On this 14th weeksary, everything is now coming to a close in reaching Tamang Panahon. But that event alone, anticipated by millions of AlDub fans all over the world, is just the beginning of something more interesting. Tamang Panahon can be dubbed as one of the greatest moments in a person's life, the first few steps in starting the road to forever.
If there is one person I know that would be the most excited and anxious in this momentous event, it would be none other than the person I've come to know in the rift of sanity. Yep, I know some of you may have been over the journey already, but I have not yet finished my journal of the said event. There's one thing that needs to be expressed to complete the epistle I am writing for the guy that poured his all during that special day. His last day in that travel may have opened himself to the point that he no longer worried if many would know his true identity or not. While it may be not his intention to truly make himself vulnerable from all the questioning and the assumption, I would like to convey his words to the AlDub Nation to let you know how much of this Tamang Panahon is making him deeply attached with his thoughts via ATM. (Alden to Maine)
Promise, this would be my last entry about the dimensional journey I had on Twitter. The door would be closed after this and leave everything as I have left it many days ago.
Alden Richards, as known to many, may be playing his role well as a lover to Yaya Dub, as what we see during the Juan for All segment in Eat Bulaga. Now this, would only be in the perspective of a TV viewer, limited on the 1-hour time slot that is graced to fans, every single day. But in the eyes of the real individual, there are certain roles growing behind the cameras or the blinding spot lights. These roles are familiar to many who are seriously into working a relationship with a person that's very close to the heart.
As a co-artist, Alden is very concerned to Maine Mendoza in the situations and conditions she is in, whether in the studio, or in the barangays where she joins JoWaPao. He sees to it that Maine is well taken care of by the staff and the people surrounding her. Though he may not be physically close to Maine, he would remind everyone to make sure she's safe and protected in playing her role as Yaya. He's not the kind of guy that would be so pushy just to make the love team work all day. If there are moments when Maine cannot come due to health issues or commitments, he would consider those as first priority and would make up for her absence by seeing that the Kalyeserye would still go on, even without her presence. He's not as selfish as some would think. He's sometimes bashed for being misunderstood, thinking that it's okay for him not to see her or feel her for many days with her being gone. Oh, if you only knew the ache he feels when he knows he won't see her during those times.
Alden and Maine are doing their best to support each other in their craft, and we have seen it lately when both of them are now dubsmashing together. Back then, the only thing that Alden does is to dubsmash "Twerk It Like Miley" and get at it every single time. Even during those times, Maine was already into supporting what Alden knew so little about. Due to her expertise, I bet Alden was challenged to pursue that path just to be at par with the "Queen of Dubsmash". Surprising enough, Alden can now play the role together with Maine and look cute together.
Acting used to be Alden's main forte, and we know of his experience years beyond. Maine, as others have mentioned in the past, is actually left behind in this craft. Really? Can anyone even notice how blessed Maine was when she was given the chance to be with three of the greatest comedians in Eat Bulaga, every single day for the last three months? And they are saying that Yaya Dub is not given much break and opportunity? Oh! Such words of belittlement can only be said by the myopic and the unobservant! We have seen Yaya shed her tears, express so much joy, deal with pain, and even go through hardship. The roles she played were challenging on its own. She did not have a huge sandbox to play with. She did not have acting workshops and used her Dubsmashing skills to play the parts that demanded her expertise. But lo and behold, she was able to make it through, and Alden was there to make sure that they are able to play their parts well. No, there were no pulling strings nor one dominating the other. It was a mutual relationship of growth for their careers.
Although Alden and Maine are shining in their own light, both of them belong to the same sky, making one another look their best together without unnecessary competition between one another. But you may not know this. Maine's growth is actually making Alden more interested to her by the day. The better she got, the more curious Alden has become to see what she will be like when her full potential has been reached. Afraid and worried? Nope. He's not the type that would trample other people for the sake of his fame. He's actually humbled that Maine was able to help him reach the stage he is enjoying now. Maine, most probably, feels the same way.
