A couple of months after she turned 24 last March 3 this year, Maine Mendoza’s fans celebrated her day of birth through their organized post-birthday party on Saturday, May 4.
It was a lovely night with the trending theme of #MaineAt24HavanaNight for the actress discovered as the Dubsmash Queen, especially when she attended it with her boyfriend, Arjo Atayde.
Seemingly like star-crossed lovers – being an actor from the Kapamilya network and being an actress from its rival Kapuso network – Maine in her message gives her appreciation to her fans.
“Nakakatuwa sa puso na may mga taong tanggap ang mga bagay na gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko, at kayo po ‘yun. Kaya maraming salamat po sa inyo (It makes my heart happy that there are people who are accept the things that I want to happen in my life, and you are these people. That is why, thank you very much to you),” she says.
She adds, “I hope we are all happy, and I hope to have a longer journey with you.”
Maine’s gratitude comes in the midst of the mixed reactions of her fans and followers when her dating rumors with Arjo sparked last year, as the two were part of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) movie, “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles” that starred Coco Martin.
This 24-year-old, who is the other half of the loveteam AlDub in the now-defunct Eat Bulaga soap opera portion Kalyeserye with Kapuso actor Alden Richards, rose to fame as the character Yaya Dub.
AlDub was tagged as the phenomenal loveteam after it captured large audiences, enough for it to trend worldwide as well. In fact, three years ago, the Guinness World Records said that #AlDubEBTamangPanahon was one of the five hashtags that broke world records; tweeted by more than 40 million users in 24 hours.
However, with a pairing that rose to fame online, the bashing also came on social media.
With a whole bunch of AlDub Nation following the two stars, the news of Maine dating someone else other than her onscreen partner did not sit well with some. This also pushed Maine and Arjo to air out statements even when they have yet to officially be in a relationship.
It was only on Maine’s birthday this year that she confirmed her relationship with Arjo through a blog that has now been deleted.
[READ: Maine Mendoza confirms relationship with Arjo Atayde]
“You may have listed a long list of reasons why I shouldn’t but we all know it’s made out of hatred, anger, and disappointment. I chose not to judge his character for whatever he’s done in the past because that does not define him as a person. I was raised to never judge a person, to always see the goodness of people no matter how other people see them,” she wrote.
On the same blog, Maine also makes mention of a separation of her private life and her well-known character.
“Sadly, I cannot stay as Yaya Dub forever. This is Maine, the real me. And this is real life. And I cannot go on with my life behind a fictional character,” she said.