14 short-lived TV pairings

JM De Guzman and Lauren Young in Mula sa Puso

Lauren Young and JM de Guzman were both given a big break on television when ABS-CBN decided to cast them in the lead roles of Mula sa Puso's 2011 remake.

In this modern adaptation of the 1997 classic soap, Lauren and JM took on the roles of Claudine Barretto and Rico Yan, respectively.

However, the show was only a mild hit, and ran for 20 weeks at the early prime-time slot of the network.

Three months after the series ended, in November 2011, JM was given a title role in the daytime series Angelito: Batang Ama, where he was paired with Charee Pineda.

Lauren, on the other hand, did not have a follow-up show with the network. Eventually, she transfer to GMA-7 in 2012.

Currently, JM is making a comeback on television via Precious Hearts Romances: Araw Gabi. Meanwhile, Lauren will be seen in GMA-7's upcoming series Contessa, where she will play a kontrabida role.

Bea Alonzo and Dennis Trillo in K2BU

When ABS-CBN launched the youth-oriented series K2BU in 2002, the network decided to tap a fresh batch of teen actors and actresses who will join former child star Shaina Magdayao.

One of them was Bea Alonzo, who was paired with then-newbie Dennis Trillo.

However, their love team did not flourish since the project only ran for eight months.

At the same time, Bea and John Lloyd Cruz's love team in the prime-time series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay was already gaining a big following at that time.

Eventually, Dennis transferred to GMA-7 and is now one of their most-prized actors.

Meanwhile, Bea remained as one of ABS-CBN's top leading ladies.

Kim Delos Santos and Dingdong Dantes in TGIS

In 1997, GMA-7 and VIVA tested the tandem of Kim delos Santos and Dingdong Dantes in the second batch of TGIS.

This is despite the two of them being paired with different actors already in the show Anna Karenina. Kim was paired with Dino, while Dingdong already formed a love team with Antoinette.

Back then, Dino was not yet part of the cast, while Antoinette served as Kim and Dingdong's third wheel.

In the latter part of TGIS, Dino joined the cast to team up with Kim while Dingdong and Antoinette's story flourished in the show.

Jessy Mendiola and Coco Martin in Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo

In 2010, Jessy Mendiola did a guest appearance in ABS-CBN's drama series Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo as the love interest of Coco Martin.

Jessy's stint was only supposed to run for one week, but their team-up was able to gain a following.

However, during the latter part of the series, Jessy was pulled out from the show since she had to do Gimik 2010.

Jessy and Coco did not work together anymore as a love team after the show.

Alex Gonzaga and Xian Lim in Your Song: My Only Hope

Viewers took notice when Alex Gonzaga was paired with the then-newbie Xian Lim in the final episode of ABS-CBN's 2008 adaptation of My Girl, starring Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson.

Xian had a cameo appearance as a photographer in the last episode. It was shown that Alex's character got attracted to him.

At the same night of My Girl's last episode, ABS-CBN announced that the cast of the show will star again in another series, Your Song: My Only Hope.

The series served as Xian's acting debut where he played Gerald's brother and the boyfriend of Alex.

However, Alex and Xian's characters did not end up together since the latter's character got killed in the story.

After the show, Alex transferred to TV5 while Xian was given supporting roles in teleseryes.

Eventually, Xian would be paired to his My Only Hope co-star Kim.

Kim and Xian's love team earned their own fanbase and starred in several teleseryes and movies.

Alex, on the other hand, top-billed several teleseryes in TV5 before she returned to ABS-CBN in 2013.

Maja Salvador and John Prats in It Might Be You

In 2003, John Prats's love team with Heart Evangelista ended when they were given different teleseryes.

The network included John in the John Lloyd Cruz-Bea Alonzo starrer It Might Be You.

Maja Salvador, then a newbie actress, was paired with John in the project.

However, their team-up did not flourish when both stars were given separate projects after the series.

In fact, Maja left the show before it ended since she had to start taping for the horror teen series Spirits in 2005.

On the other hand, John focused on hosting ASAP, where he would also showcase his dancing skills.

Maja and John reunited later, not as a love team, but as part of ASAP's dance group "Ultimate Dance Four" with Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz.

In 2016, Maja and John worked again in Coco Martin's prime-time series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, but not as a love team.

Eventually, Maja left the action-drama series and top-billed the successful series Wildflower, while John remained in the cast of FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

Jolina Magdangal and James Blanco in Narito Ang Puso Ko

When Jolina Magdangal transferred to GMA-7 in 2002, she was added in the second season of Kahit Kailan before she was given her own teleserye.

In this TV show, she was paired with James Blanco, who was already part of the original cast.

Their team-up was accepted by the audience and increased the ratings of the show.

Due to their popularity, the two were pulled out from the show after Kahit Kailan's second season to start the prime-time series Narito Ang Puso Ko.

The show enjoyed high ratings, but their love story had a bittersweet ending since James's character was killed in the final episode.

After Narito Ang Puso Ko, James and Jolina were already given separate projects by the Kapuso network.

