Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera's relationship on and off cam is simply one of the most-talked about issues in showbiz. Their great chemistry together emits a highly contagious mix that makes nearly everyone who is caught by it happily transfixed on them.

Alas, Dingdong and Marian's love team days are coming to a close as their primetime soap Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang will end this Friday, May 1.

Marian's new project Darna will have her flying for TV audiences, but it will never be the same without Dingdong by her side. "What now?" some may ask. Of course, the popularity of the Dingdong-Marian tandem has stuck to almost everyone for the past two years and the thought of watching a TV show with Marian and no Dingdong on it might be a big thing for most fans to adjust to.

In the noontime show SOP yesterday, April 26, an emotional Marian and Dingdong exchanged words of praise and thanks. Dingdong, who was fighting off his tears, said, "Gusto ko lang malaman ng lahat, lalo na ikaw, na sa lahat ng pinagdaanan natin...marami tayong buhay na touch at doon, hindi ko malilimutan 'yon. Higit sa lahat, gusto ko malaman mo na naging bahagi ka ng isa sa pinakaimportanteng nangyari sa buhay ko. Salamat sa lahat-lahat!"

Marian, who was also trying to control her tears and trying to focus her attention on the fans, said: "Sa two years na aming pagsasama parang hindi ako sanay na hindi ko siya ka-partner... At higit sa lahat, mahal ko siya [Dingdong]."

MARIAN AND DINGDONG "LOVE" EACH OTHER. After their "last" apperance on SOP as a love team, Dingdong and Marian guested live on Showbiz Central. Marian said that she loves Dingdong and we never got to hear Dingdong's reply to that. So Guanio and Rufa Mae Quinto asked what Dingdong has to say that everyone, including him, knows that Marian indeed loves him?

"Ako siyempre, ipinapakita ko 'yon sa mga gawain," said Dingdong. "Kumbaga, mahalaga ang salita, pero nevertheless, mahal ko din siya."

Does this mean that they're now boyfriend and girlfriend?

"Well," began Dingdong, "if you love each other at maganda ang ginagawa ninyo...pero no conclusions, e. I don't want to put a dot on anything na kung ano man ang meron kami. Kasi gusto ko mas significant ang bagay na 'yan pag tamang panahon na talaga. Sa ngayon, ine-enjoy namin ang isa't isa at wala namang masama kung nagmamahalan kami. Parang dati pa naman."

How about Marian, is there anything else that she would need from Dingdong before they can be called an item?

Marian said, "Yung sinabi ko kanina [sa SOP] at sinabi niya ngayon ay sapat na rin yun at maganda na rin siguro yung enjoy namin ang bawat isa. Hindi naman 'yan nakukuha sa mabilisan, e. Mas maganda siguro na mas nakikilala niya ako, nakikilala ko siya na walang pressure. Walang tension na, 'Bawal lumabas, bawal mag-text.' Mas maganda siguro na simple at mas maganda na masaya kami."

So is it okay if Dingdong goes out with another girl?

"Hindi!" exclaimed Marian.

How about Dingdong, is it okay if Marian goes out with other men?

Dingdong smiled and confidently said, "Pagalingan na lang kami."