On December 3, Mega Star Sharon Cuneta and Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards voiced their thoughts about love teams.
During the media conference for their Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 movie Family of Two, which LionhearTV attended, Richards first acknowledged how the love team concept is a part of Filipino culture, especially in the Philippine Showbiz industry.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with being part of a love team. The Filipino culture, I think we have to respect that. Mayroon po kasing mga nagco-comment na nakikita natin na parang nilu-look down nila ‘yung pagiging part ng love team. And I don’t– it’s not, masakit ‘yun in our part.”
He highlighted how it benefited his career and urged naysayers to get a ‘reality check.’
“Baka kailangan lang mag-reality check tayo kung saan ba tayo nag-start. And I think that has [been a ]contributing factor in our career and our success na parang no one has the right to look down on that.”
Aside from that, he also described love teams as a platform for launching new stars.
“So, being part of a love team is our cultural belief already, and doon rin kasi nagre-revolve ang Philippine Showbiz industry. But right now, since we are transitioning with our content, parang, of course, nandoon pa rin siya. It is considered as a launching platform for new actors and actresses.”
As for Cuneta, she agreed with Richards, adding how love teams have become a part of the Filipino culture and identity.
“Exactly the same, and some people are saying na Filipino lang naman ang may ganyan eh, Filipino lang naman ang may love team. For me, ‘How can you say that in that tone?’ For me, you should [be saying,] ‘it is part of our culture and identity’– since Rogelio dela Rosa and Carmen Rosales, you know, Luis Gonzales, and Tita Gloria Romero, Nida Blanca, Tito Nestor David.”
She also discussed her history of working in love teams, of which three became a ‘reel-to-real’ relationship.
Cuneta also acknowledged how Richards appreciated being a part of a love team in his career while addressing stars who felt disheartened with having an on-screen pairing.
She noted how on-screen pairings add to the careers of young actors and actresses.
“I’ve had no problem transitioning into solos, but without the success that I garnered with a ka-love team to begin with, paano kaya ako nag-umpisa, nakakadagdag sayo, hindi nakakabawas.”
She cited how her and Richards’ experiences in their previous pairings helped them establish their careers.
After that, she urged Filipinos to embrace and accept the culture of love teams.
“That is unique to our culture–[and] we should accept [it] and embrace it. Cause like what I said, like Carmen Rosales, since its started, parte na ng culture natin ‘yan. Ano ba naman ‘yung pakiligin mo ‘yung audience na nagdre-dream sila na mag-end up sila together. There’s nothing wrong with that because our business is a business of fantasy. We make dreams–we make magic on screen.”
Recently, a deluge of breakups from on-screen and off-screen love teams and couples shocked Filipinos. These include Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla (KathNiel) and Kim Chiu-Xian Lim (KimXi).
These breakups fueled the sentiments of some Filipino fans and artists about the concept of love teams.
