Photos: Star Magic Ball couples share 'kilig' moments on red carpet

MANILA, Philippines — The 11th Star Magic Ball last Saturday night at the Makati Shangri-La was not just a party, it was a gathering of some of the country’s hottest on-and-off-screen couples.

Romance filled the air not only due to event stylist Robert Blancaflor’s elegant mixup of flowers, candles and chandeliers, but also because the following pairs showed genuine sweetness and shared their super “kilig” stories on the red carpet.

As event host Tim Yap quipped, "Couples make each other more beautiful!"

'Best dressed' couple: KissMarc

KissMarc

Actress and former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Kisses Delavin had been looking forward for her  first Star Magic Ball because as she told reporters: “It’s one of the most glamorous nights of the year. I just want to make my mama and papa proud!”

She could not believe that she was already at the same ball as Kim Chiu, whom she began admiring as a child. In fact, she said, one of her most prized possessions is Kim’s autograph, which she got when she was about 6 years old.

When Kisses’ love team partner and fellow PBB housemate, Marco Gallo, asked her to go with him to the ball, she told herself, “I’m going to give Marco a chance.”

“I’m so flattered na tinanggap n’ya ‘yung request ko,” said Gallo. “I’m going to take care of her and the goal is to make her happy at the end of the night.”

The two, indeed, went happy as they were hailed the Best Dressed Couple this year.

JoshLia

JoshLia

“Indescribable! It’s so hard to describe a feeling. I was very overwhelmed. It felt like a dream!” Julia Barretto said of Joshua Garcia’s proposal for her.

With help from fans, Joshua arranged an entire choir to serenade Julia at her garden.

“I guess, it’s every girl’s dream to experience something like that. So I’m lucky that he’s so romantic and he’s an old soul. Chivalry isn’t dead after all!”

When Joshua was asked how does she look, he said: “Perfect!”

“Sexy! Pinaghirapan n’ya talaga ‘yun!”

Julia took home the "Pond’s Belle of the Ball award."

MayWard

MayWard

PBB Big Winner Maymay Entrata could not believe that she now had the chance to enter one of showbiz’s most exclusive parties.

“Sobrang blessed. Hindi ako makapaniwala. ‘Yung nandito pa lang ako, blessed na ko, ‘yung pinakasusubaybayan pa, ay, super blessed na talaga!” enthused the star, who was gorgeous in a silvery white Mark Bumgarner.

Edward only had one goal for the night: “I want to make it memorable for her as much as possible!”

KathNiel

KathNiel

After days of sleepless nights for shooting fight scenes in “La Luna Sangre,” Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were happy they were able to relax and catch up with friends at the ball.

“Maganda ang damit! Kitang kita n’yo naman!” Daniel said of Kathryn’s Patricia Santos gown.

He was wearing a purple suit, when the theme was black and white, so when asked by Philstar.com why he went beyond the theme, he said with a loud laugh: “Meron ba? Sorry, ‘di ko alam!”

Kath, nonetheless, liked what Daniel wore. “He’s unique, hip, and handsome as usual!”

Later in the evening, Kath was awarded the "Pond’s Brightest Star of the Night" award.

KimXi

KimXi

According to Kim Chiu, she loves going with Xian to the because he is caring and a good gentleman. Xian, in turn, says he loves going with Kim because she is fun to be with.

Xian allegedly started the trend for grand proposals, but this year, he now just casually asked her “to let the younger ones shine.”

Kim clarified in an interview with Philstar.com that she and Xian did not plan to release their albums before the ball within days from each other.

McLisse

McLisse

It was McCoy de Leon’s third year at Star Magic Ball with Elisse Joson, though this was the seventh ball for Elisse.

“Beterano na po ‘to!” McCoy teased Elisse.

Though McCoy is always perceived as a comic, Elisse guaranteed that McCoy is really romantic, as she experienced in his date proposal.

“McCoy po, at first, I wasn’t expecting na magkakaroon pa ng formal invite kasi s’yempre nga love team po. But he surprised me…Ang sabi n’ya sakin may sakit s’ya. It turned out, he was actually going to go. Then dumating s’ya in the middle of the event na may hawak na balloon namay nakasulat na ‘lab lab’…Days before that event, every day n’ya po ko binibigyan ng balloon na mayroong ‘I always got you.’ Ang pinaka-finale nga na ginawa n’ya ay ‘yung banner na may nakasulat na, ‘Will you go to the ball with me, my princess?’ With matching 100 balloons na bumagsak from the top of Megamall!”

According to her, through the years, “Unti-unti kong nakikita ‘yung romantic side, very sweet” side of McCoy.

“Kasi kung alam ko pong posible, gagawin ko po talaga,” said McCoy. “Ibig sabihin, bawat araw gusto ko s’yang pasayahin at pakiligin!”

Bailona 

Bailona

PBB housemates Bailey May and Ylona Garcia were among the youngest to attend the ball.

“I’m very excited because it’s a very good experience,” said Bailey, who went overseas to improve a lot on his dancing. He will again go on a talent boot camp next month.

 “It’s filled with ups and downs and it’s all crazy!” said Ylona of her own workshop experience.

Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola

Luis and Jessy

Before Luis donated more than P200,000 for a cancer patient who was a contestant in his game show, he told reporters that he is already planning a wedding proposal for Jessy.

“’Dun din po papunta ‘yun (wedding),” he said.

Jessy said Luis’ mom, Vilma Santos-Recto, is always happy to see her. She calls her “Tita” because she is still “nahihiya,” though Vilma has been asking her to call her “momskie.”

Jessy and Luis took home the "Oppo Selfie Couple of the Night" award.

Billy Crawford and Coleen Garcia

Billy and Coleen

This was the last Star Magic Ball where Billy and Coleen will walk as singles.

“I’m really excited because the next gown I will be in is my wedding gown. We’re just really looking forward to that big day!” said Coleen.

According to her, she is no “bridezilla” because she feels like everything is going to run smoothly at their wedding.

“We’re both beach bums and it has a lot to do with our personality, just who we are,” she said of why they decided to tie the knot at the beach.

“We’re really just easygoing and we want to really relax. She’s very OC (obsessive-compulsive) and organized but super chill. Ako pa ‘yung mas na-strestress!”

Their maid of honor, Ria Atayde, and some groomsmen were also at the ball.

“Enjoy every single year of every stage in your life!” Coleen advised all Star Magic Ball attendees, especially the younger ones.

Billy added: “Learn from your mistakes, give everything to the Lord!”

ELloyd

John Lloyd Cruz and Ellen Adarna, the most awaited couple in the ball, obviously did not attend and disappointed their fans.

But during the ball, JLC posted pictures that suggest he was at the nearby Makati Cinema Square, while Ellen was busy in a photo shoot.

Though they have deleted photos of each other in their social media accounts, Ellen continues to like JLC’s posts, including pictures showing he was near the Star Magic Ball venue.

Other couples who graced the Star Magic Ball red carpet:

Megan Young and Mikael Daez

Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati

Oyo Boy Sotto and Kristine Hermosa-Sotto

Rayver Cruz and Janine Gutierrez

— Photos by Efigenio Toledo IV