Tamang Panahon just happened, finally
It's exactly 99 days since AlDub, the love team almost everyone came to love, started. Today is actually their 100th day -- including weekends -- October 24, 2015. We've seen them conquer three monthsaries and fourteen weeksaries on national TV already in both the most devastating and the sweetest ways. The love team took us by storm and it has been a normal sight for us to see a trending hashtag related to AlDub everyday. They took us in a snap of time (even me). |
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We've seen them cry when Maine was supposed to get married to a different character. At first, we may think that Alden is really good in acting, and he is really good. Some even question if Alden is really now considering Maine as his special someone or is he just good in acting? I guess, he is, but judging from what I see, he's that guy who's serious and I know he wouldn't want to play around a girl who is all good herself, too. But with each and every episode I get to watch, either of both of them or just one of them being present, I get to realize how much has changed. You know the feeling that, "nothing has changed, yet looking back, everything is different." That's how I see their evolution, from just a love team to something else. I don't know how to actually capture the right label for these two, but even so, the magic continues. Despite the uncertainty with these two, the fans choose to hold on and see where everything will bring them. And with each passing day, they seem to earn more and more fans, not only for their love team, but also for themselves individually.
I know lately, this love team has been doubted, back when Alden had continuous shows all over the country and eventually, in Japan. A lot questioned his sincerity in all the affectionate actions he showed to us the past few weeks. I guess we'll never know really what he is feeling, but I'd like to take him as he is. He's always been described as a sincere and generous person by his fellow artists, his friends and his family. He's this serious type of guy that almost everyone has been admiring. We have seen how he shifted from being that serious, stiff and not-so-open guy to a more loose, more confident and a happier Alden, who we love a lot more. For me, Maine contributed a lot to this change. Even though their meetings are very limited into several Saturdays, I am sure that each of them contributed to the change of the other. After all, AlDub isn't AlDub if not for Alden and Yaya Dub altogether. From what I remember, the biggest turning point for me is the moment he saw Maine after her performance, where they were blocked by a plywood. You could actually see how he was taking in every inch of her (he can't even smile fully because he was looking at her intently!), appreciating the girl who he used to see on screen and now is right in front of her and afterwards, how he got sooooooo frustrated when the plywood dropped and it took our hearts when he cried his heart out in a corner while Maine had tears on her face as well. After that, the second monthsary letter Alden gave to Maine and read in public. Right there and then, I knew something big has shifted. And that something bigger is about to come to the both of them. That is something we were able to prove when Alden sang God Gave Me You on national TV and cried while dedicating it to "Meng" -- Maine's nickname.
Let us not forget the three lolas especially Lola NiDora who contributed a lot to this phenomenon. Without her character, the thrill and the excitement wouldn't be this much. Without her, everything is different. I think all her objections gave a better fruit to not only the fans, but to both of them as well. The anticipation in their every little meeting is too intense. I really love how they were slowly leading the two together little by little, until finally they reached, we all reached, this point.
Today's event was too ecstatic. Through time we've seen what Eat Bulaga (EB) has to offer the fans. They do not disappoint with their endless plot twists. I thought I have seen the most that they can give, but I guess not until this point came. They have already wow-ed me when they set the PHL Arena as their venue for Tamang Panahon, but they wow-ed me better when I was able to watch more of what they could give the fans. I must say their writers are very good. More than that, we owe to them this tandem that we love so much. Without their experimentation, this would not have happened. Nothing would have happened. They were so good at leading us gradually to where we want to go.
I know some will say that I might be too positive since I am a fan, but I am only saying what I could see from my perspective. The moment Maine had to leave to go to Cebu and both of them cried I knew they were feeling each other's hardships -- their haters, people who challenge and question their love team or whatever they have. The chemistry is undeniable, but in the same way, the sparks when they communicate is also very evident. It's crazy how we all go kilig as a nation when all they do are write fan signs and exchange dubsmashes. It's weird, but the weirdness makes the people love them more. It's a unique relationship. It's like we are being teleported to an old-setting courting stage where suitors could not touch their love one, where lovers still write telegrams to each other, where lovers do not mind distance because what they feel says it all. Entirely, the setting was pretty simple and which is why we love it better. The simplicity and the nature that comes with all the events are simply astonishing. The emotions and actions come out so natural in them, as if we get to see not only Alden and Yaya Dub or Alden and Maine, but Richard and Maine in every occasion. Their love team made it possible for us to be just normal people who gets to see a budding romance with no pretensions and no coercion.
