‘Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition’ alum Ralph De Leon has put an end to persistent rumors surrounding his relationship with fellow housemate AZ Martinez, clarifying that the two remain just “very good friends.”
Appearing on the show ‘Your Honor’ with co-finalist Will Ashley, Ralph directly addressed the “pa-fall” label and fan speculation about a possible romance between him and AZ. When asked by host Buboy Villar if he’d ever been called “pa-fall,” Ralph chuckled and admitted, “Yup,” before diving into the topic of his bond with AZ.
“Siyempre sa loob, close close din talaga kami ni AZ. ‘Yung totoo, genuine talaga ‘yung pinagsamahan namin doon,” Ralph shared.
But while fans swooned over their interactions and dubbed them the “RAZ” tandem, Ralph insisted that any romantic narrative was purely fan-made.
“And multiple times, nilulubog ko talaga ‘yung mga sinasabi ng mga tao na may anything romantic going on between us, na may sinabi si AZ na ganito, ganyan. Pero wala naman talaga eh, wala naman siya sinabi. ‘Yun nga, sobrang todo support lang talaga,” he emphasized.
Ralph also addressed criticisms that he had been leading AZ on, stating that his actions were often misinterpreted.
“Inaakala ng mga tao na sobrang mixed signals ko. Na parang close talaga kami. Na mini-misinterpret, or tine-take in a different light na mga tao yung mga ginagawa ko,” he explained.
He added that from the start—even before his eviction and eventual wildcard return—he made sure AZ knew where they stood.
“Minimake sure ko talaga na klaro yung kung anumang mayroon kami ni AZ, na friendship talaga ‘yon.”
The RAZ pairing, which quickly gained a fanbase inside and outside the ‘PBB’ house, was built on their undeniable chemistry and heartwarming interactions. From tipsy moments where they looked for each other, to their emotional reunion after Ralph’s dramatic comeback, the pair kept fans hooked with every exchange.
Their first selfie outside the house and a ‘Lasik’ dance trend TikTok video only fueled the “kilig,” even as both consistently described their relationship as platonic.
