Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA, Philippines -- Bea Alonzo recalled her short-lived romance with Gerald Anderson as a "roller-coaster ride," having experienced extreme emotions as they tackled together public criticism and the disapproval of someone closer to home.
"Whirlwind. Whirlwind ba tawag doon? Hindi? Fling? Ano? Summer romance. One season lang, e. Summer romance! It was fun. It was fun, parang 'yong ano, roller-coaster ride," she said.
The 25-year-old actress, who is now in a long-term relationship with actor Zanjoe Marudo, related to YES! magazine in its July 2013 issue how the "open secret" that was her relationship with Anderson started back in 2010.
According to Alonzo, Anderson had just broken up with Kim Chiu, his fellow "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate and erstwhile "love team," when the actor expressed his intentions to court her.
"'Yong nanligaw siya, sabi ko, 'Let's not talk for three months. Make sure, okay?' Kasi kaka-break niya lang talaga literally, kaka-break niya lang with Kim. Tapos sabi ko, 'After three months, titingnan ko, ha, kung gusto mo pa rin ako. Kasi ayokong maging rebound,'" she said.
Despite her request, Alonzo, who was 23 at the time, said Anderson had been persistent in showing his admiration for her. But the actress said she wouldn't have it, recalling that she reminded her suitor, who was 21 at the time, of their agreement.
"Kasi at that time ayoko talaga. Iniisip ko magkatrabaho pa sila noon eh. Parang they were doing a soap together, sila ni Kim," Alonzo said, referring to the Kapamilya series "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo," which ran from January to July 2010.
She added: "Baka mamaya ako 'yong talo, 'di ba? Baka mamaya mukha akong... 'yun pala, nagkabalikan sila doon or something. Pareho pa kami ng management, 'di ba?"
Alonzo, Anderson and Chiu are all artists of ABS-CBN's talent management firm, Star Magic.
"So sabi ko sa kanya," Alonzo continued, "'After three months, same date, kung serious ka, 'di text me or call me.' Ganyan. In fairness, naman, 12 midnight sakto, nag-text siya nang mahabang-mahaba."
Public criticism
The text message would mark the start of the pair's courtship stage, which Alonzo recalls to have been full of "pasabog" and "galante" gestures from her suitor.
"Si Ge (the actor's nickname), ay grabe. Papa-cater niya talaga 'yong house ko, ganyan, just because meron lang siyang hindi nagawa na promise niya. 'Yong ganon.
"Para ngang roller-coaster 'yon. As in, sobra akong depressed, tapos maya-maya lang, talagang pak! Na sa cloud nine na naman ako kasi sobra siyang magaling magpakilig, tapos bababa na naman ako," she said.
Among the reasons for Alonzo's "depression" then were the apparent disapproval of Anderson's mom of their relationship, as well as the mounting criticism from the avid supporters of "Kimerald," the actor's well-loved tandem with Chiu.
"As far as I was concerned, I wasn't doing anything wrong. Hindi ko siya (Anderson) inagaw. In fact, I gave it three months bago naging kami," Alonzo said.
"May respeto kasi ako kay Kim. At alam ni Kim 'yon. Tapos never akong nagpa-interview. I could have defended myself. Tapos may death threats pa ako... Ang hirap, sobrang hirap. Para kang kontrabida. And it's all public perception.
"And all of that, feeling ko, kaya ko. Hindi ko lang kaya 'yong pati 'yung family niya ayaw sa akin, tapos magpapa-interview. And I felt na disente naman ako," she said.
Mom's disapproval
Alonzo was referring to the mother of Anderson, who she said had expressed her disapproval of the relationship during a media interview.
The actress clarified that she bore no ill feelings toward her boyfriend's mom, but admitted she was angry that Anderson could not seem to defend their relationship to his family.
"Nagalit ako kay Ge noon. Kasi naisip ko 'yung nanay ko, may anak ding lalaki 'yan. Si mama, meron siyang girlfriends ng kapatid ko na ayaw niya din. But she wouldn't say na ayaw niya kasi alam niyang masasaktan nga si James, 'yong kapatid ko, at hindi 'yong girl.
"So parang sabi ko kay Ge, 'Ba't ganoon, baka hindi naman alam ng mom mo? Baka hindi niya nakikita kung gaano mo ko kamahal? Or baka hindi mo talaga ako ganoon...' 'Di ba, 'yung gano'n?" Alonzo said.
Asked what she recalls to be the reason of Anderson's mom for being against their relationship, Alonzo told YES!, "Sabi niya, parang ginagamit ko daw. Sabi ko, 'Teka lang, ha. Narating ko naman 'yong narating ko, dati na.' Actually nasisira nga dahil jinowa ko siya."
"So, I mean, nanay siya. Tapos ang feeling ko it wasn't fair, kasi never ko pa siyang nakilala. 'Di ba, parang ang sakit no'n? Kahit na nasisira 'yung pangalan ko, okay lang, basta 'yung pangalan niya, hindi masira, 'yong gano'n. Sobrang unfair. Kaya sabi ko, hindi ko na kaya," she said.
Moving forward
It was in November 2010, before they both went to London for an ABS-CBN concert tour, when Anderson and Alonzo decided to part ways as a couple.
"Parang there was an agreement between us na we were going to act as a couple in London. But after, wala nang talk... [Ginawa namin 'yon] para masaya 'yong last moment namin together. Kasi hindi pa pwede talaga. You and me against the world ang drama. Hindi ko kaya. Hindi ko kaya talaga," she said.
Looking back, Alonzo mused that their relationship may have had a negative impact on their careers. "Sobrang ikli lang naman no'ng sa amin ni Ge. Hindi naman 'yon malalim, pero lesson learned sa akin... Kaya din kami naghiwalay, hindi ko din naman kakayanin siguro na makita siyang nawawalan ng career nang dahil sa akin," she said.
Now happily in relationships of their own, with Anderson and actress Maja Salvador recently confirming their being a couple amid criticisms, Alonzo said her "summer romance" with the actor may have taught him a thing or two about standing by certain decisions.
"Baka noong time na 'yon hindi niya pa yata kayang panindigan. At least ngayon, napapanindigan niya na. Baka transition ako. Baka ako 'yong kinailangan niyang maranasan bago siya manindigan," she said.