Jolina focused on hosting and took a while before doing a teleserye again, while James did third wheel roles in shows such as Ikaw Sa Puso Ko (2004) and Now and Forever: Ganti (2005).

At present, James and Jolina have not yet worked again for a TV show.

Zanjoe Marudo and Megan Young in Precious Hearts Romances: Hiyas

Zanjoe Marudo and Megan Young were first paired in the fantasy series Kokey in 2007, where they played supporting roles.

However, the team-up was cut short since Megan entered Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition in the same year.

In 2011, Zanjoe and Megan would reunite again in Precious Hearts Romances presents Hiyas.

In the show, Zanjoe played Silang, a fierce warrior from an ethnic group who fell in love with a rich woman Sapphire, portrayed by Megan.

However, the project experienced delays, and was almost shelved, until ABS-CBN decided to finally air it in 2012.

Despite airing for only seven weeks, as the show was already canned, PHR: Hiyas enjoyed high ratings throughout its run.

Unfortunately, Zanjoe and Megan did not have a follow-up project anymore since they focused on different projects.

Zanjoe worked with different leading ladies in his next shows, while Megan joined and won Miss World 2013.

After her reign, Megan already transferred to GMA-7.

Louise delos Reyes and Derrick Monasterio in Tween Hearts

In 2010, GMA-7 decided to include newbies Louise delos Reyes and Derrick Monasterio in the network's youth-oriented series Tween Hearts, along with other child stars.

Louise and Derrick were paired with each other back then.

However, in January 2011, Louise was pulled out of Tween Hearts as she was given her own teleserye titled Alakdana.

In that show, she was entangled in a love triangle with Alden Richards and Paulo Avelino.

Meanwhile, Derrick remained in Tween Hearts and was paired with Kylie Padilla, who was added to the cast after Louise left the show.

Joyce Ching and Enzo Pineda in Because of You

In 2015, Joyce Ching and Enzo Pineda worked as a love team in the prime-time series Because of You, starring Carla Abellana and Gabby Concepcion.

However, in the middle of the series, Joyce's perennial on-screen partner Kristoffer Martin entered the series, and Joyce and Enzo's love team did not push through.

After the show, Joyce and Kristoffer were paired again in their next projects, while Enzo transferred to ABS-CBN.

Sam Concepcion and Coleen Garcia in Good Vibes

In 2011, ABS-CBN decided to pair Sam Concepcion with the then-newbie Coleen Garcia in the youth-oriented series Good Vibes.

Back then, Coleen was popular for playing Matina in a commercial of a powder drink brand.

After the show's successful 20-week run, Sam and Coleen were not paired in a project again.

Sam would do teleseryes occasionally, while Coleen focused on hosting It's Showtime for four years until she was given mature roles in teleseryes.

Sam Concepcion and Devon Seron in Angelito: Batang Ama

After Sam did Good Vibes with Coleen, he was included in the 2011 afternoon series Angelito: Batang Ama, starring JM De Guzman and Charee Pineda.

In this show, he was paired for the first time with Devon Seron, who in turn was paired with James Reid in Good Vibes.

The two would later on join the sequel as a love team in Angelito: Bagong Yugto in 2012.

After the sequel, Sam and Devon's love team was not seen anymore in the shows of the Kapamilya network.

Devon would do supporting roles in the network's shows, while Sam took a break from doing teleseryes until 2014.

Yasmien Kurdi and Dion Ignacio in Sine Novela: Saan Darating Ang Umaga

After Yasmien Kurdi's successful teleseryes with on-screen partner JC De Vera, GMA-7 decided to pair her with another actor her 2008 TV project.

The project was the remake of the 1983 movie Saan Darating Ang Umaga, and would bring back Yasmien to the afternoon block, the timeslot where she carved her name as an actress.

Yasmien's new leading man for the show was her Starstruck batchmate Dion Ignacio.

Just like Yasmien's previous Sine Novela shows, Saan Darating Ang Umaga also earned high ratings.

However, her team-up with Dion was not given a follow-up project.

Dion was given supporting roles in his next shows, while Yasmien tried doing kontrabida roles.

Eventually, Dion would do both leading man and third wheel roles in his projects.

Yasmien, on the other hand, took a short break from show business until 2013, when she decided to have her own family.

When she returned to acting, Yasmien played mother roles in the shows she top-billed in the afternoon slot.

Maxene Magalona and Jake Cuenca in Hanggang Kailan

In 2004, GMA-7 included Maxene Magalona and Jake Cuenca in the network's drama series Hanggang Kailan.

Their characters were cousins who tried to stop their romantic feelings for each other because of their blood relation.

This worsened the war between their mothers Alice Dixson and Lorna Tolentino.

It was later found out that Maxene is only an adopted daughter of Alice's character.

As the series was short-lived, so was Maxene and Jake's team-up.

After the show, Maxene was offered to be the leading lady in Hanggang Kailan's replacement series Mulawin. However, she turned it down to focus on her studies.

Meanwhile, Jake was given several third wheel roles until he transferred to ABS-CBN in 2007.

After Jake's transfer, Maxene finally accepted leading lady roles in GMA.

Both actors are now with ABS-CBN, though they have yet to work with each other again.