Maine Mendoza back on TV in time for Alden Richards’ birthday

MANILA, Philippines — After a month of taking a break from show business, actress and TV host Maine Mendoza is back on noontime show “Eat Bulaga!” on January 1, in time for the birthday of her love team partner, Alden Richards, on January 2.

Since returning from a month-long vacation with her siblings in Florida, USA, Maine has appeared on “Eat Bulaga’s Juan for All, All for Juan” segment. She was then jokingly asked by one of the show’s host, Sen. Tito Sotto, if she still knows how to speak Filipino after the trip.

On Twitter, the hashtags “WelcomeBack MAINE” and “AldenRichardsAt26” became among the top-trending on January 1 and 2, signaling that fans of Alden and Maine’s AlDub love team have been eagerly waiting for the couple’s 2018 reunion.

In a recent interview with the press, Alden confirmed that he and Maine are doing a new movie, dispelling rumors that he and Maine are not in good terms and that AlDub will be abolished.

In his Twitter account, Alden told fans that he will entertain them in a theme park as his 26th anniversary treat. He, however, has not revealed how he and Maine would celebrate his birthday, though he has told the press in an interview last December that he will have a birthday special on “Eat Bulaga!”

A new beginning...please read the bible everyday. #2018 pic.twitter.com/ovUVIhrJI8

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— Alden Richards (@aldenrichards02) January 1, 2018

It can be recalled that Maine took a showbiz hiatus shortly after she posted an open letter to her fans on Twitter. In a previous interview with Pilipino Star Ngayon, AlDub's "Eat Bulaga!" co-host Vic Sotto clarified that Maine was on vacation to spend Christmas and New Year in the United States and she was not suspended from the show because of the open letter.

READ: ‘I feel like living in a box’: Maine Mendoza asks fans for freedom

While some fans called Maine “selfish” for the letter, she has been praised by other celebrities for the move. Stars like Ai Ai delas Alas, Christine Bersola-Babao, Gabbi Garcia and even Vice Ganda of "It's Showtime!" called Maine “brave” for posting the lengthy letter.

Since the letter, among Maine’s New Year’s resolutions is to become even braver this 2018. In her latest Instagram post, she narrated how she enjoyed skydiving in Miami and among the things in her 2018 bucket list is to skydive alone.

“Funny thing, I almost cried while sitting inside the aircraft– incredibly nervous and happy– because DAMN I cannot believe I am actually doing this!” she exclaimed.

Will this New Year spark a new start for AlDub or will they finally part ways?

 

I have always wondered how it would feel to fly. How do birds feel when they soar through the sky. How it feels to see everything from up above. I was fortunate enough to experience this in the magic city— Miami. Funny thing, I almost cried while sitting inside the aircraft– incredibly nervous and happy– because DAMN I cannot believe I am actually doing this! (There is nothing more nerve-racking than the anticipation; from signing the waiver to the plane ride up; and when they open that motherfriggin door mid-flight! Jusko ang puso ko!) But when we jumped off, I felt nothing but absolute bliss. For the most part, it felt unreal to me. It was breathtaking– literally, too. It was amazing. Best part is I didn’t pee my shorts! Seriously though, I cannot believe I actually did it; I took the ultimate plunge! I was so freakin scared but still I made it alive. Lol! Next on my bucket list is to do it alone. (Charot, semi-not charot!) It made me realize most of the things worth doing starts with being nervous or terrified. You just gotta take the leap and make it happen. You might just be amazed at what you could achieve and how far your jump can take you ONLY if you take the chance. Sabi nga sa Nike, “just do it”! Some things are always worth a try. At the end of the day, chances are you'll be thanking yourself for taking the risk because it made you happy... or at least alive. I hope we all get to experience new things and collect wonderful memories this 2018! Happy New Year, everybody! 

A post shared by Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) on

Dec 31, 2017 at 8:41am PST