It would be a lie if I deny that I didn't cry in the episodes when they really had a hard time fighting for what they have. I almost thought someone is going to let go at some point, but no one did. And so are the fans who never stopped believing in the extraordinary, that at some point, we'll all reach Tamang Panahon altogether. When Lola NiDora said to Alden that, "kung mahina si Yaya maging malakas ka" I know something was up. Both of them was longing to be with each other but are both fighting their own battles, both having a hard time. Although there were haters, it's overwhelming how the fans held on with them to the point that the fans became AlDub's strength into holding on a little tighter, a little longer. I really loved how AlDub fans became more and more united every time and never hesitated to buy the tickets to help in constructing AlDub libraries. Indeed, a love team made out of love gets to spread better love to their followers.
AlDub has personally left me so many life lessons I get to carry with me everyday. This is why as much as I can, I try to go home as early as possible to be able to watch the KalyeSerye episode. Every episode is something to look forward to and every episode marks me, marks my life. Seriously, AlDub became my own love life for that past 99 days. Other than the daily kilig dose they get to give me, I get to take life more seriously. Life isn't a joke and there will be shortcomings that I will be encountering, but if I do not learn how to hold on for myself, who else will do so for me?
The undying love for Maine and Alden led us here today. We finally witnessed Tamang Panahon where there are no rules. The rules used to keep us longing for more, but today, seeing them just hugging each other and holding each other's hands make us so happy as if the beautiful things are happening in our very own lives. Their unusual proximity gave us so many heart attacks all at the same time. Looking at the joy their eyes speak brings us so much excitement to look forward what will happen next. EB didn't disappoint us again by giving us more of their firsts -- first hug, first holding hands, first dubsmash together side by side and of course, first dance. I know we all got hooked to the fact we just saw on national TV: where Maine is, Alden is... but what took me really is the fact that despite having no rules, the two of them retained their wholesomeness, which speaks a lot about their characters as persons. They did not break Lola's trust, nor their own families' trust. They tried so hard not to rush. They have waited for so long to reach this point. A little more getting to know and waiting wouldn't hurt, right? As of now I still could not believe what just happened a while ago. Everything looks like a fairy tale, everything is surreal in every aspect.
I'd like to think that fate brought them together after five years. Five years ago they have had a photo taken together, but weren't able to know each other's names. More than the KalyeSerye's Tamang Panahon, I'd like to think that this is also their Tamang Panahon after five long years of meeting unknowingly. It is also their right time to finally be able to just not know each other's names, but also each other's life. It is their right time to be in each other's lives. It's pretty weird how puzzle pieces fit together in their story. They have lots of tied knots even before they met each other, as if suggesting that fate has been working on their story ever since. For me, if they are not meant to be together, then why do they have to meet again five years later? Just to meet each other? I guess not. I know there's something more. I know they will not rush things because they were able to not do so for the past three months and a little more waiting will keep everything more worthwhile. Meeting five years ago and finally, being together today marked the new chapter of their lives. A chapter where each other is now included in the other's story. I know a new story with them is up. A reel one, I am sure, but could probably be a real one, too. I know someday, they'll get to a whole new point together. Staying true to Alden's words to Maine, "what's bound to happen will find its way."
Alden and Maine are right when a lot have changed. They have changed how we viewed relationships today. They have changed the standards of entertainment love teams. Despite the haters, what they feel right now keeps them going. Their worth continues to grow as more companies trust them with products -- six TVCs and counting -- and as they conquer the big screen and the primetime very soon. With numerous articles written about them, several magazine covers, awards and international recognition of them in a span of three months, this couple's force is so undeniable. It is as if they complement each other -- just the right fit. Indeed, God gave them each other to cherish and to conquer the world with. God gave them each other to soften the bitter hearts of haters. God gave them to each other to show to the world how getting to know a partner is very important before moving forward. God gave them to each other to prove that entertainment could coincide with intelligence and character.
Lastly, God gave them each other to change each other's life and start anew together.
because let us imagine: if it wasn't Alden who was there or if it wasn't Maine who was hired by EB, would things be the same? Surely not. Surely we will not be this crazy about a love team.
What's going to happen next? That we'd have to wait. I think the magic is just beginning today, because I am sure the whole world is so excited to know if the Alden and Maine could be together for real and for life. Tuloy ang forever, as they say!
To Alden and Maine: thank you for stealing our hearts, our attention, our interest away. Thank you for giving hope to those who refuse to think that happy endings could not happen. Thank you for giving us so many life lessons of how complicated life and relationships could be. Thank you for holding on. Thank you for putting smiles and worthy tears on our faces. Thank you for lightening our heavy hearts. Thank you for being strong and never being afraid to show who you guys really are. Thank you because you guys happened. God gave us the both of you.
p.s. they did not only redefined entertainment standards, but also the twitter records! Where else could you find a fandom with a golden heart who beats their own record every time?
p.p.s. I'm never a fan of love teams, NGAYON LANG. No joke.
p.p.s. for a more informal post, you can check out the other post of mine!! http://cassgacott.blogspot.com/2015/10/tamang-panahon-feels-havent-left-yet.html
