MANILA, Philippines – What’s in store for AlDub outside Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye this 2016?
GMA Network is looking forward to do the first primetime teleserye for the AlDub love team of Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza.
“GMA 7 really wants to give Alden and Maine a soap,” said Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA senior assistant VP for Alternative Productions, in an interview early this week. “But di pa maka-commit sila Mr. Tuviera. The priority for now is Eat, Bulaga.”
Tony Tuviera is the big boss of APT Entertainment, manager of Maine’s career and a subsidiary of Tape, Inc., the producer of Eat Bulaga. Alden, on the other hand, is solely being managed by GMA Artist Center.
There’s no telling how long will the Kalyeserye run or if a soap can be done simultaneously with the noontime show segment. Maine already had a litmus test of sorts in teleserye acting when she guest-starred in Tape, Inc. and APT Entertainment’s daytime series Princess in the Palace.
Should the GMA teleserye push through soon or sooner than expected, expect a light-romantic drama, and word has it that it will be a Filipino remake of a widely-popularKoreanovela.
Lara said, “Something like the concept, something that fits them, but we still can’t do it or we can’t confirm it because Eat, Bulaga is still the priority.”
Their first starring film together is also in the pipeline. “There’s also a movie but we’re just waiting for material, we have to discuss it. But there’s a plan. Lahat ng ginagawa namin (in Artist Center for Alden) naka-connect sa APT,” said Lara.
A follow-up release to Alden’s Wish I May album under GMA Records, which turned double platinum last December, is tentatively set in May. “It was supposed to be this first quarter, this February, but obviously it can’t be done, but we’ll do the second album this year, around May.”
Lara also confirmed that there’s an album offer for Maine from GMA Records. “I know they’re working on it but no formal signing yet.”
2015 was marked with international exposure, with the likes of BBC and Reader’s Digest featuring the phenomenal tandem. For 2016, according to Lara, “we’re working out something — it’s not an interview — but yes, something international.”
Sought for a reaction on comments addressed to Alden’s management to ease up his workload amidst reports of Alden getting sick due to his relentless schedule, Lara said, “I think nasasabi nila yan because seven days a week siya nakikita (on TV) from Eat, Bulaga to Sunday Pinasaya. Gusto mo bang bawasan natin siya sa Eat, Bulaga, siempre sasabihin ng AlDub Nation na parang huwag kasi yun yung time nila ni Maine.”
She continued, “With Sunday Pinasaya, it came first before what happened in Eat, Bulaga. Actually, sandali lang talaga siya sa Eat, Bulaga. That was the plan. But since he was welcomed into the show, nakatulong naman siya sa show and nakatulong naman ang show sa kanya… he decided to stay. I think it’s (the reason people think he’s overworked) because they see him seven days a week. But what will you do, the show is six days a week.”
As for the regional and overseas commitments of Alden, who’s now in the Middle East for concerts in Dubai and Doha, Lara said, “His trips abroad have long been scheduled. As for regional shows, tatlong beses lang siya nag-regional last year, lahat lang na ma-magnify I guess. It’s not just him (among GMA Artist Center talents) who’s doing that but maybe because it’s him so it gets noticed. But now that he has no soap, maaga siya natatapos although every day siya nakikita sa mga ginagawa niya.”
Alden has also said in a previous interview that it was his decision to commit to “a lot of schedules because I’m a workaholic” and that he enjoys being busy. “Yes, he’s very hardworking,” Lara said.
Alden will release another album in May, while there’s an offer for Maine to record an album as well. —Photo from Eat, Bulaga!'s Facebook page
2015 proved to be such an eventful year as well for AlDub in terms of brand endorsements. From print, billboards to TV, the love team was all over. As of Dec. 15, 2015, Alden has four solo endorsements and 10 more as part of AlDub. In the Kantar 2015 media report furnished to The STAR, it was noted that from the 733 AlDub commercials aired in September 2015, the number leapt to 1,359 TVCs in November last year. (Figures for December 2015 are not available yet.) More endorsement deals are expected to come this 2016.
Meanwhile, Alden and Maine mourned the demise of beloved showbiz icon German “Kuya Germs” Moreno yesterday.
Maine tweeted: “Maraming salamat sa magagandang alaala at saya, Kuya Germs. You will always be remembered. May you rest in peace.” Alden, for his part, wrote: “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving, that’s Kuya Germs. Rest in peace, Tay.”
Alden and Maine received stars on the Philippine Walk of Fame, a project of Kuya Germs, at Eastwood last Dec. 1.