Entertainment
Undying rumors: Bela and Zanjoe
It has been five months ever since the showbiz murmurs about them dating sparked, but these rumors seem to not die. Let us lay out all the hints and puzzle pieces to find out – what is this budding relationship between Zanjoe Marudo and Bela Padilla?
It was the teleserye “My Dear Heart” that kept these rumors buzzing as the two stars played the roles of Heart’s parents in the said drama (Zanjoe as the biological dad, and Bela as his partner).
Before the show started airing this January 2017, Bela has broken up with her ex-boyfriend Neil Arce, while Zanjoe’s last public relationship was still with Bea Alonzo which ended last year in January.
‘Half-meant’ jokes in June
As the two attend press conferences when the teleserye was nearing its conclusion, it was evident to the press how the pair are teasing each other and exchanging inside jokes especially when their budding relationship was the subject.
Zanjoe said in June that their relationship is that of friends. He jokingly added, “Ngayon kasi, ang estado namin, ano pa… taguan ng feelings (Right now, our status is still secretly having feelings).”
Right after the presscon, they are once again teased if they will still see each other after the taping.
The 35-year-old actor asked Bela who was next to him, “Makikipagkita ka pa ba sa akin after taping (Will you still meet me after the taping)?”
Bela, answered with another question, “Yayayain mo ba ako makipagkita (Will you ask me to meet with you) after the show?”
The press also asked Bela’s reaction to Zanjoe’s earlier remark on ‘secretly having feelings.’
“Ngayon, alam ko na may itinatago pala siyang (Now I know he has secret) feelings, sus!” Bela joked.
Zanjoe vaguely responded with, “Ewan ko, joke siguro, pero half meant na rin ‘yun (I don’t know, maybe it was a joke. But it’s half meant).”
The two were also spotted in out-of-town trips together.
Vice Ganda drops the bomb in July
As she guests in Gandang Gabi Vice, to promote her movie “100 Tula para kay Stella (100 Poems for Stella),” with JC Santos, Vice chooses to catch Bela off guard in one of their question and answer portions.
Vice started asking if Bela was happy, which the actress vaguely answered with a yes – picking up the conversation’s direction. The male host started teasing her, and admitting that he is jealous especially that he considers ‘him’ his “one great love.”
Bela was evading the questions by laughing but Vice chose to drop the hints “Z” and “Zanjoe” in the conversation – which forced her to answer.
“Hindi pa kami (We are not yet a couple),” Bela said.
No more details were given as Vice proceeded on sharing his big crush on Zanjoe, and they shifted topics, occasionally just continuing his teasing of Bela.
Bela opens up in August
Still for her movie, Bela was invited in “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” which placed her on the hot seat for the same topic.
Tito Boy said that Zanjoe was quoted in previous interviews for saying that he was ‘single but not available’ and wanted to hear Bela’s side.
Giggling, Bela addressed that she did not want to answer as she might just be assuming things, when Zanjoe’s answer was really vague. She had no idea if it was about her, so she refused to react to it.
Tito Boy asked her then if she was single and available. She promptly answered that she was single. “I wanna keep myself not available because, I wanna give him a chance,” she added.
Minimizing rumors in October
Rumors about their relationship started going to a rest though when Zanjoe was interviewed by ABS-CBN about his relationship status and he said that relationships are not his priority at the moment.
According to Zanjoe, he is single but he is currently focusing on his career. The actor said that he was friends with Bela.
Buzzing November
However, the rumors started coming again when Zanjoe posted on Instagram and Bela commented. After the ‘lie-low’ in the past month, the two shared a light moment together on social media, and netizens are amused.
Zanjoe posted a shirtless photo of himself which got Bela commenting. He teased her “Kailangan ko pa maghubad para mag-comment ka (I had to remove my shirt just so that you will comment).”
The press of course did not let this slip as Zanjoe was bombarded with questions about it. He repeatedly said that as friends they were only teasing each other and there was nothing more to it.
Since Zanjoe is starring in the film “Fallback” with Rhian Ramos, he frequently appears for interviews and is often asked on the subject on who Bela is in his life.
In “Magandang Buhay,” Zanjoe once again cleared that he is only friends with Bela.
However, in “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” things took a different turn.
Tito Boy asked him to clarify his statement on being single but not available.
Zanjoe proceeded on saying that as a guy, he still thinks that he is not ready for a relationship and that it would be unfair for the girl if he enters in one right now.
“Kasi ‘yung commitment na kailangan kong ibigay na deserve ng bawat babae, hindi pa ito ang tamang panahon (Because this is not the right time for me to give the commitment that I need to give to the girl that deserves it),” he added.
Tito Boy was more pressing on the question of ‘who’ though rather than ‘when’ and ‘what.’
“Kung handa ka na magkaroon ng (If you are ready to have a) girlfriend, would that be Bela?” the King of Talk asked.
Zanjoe quickly replied, “Kung handa siya (If she is ready).”
Though both have admitted dating, they are still firm on keeping the friendship they have. Rumors still do not stop though as the press continues to ‘ship’ them.
Will Zanjoe and Bela be a thing? Only time can tell.
