MANILA, Philippines – The inclement weather brought about by typhoons Nona and Onyok proved to be no match to the drawing power of the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza. Thousands welcomed the duo as they barnstormed the cities of Cebu and Davao last week to bring Eat, Bulaga’s Kalyeserye and to promote their first movie together My Bebe Love.
An estimated crowd of 10,000 trooped to Brgy. Lorega in Cebu City last Dec. 17 just so they could have a glimpse of the phenomenon that is AlDub, the love team of Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza. The tandem topbills the Juan for All, All for Juan segment of Eat, Bulaga with the famous trio JoWaPao (Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros).
There were some Cebuanos who went to the area very early, hoping to become part of the segment’s popular Sugod Bahay. But many were already contented that they had finally gotten the chance to see Alden and Yaya Dub in person for the first time. The Cebu City Traffic Office, on the other hand, declared a “comfortable” traffic flow since the barangay where fans and onlookers stayed to see the celebrities is located in an interior portion of the city.
At the mall show later that day to promote My Bebe Love — AlDub’s first film with Ai-Ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto, who in turn jokingly called their tandem as AiSing — a limited audience of 800 were allowed to watch the program at the SM Seaside Sky Wall. Only those who were able to purchase items on Dec. 16 or 17 worth P500 or a movie card worth P250 were allowed to enter. A throng of fans, however, patiently and eagerly waited outside the venue, hoping for even a quick glance of their idols.
The excitement extended to the members of the Cebu entertainment media (E-Group) who didn’t mind that the presscon for the My Bebe Love stars took place at 9 in the morning at a posh hotel. Earlier, GMA Network’s Jojo Aquio was worried over the press attendance because it was not the usual lunchtime presscons that they would organize.
But it was the only available time left in the very hectic schedule of the cast in Cebu that day. Aside from the Eat, Bulaga live telecast from Lorega, the successful mall show, there were also special appearances and courtesy calls in between.
It was also the first time in all of GMA’s presscons that reporters were asked to keep the venue confidential. However, a group of fans was seen at the hotel lobby even before the presscon because they managed to determine the venue by analyzing social media posts of some personalities.
During the presscon, My Bebe Love director Jose Javier Reyes dished out praises for his stars as well as his expectations on the box-office result of the movie in the upcoming Metro Manila Filmfest, especially as they’re up against stars who also have a strong and solid fan base.
Press people erupted in laughter when Alden was asked why his dimples are getting deeper these days. He replied, “Dahil sa sobrang saya at inspired sa trabaho,” then teasing his love team partner, “At dahil sa ka du-dut-dut ni Maine,” to which she countered, “Uy hindi ha.”
All throughout the presscon that lasted for more than an hour, it was observed how AlDub seemed to have a world of their own, playful and always teasing each other.
It turned out, however, that the AlDub did not only rub their magic on the entertainment press, but also on the entire local print media. After all, it wasn’t every day you get to see a love team splashed on the front pages of all five Cebu newspapers the next day.