Joseph Bitangcol fights for love

Joseph Bitangcol was part of the Magic Circle of 10 of the first season of Star Circle Quest (SCQ) on ABS-CBN. He was the best-looking among the boys but towards the end of the rigorous and nerve-wracking finals, he sort of lost the spark. He was the second to be eliminated in the Circle of 10.

Many people cried when he lost the chance to be the Grand Questor. Luis Manzano (the show’s host) was so affected, he couldn’t hold his tears when Joseph was told that he was "out." Joseph, by then had already touched people with his story, which was even featured on Maalaala Mo Kaya. A victim of the Pinatubo explosion and the devastating lahar, his family lost everything and moved to Manila where he helped his mother sell barbecue.

Even if Joseph didn’t make it to the Fab 5 of SCQ, he just move on. He danced here and there, acted everywhere he could, and he prevailed. Even on SCQ, he showed sensitivity in his acting exercises, drawing a lot of emotion from his personal battles. He danced very well. He became part of SCQ Reload, danced in Fanatics, acted in Spirits and fell in love with Sandara Park.

But before Sandara, he was said to have gone out with Michelle Madrigal. But this was short-lived. Falling in love with the phenomenal Sandara Park was not easy. In the beginning, she was being paired with some of the hottest young stars in the industry – Patrick Garcia, John Wayne Sace and of course, the Grand Questor of SCQ Season I, Hero Angeles.

Hero and Joseph were good friends. I think they still are – although the friendship must have been a little strained because of the much talked about HeroSan (Hero-Sandara love team) misunderstanding.

Joseph had to stay in the dark wings – watching from afar Sandara and Hero – laughing, whispering sweet nothings, holdings hands – to the delirious screaming of fans.

Joseph revealed that he courted Sandara last year and they became an item a few months later. "Oo, nagseselos ako. Pero wala naman akong magawa," he said matter-of-factly.

A couple of weeks ago, Sandara and Joseph starred in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya. It rated so high that people seem to have accepted their team-up.

Meanwhile, Sandara and Hero’s movie, Can This Be Love, continue to do very well on its fifth week. But despite efforts of well-meaning friends and colleagues, Sandara and Hero never really fixed their issues with each other. But they are both professionals. They went though the promo of the movie (sometimes with much difficulty) as if it was "love." After all, their movie was asking the puppy love question of "Can This Be Love?"

On the other hand, Sandara declared that when she comes back from Korea (where she is pursuing her studies), she wants a different loveteam.

On her TV special, I did an interview with Sandara, where he candidly spoke about how special Joseph is to her. "Crush ko siya even before. He is very nice to me. He is special to me."

"What happens to Joseph when you go back to Korea?" I asked. "I’m coming back,," she quipped. She talked about Hero as part of a loveteam and that she was grateful that people support them. You could actually smell what Sandy was trying to say about Joseph and Hero. Besides, a couple of meters away from the set was a beaming Joseph, intently watching his princess.

On The Buzz, part of my conversation with Joseph was…

Mahal mo ba si Sandara?

"Opo."

Mahal ka ba ni Sandara?

"Opo."

Hanggang saan kaya mong ipaglaban ngayon ang pagmamahal mo kay Sandara?

"Hanggang may buhay."

Joseph was almost in tears. But he fought it victoriously and instead broke into a boyish grin.

Joseph is still the boy who sold barbecue with his mother. But this time, he has learned to fight for what he things is his.