In the Philippine entertainment industry, loveteams rule. Loveteams have transformed many run-of-the-mill actors into stars in the country’s showbiz industry. A loveteam consists of two (usually young) actors who are promoted as a romantic couple. Today, one of the most popular loveteams in the industry is that of 21-year-old Maine Mendoza and 24-year-old Alden Richards, popularly known as AlDub, a portmanteau of their on-screen names.
Mendoza, a chef from Santa Maria, Bulacan, rose to popularity by playing the character of Yaya Dub (Divina Ursula Bokbokova Smash) in the Kalyeserye segment of noontime show Eat Bulaga. Richards was already part of the show when Mendoza joined. He was an “ordinary” host until, a year ago, he was paired with Mendoza in what has become the blockbuster AlDub love team.
Kalyeserye, which is a soap opera parody and is performed and broadcast live from different places in the country, is perhaps synonymous with AlDub, as the series was started last year when producers of the show took notice of the positive reception to the pairing and created a new segment that would follow the love story of the fictional characters played by Richards and Mendoza in the show.
Now they are starring in a film together — Imagine You & Me — which had its premiere in Dubai on July 25 (it releases on Thursday), attended by fans, including members of several local fan clubs.
Jen Jaranilla, an offfice manager, tells tabloid! she has waited a long time for a movie that features the two celebrities in the lead roles. “It’s my first time to watch them together in the silver screen so I’m so excited,” says Jaranilla.
“I saw the movie trailer and I know most women can relate to the movie on hiding their feelings from someone they love.”
Some of the fans wore white t-shirts printed with Richards’ and Mendoza’s faces, while others brought banners of their favourite showbiz couple.
Joan Gloria, a member of the AlDub Maiden Middle East fan club, couldn’t contain her excitement as she talked about her expectations from the movie.
“[I’m] definitely [excited]. hopefully there will be a kissing scene — that’s the highlight of the movie that we are really waiting for,” she said.
During a pre-screening announcement inside the cinema, fans were waving banners and chanting the names of their on-screen idols, egged on by a host. The chants and screams grew louder when the film started screening. And then there was silence.
“AlDub brings genuine happiness to us fans,” Azh Bolivar, head of AlDub Middle East, Aldenatics UAE and Mainenatics UAE, told tabloid! at the film screening at Vox Cinemas at BurJuman.
“We can really feel their love towards each other; it seems real for us. They are happy to watch; they are our stress reliever as OFWs [overseas Filipino workers]. I followed other loveteams before but it’s my first time to be a member of a fan club. I collected all their magazines, CDs and books. As a fan I really exert effort, time and money to support them. Sometimes we have sleepless nights if we have events in our fans club,” Bolivar added.
Alison Soriano, member of AlDub Middle East, Aldenatics UAE and Mainenatics UAE, also praised the effect the pair have on Filipinos far from home. In the film, Mendoza plays an OFW in Italy.
“They are different from other loveteams — the kind of inspiration they give not only to the fans in the Philippines but also us OFWs. They make us feel at home despite the challenges we face.”
Many fans said they loved the pair’s authenticity.
“The AlDub loveteam is very real, genuine and no pretensions,” said Gloria. “We love them so much because you don’t see fake emotions; they are just so spontaneous. They are real and true to their feelings.”
