REAL-LIFE ROMANCE. Even before Darna hit the boob tube on April 11, 2005, its main star, Angel Locsin, was already the sweetheart of Oyo Sotto, an actor not tied to any TV network.

However, the couple made an effort not to be seen in public together. Save for Oyo's occasional visits on the set of Darna, which was generally controlled territory, Oyo was not seen around GMA-7's latest darling.

A rare exception was Angel's birthday celebration at the Zirkoh Bar in Quezon City, 11 days after Darna's TV pilot. That night, it was obvious to everyone that the couple were happy in each other's company. Oyo was actually persuaded to sing "I'll Be" for Angel.

Before Darna's final episode aired last November (2005), we asked Angel how she and Oyo were getting along.

She said: "Okey naman po, kami pa rin. Happy pa rin. Kaya lang po, hindi na namin pinagmamakaingay, kasi po, respeto na lang po sa GMA [her network]. Kasi po, sa ngayon, iba ang ka-love team ko sa Darna and siya rin naman po me ibang ka-partner."

During the Darna farewell party last November, Angel finally felt it was all right to have Oyo escort her to the party. She was the perfect date. She never left his side, except when she needed to appear on stage.

(YES! February 2006 issue)

MARRIED COUPLE? Last June (2005), this couple rocked showbizlandia. Kristine Hermosa, who had never admitted to dating hunk Diether Ocampo, appeared at a Makati Regional Trial Court to file for the annulment of their marriage!

Turns out, the couple had obtained a marriage certificate from the mayor of Jaen, Nueva Ecija, as early as September 2004.

Kristine, in her June 17, 2005, petition, now brought up technical issues plaguing her marriage. First, the documents she held were supposedly only a copy of an application for a marriage license and four copies of a marriage certificate. Second, the date September 21, 2005 marked there was simply added at a later date.

An ABS-CBN source, asked to shed light on the matter, says she is clueless.

"Ang alam ko lang, the petition is to nullify," she says vaguely. "It's para maayos ang mga bagay-bagay, like sa mga endorsements. Hindi ko lang alam kung pinapa-nullify nila para makapagsimula ulit sila nang maayos o para tuluyan ng maghiwalay."

(YES! February 2006 issue)

PUPPY LOVE. This lovely pair is Gabriel Valenciano and Nikki Gil. Gab, the second son of Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan, hosts and dances for Club TV on ABC-5, while Nikki is the girl in the Coca-Cola TV commercial who's seen digging into a bottomless bag for Coke bottles to give to strangers. Nikki has since given singing and hosting a try, and is now a Studio 23 VJ. Nikki, 18, and Gab, 17, are reported to be steady dates for around five months now.

These shots of the new couple, taken at the Star Awards (Quezon City, December 4, 2005), show us once again the delightful romance of young love.

(YES! February 2006 issue)

FLING? After Keempee de Leon's courtship of Cristine Reyes, younger sister of Ara Mina whom he also once courted, turned sour, everyone thought Keempee would be heartbroken.

Well, apparently not.

Keempee has found a new inspiration in Pauleen Luna, who crossed over from ABS-CBN and is now the newest member of the Eat Bulaga gang.

When Pauleen, 17, got her fingers cut during an Etheria fight scene, it was Keempee, 26, who came rushing to the hospital.

"Nagbantay pa," says our source who is close to both of them. "Tapos, sa backstage ng Bulaga, nakita ko, pinaghihimay ni Keempee ng ulam [beef] si Pauleen kasi nga nakabenda ang kamay. O, di ba, sweet?"

The photo was taken during Eat Bulaga producer Malou Choa-Fagar's birthday party at Imperial Café (Quezon City, November 16, 2005).

(YES! February 2006 issue)

ALMOST A COUPLE? Toni Gonzaga's transfer to ABS-CBN from GMA-7's Eat Bulaga has worked to the advantage for her most ardent suitor, Luis Manzano, an ABS-CBN talent. Toni, who once admitted to becoming self-conscious each time Luis pampered her with too much attention, says she is taking things slow where matters of the heart are concerned.