So even though Alden is garnering more attention than Maine, it was only the result of a love team that the people esteemed and favored. The mall tours, the shows, and the invitations, those were offered to him even before he became the other half of AlDub. It was never his fault that he cannot say no to the people that believed in his talents. He's not the person to turn down an offer. And though he is misunderstood in most occasions, he did not mind as long as Maine is protected and never bashed in the end. His chivalry still stood on the top of everything, even when some people are against him.
As a love team, Alden would not like to push too far. He's very careful in the sense that he will not use the said professional relationship as an opportunity to be close to her. Yes, his sense of ethics are so high that he would not dare use the AlDub fever as an excuse to hit her or use it as a door to enter into a real relationship. Now that would be so ironic for the rest of the fandom, yes? But honestly, that would be so low and degrading of the individuals. We have been accustomed to seeing that reel relationships end up to love... Think of the many love teams we had in the past. Many of the fans are so into them that they wish everything would be for real. For what? For publicity? For gaining more followers? To gain the sympathy of the masses and to gain a bigger market? Hell no! Alden knew that going through that path may destroy the very thing that he wanted to happen. He does not want to start a sincere and honest loving relationship on the wrong foot, in the wrong foundation. He had to make things right the first time, and that is no easy task, considering that AlDub is now a known global phenomenon. Alden and Maine had other relationships in the past, making them wiser, smarter, and better at knowing what it takes to make the real deal set sail. So, AlDub... yes. But MaiDen, not yet...
As a friend, Alden would love to be in the shoes of a person that Maine Mendoza could trust and believe in. I mean, who would not want to be friends with someone whose mind is as broad as the universe and as deep as the ocean floor? Who would not want to be associated with an individual that's so passionate, kind, true, and honest? If there is a role that Alden wanted to play, more than being a love team, it's being a friend, someone who Maine can open herself to. No, not the Alden that we commonly see on TV, the person that's fresh and full of confidence. I'm talking about Richard Faulkerson Jr. The guy that's a bit timid, kinda shy, decent, and simple, stripped of pride, and down to earth. That's the side of the person Maine has to see... That's where the real treasure is. And I am sure that when she does, she will love Richard, more than she liked Alden. I bet Maine would be delighted to know of the being that has been so anxious of reaching out to the likes of her, for the longest time!
The world they are moving in can be cruel, and in fact, can be unfair in most occasions. Richard did not establish much contact with Maine outside the bounds of their career because such involvement would be harsh. They will be the point of all the rumors in the world. Eyes will be watching them everywhere they go. People will be snooping into their private lives. So even when Richard would want to be in the position where they could spend time together alone, he won't be able to do so willingly, because he looks into Maine's safety a priority more than his anxiety of them to be together as friends. And having an intact yet professional relationship is much better than having no relationship at all.
When Alden gets interviewed a lot, he does his best of just letting all the attention focused to him. Attention hungry? Popularity crazy? Nope! Not even the slightest thought. He does so selflessly because he wanted to protect Maine and keep her private life, private. He never leaked any clues, nor showed overtones of emotions. He did not want Maine to overthink and be pressured of the love team they have. It was only meant to be on TV so it will not affect Maine and her family, as much. Alden would not want to leave Maine in a position that she has to compromise her lifestyle or habits, just to answer the demands of the AlDub Nation. He would not want Maine to be emotionally stressed and tired, just to satiate what the world wanted. He had to go against the flow of what the fans wanted as a respect to Maine's personal space. That they had to be together, that they would end up holding hands, sitting close together and dubsmashing on the same screen, kissing each other on the lips, and hugging each other? Alden did not want any of that yet as true love will be clouded with the intent of marketing the love team. He would not want something so noble and true be tarnished with intents of selfishness and greed. Sad enough, Alden is misunderstood in this situation thinking he's hogging all the attention for himself because he wants to be popular. Well, now I am telling, as what the traveler mentioned previously, it was all to protect one of the most important people he values so greatly.
Alden wanted to know Maine better than anyone. He's into her. He has no reason to doubt of his interest to her as a person, as a woman, and as a partner. He would not want to rush things as it is at the moment. He would follow the counsel that Lola Nidora gave him, not to make haste of the feelings he has. If Maine would be the last woman he'll meet being single, then he had to be sure to know every aspect of her being... He wanted to be sure. He needed it to end the heartbreak.
