Maine Mendoza admits she fell in love with Alden Richards, confessing to actor about her feelings

Maine Mendoza admitted that she once fell in love with former love team partner, Alden Richards.

“Ako, na-in love talaga ako kay Alden. Vocal naman ako,” she confessed in the latest episode of the Tamang Panahon podcast.

The actress clarified, however, that Alden never courted her. “Na-in love ako sa kanya, pero hindi siya nanligaw. Walang ganun,” she said.

She added that Alden was aware of her feelings. “Kung vocal ako sa lahat ng tao, pati kay Alden mismo… Alam ni Alden ‘yun, sinabi ko naman sa kanya rekta, pero hindi siya nanligaw. Friends lang (kami),” she relayed.

 

When asked if she would have said yes had Alden pursued her, Maine admitted:  “Oo naman kasi in love ako sa kanya. Na-in love ako talaga. At alam ninyong lahat ‘yan mga Dabarkads.”

Maine recalled a candid conversation she once had with the actor. “Tinanong ko siya noon eh, kasi ang straightforward ko naman na tao. So tinanong ko siya rekta, ‘Sabihin mo na sa ‘kin, ano bang nararamdaman mo for me?’… Ang sabi lang niya, ‘Di ko pwedeng sabihin sa ‘yo kasi mawawala ‘yung magic.’”

The actress said they eventually found closure. “Grabe ‘yung relationship din namin ni Alden off-cam. Pero may closure naman kaming dalawa. Napag-usapan namin lahat, pero roller coaster din kaming dalawa,” she stated.

Maine and Alden were paired in Eat Bulaga’s hit Kalyeserye segment in 2015. The duo, dubbed AlDub, became a massive phenomenon in Filipino pop culture. Their “Sa Tamang Panahon” event at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan drew thousands of fans at that time.

In a 2023 interview with Boy Abunda, Alden admitted that he also fell for Maine Mendoza.

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He also expressed gratitude for their successful team-up, saying: “Ang daming opportunities na dumating sa buhay ko because of it. I’m very grateful to Maine, I’m very grateful to Eat Bulaga by all means, sincerely,” he said.

The actor went on: “Kasi doon ko naramdaman na when you work hard for something, si Lord, kapag may hinihingi ka, hindi niya ‘yun ibibigay sa panahong gusto mong makuha. He always has this magic of giving it at the right timing.”

The AlDub tandem eventually came to a close in 2018 when both decided to focus on solo projects. “We needed to venture into our individual lives, to learn more, and move forward,” the actor explained the decision.