In Chinese astrology, the Rat is known as a "flower romance," according to an article in eZine. That may mean an increase in romance and social life, on the positive side. But it may also bring more public love triangles, unexpected challenges in relationships and breakups for some.
In the Year of the Rat 2008, some of our favorite celebrity couples came to bitter endings; others had a "mutual agreement" to end their relationship and move on with their own lives.
Before we say goodbye to 2008, PEP recalls the celebrity couples who broke up this year.
Jennylyn Mercado and Patrick Garcia. As early as January 3, these lovebirds at the time gave fans the good news by confirming rumors about Jennylyn's pregnancy. She was reportedly six weeks pregnant with her and Patrick Garcia's first baby. That day, they went to Makati City Hall to wed civilly. Instead they were advised to better plan their marriage. (Click here to read related article ) ,
Just when the Chinese New Year Rat officially crept in (February), the young couple split. Jennylyn claimed in an interview that her boyfriend was not supportive of her pregnancy.
She said, "Kung kailan ko siya kailangan, saka siya nawala. Hindi ko kailangan ang financial support. Ang kailangan ko ay love, care, at emotional support. Wala akong makita sa kanya. Umiiwas siya. Kahit magkasama kami nung Valentine's day, wala naman kaming napag-uusapan."
While Jennylyn was very vocal about hating her son's father, he kept quiet. Patrick even went to the States, supposedly to stay away from negative issues and to continue his studies.
Although Patrick is back in Manila and wants to see his baby, Jennylyn stands firm on her decision to keep him away from Alex Jazz and "Out of my life."
Heart Evangelista and Jericho Rosales. Fans were surprised when young actress Heart Evangelista announced that her relationship with hunk actor Jericho Rosales was finished.
Even Jericho, who was in Malaysia, was shocked. In an interview upon his arrival in Manila, he told ABS-CBN news, "I myself, I'm confused, e. I heard nakipag-break siya sa akin on TV, e, so... On text, it wasn't clear."
Later on, the newly transferred Kapuso star Heart revealed that a third party was the real reason she broke up with her boyfriend of three years. On his part, Jericho believed, "Alam ko 'yong pinanggagalingan. Ang pinanggagalingan nun, yung mga sinasabi sa kanya na mga bagay, na mga kasinungalingan." (Click here to read related article )
Heart has apparently moved on from the breakup. She was seen with her new boyfriend Francisco Delgado in Boracay.
Meanwhile, Echo has focused on his acting career, which he had left temporarily for his passion in music. Aside from the recently concluded teleserye Kahit Isang Saglit, he was part of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Baler.
Roxanne Guinoo and Jake Cuenca. Although rumors about their split started late last year, both parties neither denied nor confirmed it. Roxanne and Jake usually said, "We're okay," every time showbiz reporters asked about their relationship.
Early this year, Roxanne finally admitted that her relationship with fellow Kapamilya star had already ended. She answered vaguely when The Buzz asked her about the real cause:
"Maraming dahilan din kasi madami rin naman 'yan, trabaho, yung personal thing namin. So, ngayon kumbaga talagang darating ka sa point na mapapagod ka, kailangan n'yo muna ng space para mag-mature kayong dalawa."
Afterwards, the public thought that everything was fine between the two former lovers. Until rumor spread that a "violent confrontation" happened between Jake and Roxanne. Many speculated that the alleged flame between Jake and another Kapamilya actress, Bea Alonzo, ignited the incident.
But the three parties involved in this "bugbugan issue" chose to remain silent. Bea said in an interview, "Wala akong alam, wala akong nakita, wala akong narinig." Si did Roxanne and Jake keep mum whenever they were asked by the entertainment media. (Click here to read related article )
Anne Curtis and Sam Milby. Even without publicly admitting the real score between them, fans of Anne Curtis and Sam Milby followed their sweet gestures with each other on and off camera. Some people even considered them a cute couple.
But things changed when the young actress broke into tears during her guest appearance in the September 5 episode of Boy and Kris. Anne told Kris, "Hindi kami. Hindi kami talaga. I can honestly say na hindi talaga. We were never together."
Since the couple never formally announced their romantic relationship, many were surprised when Anne appeared on The Buzz months later to say that she and Sam had broken up.
The reason, according to Anne: "He asked me to stop exclusively dating. Kailangan niya siguro i-concentrate ang entire relationshjp namin with God. Medyo mahirap pero I understand."
The following week, Sam explained in the same showbiz talk show, "I am working on my relationship with God. But I don't want to sound religious and self- righteous. You know, what I'm saying is, there are things about us individually that we need to work on as individuals. We can't help each other in that aspect."
In the same interview, Sam admitted that he wants to win back his former girlfriend. Maybe their followers could still hope that they return to other's arm.
Karylle and Dingdong Dantes. The end of the three-year relationship of Karylle and Dingdong Dantes could be one of the most notable events in showbiz in 2008. Many people thought that what they had was a strong relationship because they managed to keep it despite the success of Dingdong's team up with Marian Rivera.
