Alden Richards thanks fans for online success of 1st meeting with Yaya Dub

MANILA, Philippines — GMA-7 actor Alden Richards thanked fans for breaking an online milestone during the September 5 episode of the noontime variety show "Eat Bulaga."

On Saturday, designated hashtag #ALDUBBATTLEForACause of the episode’s “Kalyeserye,” the “Eat Bulaga” segment that features the popular tandem of Alden and Yaya Dub played by Maine Mendoza, reached over five million tweets.

The show broke their record of 3.5 million tweets during the August 29 episode of “Eat Bulaga.” This, in turn, surpassed the 3.5 million tweets accumulated by the #Papal Visit hashtag during Pope Francis’s visit in Manila in January.

READ: Alden, Yaya Dub finally meet!

“Walang ibang dapat ipagpasalamat diyan kundi sa AlDub Nation, sila ‘yan,” Alden said during the Monday, September 7 episode of “Eat Bulaga.”“Sa lahat ng mga supporters po, maraming-maraming salamat.

He added, “Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit gumagawa ng history ang Kalyeserye at ang Eat Bulaga.”

The September 5 episode of “Eat Bulaga” featured the first meeting of Alden and Yaya Dub on the show.

Asked what he felt during the meeting, he said: “Iba 'yung pakiramdam, e. Alam mo 'yung for the past seven weeks, nakikita mo lang siya sa TV, tapos nakita mo siya sa personal. Ang sarap sa feeling, masaya, parang gano'n.”

Social media has played a huge part in the success of the AlDub love team, with the tandem’s every move easily making waves online.

READ: It’s raining offers for AlDub

Over the weekend, Maine and Alden became social media trending topics when reports spread that they will soon headline a commercial for a fast food restaurant chain. According to STAR entertainment editor Ricky Lo, the tandem may soon endorse a clothing brand and a mobile company as well. — Chuck Smith