THEY started as a split-screen couple in 2015.
Yesterday, Kapuso actors Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, known as AlDub in the Kalye-serye of the popular noontime show “Eat Bulaga” on GMA 7, exchanged “I do’s” to cheering fans at the Christ The King Church in Quezon City.
As Richards and Mendoza were about to kiss each other, Lola Nidora, played by Wally Bayola, screamed “No!” and passed out.
There was a commercial interruption. When the program resumed, Mendoza and Richards were seen kissing each other and hugged. The wedding reception was not televised anymore.
At the height of the wedding ceremony at 2 p.m., the televised event got more than 7 million tweets and trended worldwide. The final results of the number of tweets will be released today.
Richards who wore a dirty white Barong Tagalog walked down the aisle escorted by his grandmother Lola Babah, played by Ai-Ai delas Alas. Mendoza wore a gown by Rosa Clara, Barcelona’s famous bridal designer. Premier stylist Liz Uy helped her picked the white wedding gown.
Moments after Kuh Ledesma sang “When I Fall In Love,” Mendoza walked the down the aisle and escorted by her father Dodong (Vic Sotto) and Lola Nidora.
Fans of AlDub, who are watching the wedding in the studio of the noontime show, cheered as soon as Richards and Mendoza reunited in front of the altar.
Wedding vows
In his wedding vow, Richard told Mendoza: “Maine noong una kitang nakita sa TV, kasama si Lola Nidora, unang nakita ko kung gaano ka kasungit, lagi kang nakasimangot. Pinapanood kita, iniisip ko kung ano ang gagawin mo pagnakita mo ko;”
“Kaya ang laki na lang ng tuwa ko nung ngumiti ka sa akin with matching pa-Bebe wave pa. Kahit madalas kang nagwa-wacky face kapag nagda-dubsmash, gandang ganda pa rin ako sa’yo;’’
“Mula nun, nagkagusto na ako sayo. May humadlang sa atin, hindi ako sumuko dahil alam ko tayong dalawa para sa isa’t isa. At ipinapangako ko, na sa bawa’t paggising mo, hanggang sa pagtulog mo, hahawakan ko ang mga kamay mo, yayakapin ko ang puso mo;”
“Gusto kong malaman mo Maine, na nagpasalamat ako dahil nakilala kita. At simula sa araw na ito, pinapangako ko sa’yo, na sa lahat ng mangyayari sa buhay mo na kasama ako, sisiguraduhin ko na yun ang mga pinaka-magagandang pangyayari sa buhay nating dalawa.”
Mendoza told Richards in her wedding vow: “Alden, hindi ko makakalimutan sa split-screen nagsimula ang lahat. Nag ‘Twerk It Like Miley’ ka pa nun. Akala ko nga hindi mo ako papansinin kasi sino ba naman ako di ba isang ordinaryong babae lang naman;”
“Pero ngumiti ka. Tapos nakita ko yung dimples mo. Syempre kinilig ako. Lalo kang gumwapo sa paningin ko. Mula noon hinintay ko ang araw na tayo’y magkikita at magkakilala;”
“Alam mo tumatalon ang puso ko ngayon. Gusto mong makita? Mas marami ang oras at araw kitang makakasama. At sa tutoo lang, wala na talaga akong mahihiling pa;”
“Salamat Alden dahil tinuruan mo akong magmahal ng wagas at walang takot. Salamat at ipinaglaban mo ako sa mga mahal natin. Pinaglaban mo ang pagmamahal mo sa akin;”
“Asahan mong ipaglalaban ko rin ang pagmamahal ko para sayo hanggang sa dulo. Pangakong aalagaan kita hanggang tayo’y tumanda. Pangakong hindi kita papabayaan. Pangakong lagi kitang sasamahan. Pangakong hinding-hindi kita iiwan.
Mamahalin kita ng buong buo. Mamahalin kita ng walang kapantay habang buhay.”
Principal sponsors in the wedding are actors Helen Gamboa-Sotto, Joey de Leon, Irma Adlawan, GMA News anchor Mike Enriquez, Margot Torres and Elmer Villasanta.
Richard’s best man is actor Rodjun Cruz while Mendoza’s bridesmaid is her sister Coleen.
Acting as groomsmen are EB’s BAEs Tommy Penaflor, Joel Palencia, Kim Last and Jon Timmons while the bridesmaids are Janicka Mendoza, Janeeva Verceles and Katrina Nicolas, real-life friends of Mendoza
Secondary sponsors are Jake Ejercito and Aicelle Santos (cord), Kenneth Medrano and Toni Aquino (veil) and Miggy Tolentino and Taki Saito (candle).
Completing the entourage are Baeby Baste, ring bearer; Samsam Arumpac, Bible bearer; Sandro Sotto, coin bearer; and Ryzza Mae Dizon, Scarlet Mago and Olivia Mago, flower girls.
After 59 weeks and 349 episodes, the phenomenal “kalye-serye” portion of noontime show “Eat Bulaga” on GMA 7 bid goodbye to its fans on September 3. Few days later, it returned as it ushered in AlDub’s engagement.
In one of the most-talked about rivalries on television, the kalye-serye became a social media sensation when it figured in a twitter war with a rival noontime program.
On Sept. 26, 2015, AlDub reigned supreme when they smashed twitter records against “It’s Showtime” that featured the four love teams of ABS-CBN who appeared in the sixth anniversary celebration of the Kapamilya show at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
That episode which showed the first “akyat-ligaw” of Richards to Mendoza broke new record with 25.6 million tweets.
The hashtag #AlDubEBforLOVE did not only break record but it doubled the previous record held by #ALDUBMostAwaitedDate with 12.1 million tweets posted on Sept. 19, 2015 in an episode that featured the first date of Richards and Mendoza.
On October 24, 2015 the screen sweethearts held a benefit show that would help build libraries nationwide at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Dubbed “Sa Tamang Panahon,” the noontime show raised P14 million in ticket sales for the library program.
AlDub also became one of the most-sought endorsers in the country. They debuted in a blockbuster film called “My Bebe Love,” an entry to the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.