What moved me, and the rest of Manila’s populace, to engage in marathon conversations with friends over cappuccino and biscotti are the many showbiz romances that continue to wow us, because they are perfect examples that happily ever after sometimes does exist.

But alongside them, of course, are all the A-list romances that ended up and the shady side stories they spawned along the way.

The biggest A-list couple in the happy romances category is Coco Martin and Julia Montes. Come hell or high water, the two have weathered all the intrigues thrown at them.

Actor-director Coco, Rodel Nacancieno in real life, admitted in a television interview that he has been in a 12-year relationship with the lovely Montes. The age difference apparently does not matter. In fact, Coco’s digits give Montes that feeling of security, protection and a reliable and emotionally healthy kind of love. They are meant to be, indeed, and as Martin put it, “Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na 12 years na kami, pero pareho pa rin, gaya ng dati” (It feels so good that we’ve been 12 years together, but we remain the same).

Cristine Reyes and Marco Gumabao’s aspirational cougar and cub love story also brings hope and kilig to all.

First-rate actor Carlo Aquino plus good actress Charlie Dizon equals a relationship with no drama king and queen moments. What they have is a love that started with friendship and mutual attraction and respect for each other’s talent.

We also love the “you and me against the world” phase of Aljur Abrenica and AJ Ravel. After that ended, the lovebirds are deserving of their current bliss and whatever the future may bring to their coupling.

Love is lovelier the second time around, and living proof of that is Elise Joson and McCoy De Leon, who parted for a while and gave each other space to sort out their issues their personal issues. But communication lines remained open, pride was given no place and the forgiveness extended was sincere, so voila, the couple was back together again in no time at all. Reuniting with a partner has never been this kilig.

And finally, John Lloyd Cruz and the muse of his life, Isabel Santos. Cruz recently admitted on national television that he is the boyfriend of Santos, and with her presence in his life, the actor is back to believing in true love. Exchanging ‘I do’s’ with her is no longer a remote possibility.

Goodbye to all that

The messier the breakup, the best for all in terms of catharsis. We end up not only with heaps, but tons of drama and twisted side stories about the separations.

Kris Aquino and Mark Leviste: We still do not know if this “breakup” is indeed final, with Kris’s mercurial emotional shifts and Leviste’s seeming resolve to make things work all documented on social media for everyone to read and decipher.

Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez and Richard Gutierrez: The two being married, with kids and conjugal properties, the legal counsels of the two parties will certainly do their best to get the best deals for their respective clients. Adding more fire to the epic fail of the Gutierrez’s marital situation, the parents of both parties will, of course, defend and protect their respective children.

Kim Chiu and Xian Lim: A 12-year relationship gone kaput, with Lim deleting all his YouTube videos that had Chiu in them — a screamer of a breakup move. Chiu’s closeness and partnership with Paulo Avelino is now being shipped by many, but Kimberly Sue continues to put on a brave front and was even quoted that her relationship is on a “hanging” episode.

Herlene Budol, Rob Gomez and Bianca Manalo: A bizarre love triangle of starlets. Denials have been issued by all three parties, but this is a classic example of “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” because allegedly it was Gomez’s partner, the mother of his child, who was instrumental in the spread of his private messages

Andrea Brillantes and Ricci Rivero: A nasty split made all the more tawdry by the dirty laundry talk and Rivero’s indiscretion’s made public.

And the biggest heartbreaker of the year — Kathry Bernardo and Daniel Padilla: An 11-year relationship whose ending was mourned by the entire country. While both Bernardo and Padilla have written gracious breakup announcements, Andrea Brillantes continues to be dragged inot the picture and Padilla continues to get the worst kind of bashing and hating. Bernardo, on the other hand, has emerged as indeed a very good girl.

More tea this 2024? Of course! Showbiz and its lovely creatures truly make the world go round and spin like crazy!