MANILA, Philippines - “Totally single” is what Angel Locsin and Phil Younghusband’s statement T-shirts claim about their current status on the Century Tuna TVC. Many think the words are weak to preview the real score between the two. That’s why they can’t help but read between the lines as Angel and Phil refuse to label their on-cam and off-cam sweetness.
“It was part of the storyboard and the campaign,” says Angel about the T-shirt’s real message. “We — me as an actress and him (Phil) a football player — won’t do an ad that’s far from real life. Yes, of course, we’re dating. We’re open about it.”
“A lot of people want to know the terms,” adds Phil who is set to leave with the Azkals for a game in Kuwait. “And we are actually not sure what the terms are. But we know we are happy and we enjoy each other’s company. I think that’s all that matters.”
Angel and Phil’s relationship is not the regular girlfriend-and-boyfriend thing in which the couple is bound by a set of do’s and don’ts. There are no rules and restrictions to follow all the time and to bend from time to time.
“That’s why we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend,” says Angel. “We haven’t reached that stage yet. Honestly, we don’t know where we are (at in the hierarchy of relationships). We are tired of explaining to others that we are exclusively dating. We need to find a new term for it.”
“Yes, I’m exclusively dating Angel,” clears Phil. “I had a former girlfriend in England.”
Backtrack to February of this year and the “romance” between the Century Tuna endorsers started when Phil invited Angel through Twitter to be his date on Valentine’s Day. But Angel declined the invite because she had a prior commitment that day. Eventually, they had finally met. Recently, Angel was seen cheering for Phil during the match between Philippines and Sri Lanka which the Pinoy team won. Although their fondness for each other has become public, many question Angel and Phil’s intention for being in that “affair.” Some think it’s a publicity boost for the product they are endorsing.
“We are aware of such speculation,” says Angel. “We are not going to have a teleserye and he’s not doing a movie. So, what’s the point (in resorting to such gimmick)? I never even did that with my love teams.”
“It’s my decision at the end of the day,” adds Phil. “(What) I mean is, it is an endorsement and it’s part of work. It (somehow) promotes football as well. I’ve done other commercials with other people. I found out about the commercial maybe a month ago. I knew Angel was a Century Tuna endorser. But I didn’t know what the theme of the commercial was.”
It was the first time for Angel and Phil to work together in a commercial. According to Phil, he is “focused na focused with Angel around. She’s my lucky charm.” The two also agree that having Century Tuna as part of one’s diet is a step to achieve a healthy lifestyle and should be complemented with proper exercise and sleep. Century Tuna also helps one to have a strong heart, a healthy body and a powerful mind.
From the way Angel and Phil look at each other, it seems that people’s opinion of their friendship or romance doesn’t matter. What’s important is that “Right now, Angel knows how I feel,” shares Phil, and Angel wants “to cherish this moment” because it’s been a long while since she experienced that feeling.