For the first time, Imagine You And Me director Mike Tuviera revealed that it was Alden Richards who took good care of Maine Mendoza when she got sick while filming in Italy.
“My favorite moment was there was a time in the shoot na nagkasakit si Maine,” Mike related in the Imagine You And Me: The Journey TV Special aired in GMA, Saturday morning, July 9.
“She wasn't feeling well. So I had to delay the shoot. Nandun na yung crew, nandun na yung equipment, nandun na na yung extra, but we have to hold off kasi she wasn't feeling well.”
HOW ALDEN TOOK CARE OF MAINE. But what made the incident memorable, according to Mike, was the fact that Alden initiated to take care of Maine, who was staying at her hotel room to rest that day.
“Kasi we gave her medicine and wala siyang ganang kumain. So, dinalhan siya ni Alden ng soup. 'Tapos si Alden had to feed her kasi she wasn't feeling well at all.
“Tapos isa lang yung request niya. 'Kuwentuhan mo lang ako, Alden.' Sabi ni Alden, 'Ng ano? Magkasama tayo araw-araw. Lahat ng maikukuwento ko alam mo na.' 'Di bale basta kuwentuhan mo lang ako.' And that made her feel better.”
Apparently, Mike also witnessed how Alden happily looked after Maine's needs at the time.
The director of Imagine You And Me added, “So, Alden never left her the whole day.
“Hanggang ako umalis na ako, nagse-setup kami, inaayos namin yung mga change of plans, mga schedule.
“Si Alden inasikaso lang siya. Si Alden naglinis ng kuwarto niya. Naglinis ng mga gamit niya. Hanggang sa nakatulog si Maine inalagaan siya ni Alden the whole day.”
Photo: Alden Richards' Twitter
CLOSER THAN EVER. In the same TV special, Alden and Maine admitted that they have grown closer during their off-cam bonding moments in Italy.
“Nakapag-spend talaga kami ng time together. Nakakalabas kami... Normal na tao. Nakakapag-usap kami sa labas literally,” said Alden who was sitting beside Maine during the interview.
“Kasi parang--I am not saying na dito mahirap--but siyempre since marami nakaka-recognize, so maliit na maliit yung space for privacy dito.”
When asked to describe their closeness, Alden replied, “Malalim talaga.”
Photo: Maine Mendoza's Instagram
QUALITY TIME IN ITALY. Imagine You And Me's director Mike Tuviera also revealed how he discovered Alden and Maine's bonding sessions in between filming the movie.
“Every morning hinahanap namin sila kasi kailangang mag-makeup, kailangan mag-prepare, kailangan magsuot ng costume.
“There was one time we were in Menaggio already. We couldn't find Alden so nag-panic kami. Hindi namin alam kung saan siya pumunta. Hindi namin alam kung saan siya nag-breakfast.
“Tapos tatanungin sana namin si Maine. Paghanap namin kay Maine hindi rin namin siya makita, missing in action. It turns out nag-jogging yung dalawa.”
Jogging by the lake proved to be Maine and Alden's favorite pastime in Italy.
“So, nawawala silang dalawa...Yun pala palagi silang magkasama. They go out. They jog by the lake in the morning,” Mike added, smiling.
Photo: Screengrab from Eat Bulaga!'s Facebook