After months of being the subject of blind items and rumors, these two young celebrities finally decided to tell the public about the end of their relationship. Following this were speculations about the real cause of their breakup—which includes, of course, the rumored relationship between Dingdong and Marian. (Click here to read related article )
In an exclusive interview with entertainment columnist Ricky Lo, Karylle refused to go into details about the breakup. She just said, "There were many reasons that can't be summed up in just one statement... It's only the two of us who know everything. People won't get the whole story."
Dingdong took on the same tone when he released an official statement about the issue. He pleaded with the public: "Hinihingi ko po ang inyong pang-unawa. Bigyan n'yo kami ng panahon. Please give us space and the privacy that we need to heal and to move on with the decision that has been made." (Click here to read related article )
As for the alleged third party in this relationship, Marian admitted through an official statement, "Naapektuhan na ako sa mga usap-usapan na ako ang dahilan ng breakup nina Dingdong at Karylle. Please lang po, huwag naman sanang gano'n."
She defended herself: "Masakit mapagbintangan, lalo na't hindi totoo. Sinasabi ko nang hayagan, wala po kaming serious relationship ni Dingdong. Ang meron kami ay isang magandang love team, isang magandang samahan, na salamat sa Diyos ay naging effective naman at tinanggap ng mga nanonood sa amin. Gusto ko pong alagaan at ipagpatuloy 'yan hangga't binibigyan kami ng pagkakataon."
After all these, it seemed that all the parties involved in this issue have slowly move on with their own careers. Karylle has found a new home in ABS-CBN, while Dingdong went on with his third TV project with Marian, Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang.
Pauleen Luna and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian. Just weeks after they celebrated their first year anniversary together, young actress Pauleen Luna and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian decided to split.
Entertainment columnist Abu Tilamzik reported that the reason they broke up was lack of time for each other.
Startalk asked her in an interview, "Ano ba ang madalas n'yong pagtalunan dati?" Pauleen answered, "Pagiging ano ko lang... siyempre may mga bratty mode ako and since busy siya, e, sobrang patient niya sa akin. Madalas akong nagiging reklamador. E, siya, hindi talaga ako pinapatulan." (Click here to read related article )
Like the other celebrity couples who ended their relationship, Pauleen and Mayor Gatchalian remained silent after she confirmed it.
Isabel Oli and Paolo Contis. Paolo Contis had another way of letting the public know the status of his relationship with girlfriend Isabel Oli. He confirmed the issue by changing his status from "in a relationship" to "single" in the social network site called Facebook. (Click here to read related article )
In an interview with Startalk, Paolo related that after the long time of trying to work things out, he and Isabel have mutually agreed to end their relationship through a text message. (Click here to read related article )
"Mahirap kaharap," Paolo said. "Mahirap talaga. Pinag-usapan namin. Pero eventually, when we decided, nag-text-an na lang kami. Nag-text back din naman siya. Mahaba-habang eksplanasyon din."
As to the cause of their split, Paolo requested, "Sa amin na lang 'yon. It's more on personal differences. We tried to work it out. She adjusted for me. I adjusted for her but... mahirap, e. Mahirap..."
In a separate interview, Isabel also refused to give details. She also believed that there was no third party involved. She simply said, "Siguro kung anuman ang nangyari, sa amin na lang po yun. Kasi since dati pa, private naman po kaming tao even before. Inamin lang talaga namin. Pero sa ngayon, sana sa amin na lang din po. Sana maintindihan na lang din po ng mga tao."
Dr. Vicki Belo and Dr. Hayden Kho. These celebrity doctors also hit the entertainment headline when Dr. Hayden Kho publicly admitted that he got involved with young actress Katrina Halili while he was in a relationship with Dr. Vicki Belo. (Click here to read related article )
Confirming rumors that he got hospitalized because of his recent breakup with Dr. Vicki, Dr. Hayden also confessed that he attempted to commit suicide. He said it was a self-imposed death penalty for his infidelity.
With the two female celebrities being dragged on this issue, Dr. Hayden said that only his affair with Katrina Halili was true. "Kay Katrina lang ang totoo," he confessed. "Nagkaroon kami ng affair ni Katrina, pero it was very, very, very short. It was more like fun, na parehas kaming ego lang [ang] naglalaro. Na wala talaga kaming emotional attachment." (Click here to read related article )
In a different interview, Katrina did not deny what Dr. Hayden has stated. In fact, she was honest enough to say, "Nagkamali ako. Siyempre tao lang naman po ako, di ba? At least, kaya nga nung nalaman kong nagkamali ako, matagal na akong lumayo at matagal ko nang pinagsisihan 'yon." (Click here to read related article )
After the admissions, the two parties separately asked for forgiveness—Hayden pleaded for forgiveness from Vicki; Katrina asked for the understanding of the public.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vicki Belo still has not given her side on the issue. She also stayed away from the press to avoid queries about the break up.
Other showbiz breakups were reported but the couples managed to work things out and reconcile—Sunshine Cruz and Cesar Montano, Jackie Manzano and Anjo Yllana, and Lovi Poe and Jolo Revilla.