And it looks like the wacky and hyperactive MYX VJ Luis—who has found a foil in the reserved and ladylike Toni of Wazzup, Wazzup!'s fame—is willing to wait.

These shots were taken inside ABS-CBN, the home studio of Toni and Luis. "Magka-holding hands sila," swears the photographer. "Nagbitiw lang noong makitang kinukunan ko." Not that we blame them. Maybe they're not ready to tell the world that they're a couple, or maybe they just want to keep that their little secret.

(YES! February 2006 issue)

CONTROVERSIAL COUPLE. Alessandra de Rossi and Jeremy Marquez, who used to co-host the "Showbiz Hallouer" segment of the defunct S-Files, are rumored to be co-owners of each other's hearts as well.

But no amount of asking can move Alex, the pet name everyone calls Alessandra, into giving a straight answer.

"Jeremy? Sinong Jeremy? Di ko kilala 'yon, ah!" Alex jested when we saw her at the Etheria press conference (Pasig, December 2005).

"Wala. Wala kayong mapipiga sa akin tungkol diyan. Basta, wala."

The couple at the Golden Screen Awards held at Zirkoh Bar (Timog, Quezon City, November 2005). While waiting for their call as presenters, they decided to entertain themselves with a kid's game played with hands and fingers.

(YES! February 2006 issue)

INTERRACIAL DATING. Young lovers Sandara "Krung-Krung" Park and Joseph "Isaw Boy" Bitangcol have been going out for over a year now. Sandara—whose original love team partner was Star Circle Quest (SCQ) Grand Questor Hero Angeles—fought for her love for Joseph, who was himself paired with co-SCQ finalist, Michelle Madrigal.

Well, the Korean girl got what she wanted. Now, not only does she have Joseph as a sweetheart off  screen, she also has him as her partner onscreen. The couple, inseparable these days, have an upcoming movie under Star Cinema.

The couple ham it up for the camera at the ASAP Fanatic All Star studio in the ABS-CBNcomplex.

(YES! February 2006 issue)

COOL COUPLE. Bamboo guitarist Ira Cruz, said to have courted Iza Calzado unsuccessfully, and The Buzz Star Buzzer Phoemela Baranda, said to have dated Bernard Palanca, but to no serious consequence—are seen together pretty often nowadays. The most recent occasion was at the Bench Christmas party, where YES! took this photo (Makati, December, 2005).

YES! also spotted them cozying up backstage during Studio 23's MYX 5^th Anniversary Show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex last November 23, 2005. This much we can say: they're a handsome pair!

(YES! February 2006 issue)

CUTE PAIR. Singer and songwriter Giancarlo Magdangal has been going steady with Etheria mainstay Aiza Marquez, who was formerly linked to actor Danilo Barrios. The couple, spotted here at the Pringles Scene-It event (Makati, November 8, 2005) are celebrating their second Valentine's Day together this year.

"Sweet po 'yan," Aiza tells YES! about the boyfriend she met at a provincial road show. "Noong Valentine last year, dinala niya po ako sa Sonia's Garden sa Tagaytay."

(YES! February 2006 issue)

SILVER RING. Viva sexy star Maui Taylor, 23, and Bryan Revilla, 18, have been going steady for six months now. Maui has a silver ring to prove it, too. Bryan, whom Maui describes as "mature, malambing, and responsible," has already introduced her to his parents, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Lani Mercado.

Here they're seen at the Star Awards (Party Central, December, 2005), where their five-year age gap didn't seem to bother anybody—except maybe his parents? Or hers?

(YES! February 2006 issue)

REEL-AND-REAL-LIFE COUPLE. Joross Gamboa and Roxanne Guinoo, both finalists in ABS-CBN's 2004 Star Circle Quest, were paired with each other immediately following the finals. Indeed, Joross was interested in Roxanne.

But his initial attempts to make their partnership go beyond the screen did not succeed because Roxanne, who belongs to a conservative family, thought she was too young. Also, they were not sure that the playful Joross could be serious. These days, however, the two look like they are serious. Asked to confirm our suspicion, Joross's manager Jun Reyes says simply: "One year na yata sila."

(YES! February 2006 issue)