As an admirer, Alden has been amazed with Maine's talents. He watched her dubsmash even before she was famous. He's fond of seeing her quirky and funny side. But in the course of playing the role as Alden in the love team, and in those days when they are sharing the limelight together in Eat Bulaga, Alden can't help but be fascinated with a woman that's so blessed with many talents. Imagine the kind of awe he's feeling knowing that a lady in her twenties could do so much in playing drums, acting, writing blog entries, singing, dancing, cooking, drawing, making funny faces, and so much more.
But more than the God-given talents she have, Alden is admiring the person in Maine, the qualities she have as a unique and special individual; the actual clockwork that makes her tick as she is. Due to her personal attributes, Alden may have *ehem* real feelings towards Maine. After all, who would never like a person such as Maine Mendoza?! She's the real deal, the whole package, the best box of chocolates you could ever have in your lifetime. Alden finds her fun to be with, witty, smart, and intelligent.
And those feelings Alden feel may be yielding to his emotions because of what's happening in the Kalyerserye! Yep, to those who had questions whether it's possible for Alden not to fall while playing their roles as a love team? It can be possible, if he puts his heart and mind into it, but he's the one who's having the hardest time. Everyone in the world knows that Maine has a crush for Alden. But the other way around? That can be very difficult for him. Just imagine if the feeling was mutual! Maine may get the wrong idea and Alden would not want that. Selfish? Nope... He is just safeguarding a more important aspect in a loving relationship... And that's what you call friendship. He want to be friends with Maine more than anything else. Being a real-life couple can wait. But to be friends? It had to be strong to prove that a marital relationship could last forever.
He's the guy in this love team, and a man should be the one stirring the wheel. This applies to family life, in making decisions, and in other life principles. It's the guy who should be leading the march, while considering the welfare of those close to him. He will be there to protect and make everything safe, just like a father to his family, a lover to his partner, as a friend to a friend.
Have you ever imagined the kind of journey Alden Richards had to go through? And you think that he had things easy all this time? No... Not a single second did he feel that what he was going through with Maine was as simple as ABC or 123. He had to make sure that everything works out in the end. He had to make sure that he would not yield or give in to what the fans wanted. He's being forced to shout what he feels when he tries to contain it all for the sake of a more important cause. He wanted to make things slow, for the sake of the walk that, when successful, would last more than a lifetime.
It can be rather unfortunate for his sake that he had to create the very wall that was supposed to be away in the first place. He had to control his feelings and suppress his emotions for a better light. He had to follow the great counsel in mind and in heart. Imagine the irony! Feel the pain! He had to hide his real feelings of joy and bliss seeing Maine eye to eye. He wanted to express something true, but had to hide it just to protect her. It's like reaching the stars or swimming an endless sea.
And now that Tamang Panahon is coming to a close, we will see how things will begin... If it is as intended, Alden will be bursting out, letting many months of suppression into a release! He will finally be able to let his feelings show. The things we saw in his music video and many others that he did without Maine's presence on the same screen, may be the ones we'll be seeing on Saturday. Too bad I will not be there physically, but I am more than happy to be an instrument in letting the AlDub Nation understand what Alden Richards had to go through all this time. It was a hard journey to go through, but I was glad I was able to know that traveler better. And for this last time, I am leaving that world, and will no longer be back there. I would leave things as they are, but you are now witnesses of a world that was never meant to be revealed en masse!
@aldenophile may surprise ako sa'yo! Napagtanggol ko na ata si @aldenrichards02 sa mga haters niya!
Reading those words addressed to Alden's dad, I am shedding tears because I am sure that I have served justice to the person misunderstood in the whole matter.
The road to forever will never be easy. It's a path that would take many years to tread. It would leave you tired, happy, stressed, pressured, trembling, worried, grieving, shaken, beaten, scourged, hated, and maligned. Many feelings will be in that path and it can be tiresome... But that walk to forever is worth every step you take... every breath you let out, every sweat that drops, every fiber of the muscle that moves.
Abangan ang Tamang Panahon, dahil ito na ang simula ng isang mahaba at masayang paglalakbay patungo sa walang haggang ligaya at saya!
