been a year since they parted ways, but the hurtful words never stopped, she said. But what really gets her goat are the “false accusations” that she cheated on Nash with another guy—a rumor that the actor himself spread, Alexa insisted.

“One time, our makeup artist asked me if what Nash told her—that I cheated on him—was true. And she wasn’t the only one. That hurt me, finding out that it was him going around saying these things,” Alexa said.

Her relationship with Nash turned toxic toward the end, she said, because the latter was jealous of her best friend’s brother, whom she declined to name. “It’s all because he saw us commenting on each other’s Facebook posts,” she said. “Our lack of label may have given him some insecurities.” (The two was never “officially in a relationship.”)

Alexa also stressed that Mika dela Cruz—Nash’s current girlfriend—doesn’t have anything to do with their troubles. —ALLAN POLICARPIO