Janine Gutierrez and Paulo Avelino were recently pressed about the real score between them but had so far remained evasive about their rumored romance.
But that didn’t stop Ogie Alcasid from teasing the two nonstop during a presscon last Monday for his upcoming US concert tour OA sa Love in the USA, where Janine and Paulo are joining him as special guests. The concert series will bring them to the Alex Theatre in Glendale California (March 26), Sycuan Casino Resort & Spa in San Diego, California (April 2) and Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California (April 3).
Ogie jokingly said that he’s “more than willing” to be their chaperone should they have plans to go around in between shows. This will be the first overseas trip together for Janine and Paulo, who were recently spotted vacationing in Palawan with their Marry Me, Marry You co-stars and couple Edu Manzano and Cherry Pie Picache.
According to Ogie, he’ll naturally feel like the third wheel if Janine and Paulo let him “chaperone” them. He told The STAR: “Pero kaya ko gagawin yun kasi mag-va-vlog ako, va-vlog ko sila. I-report ko yung mga behind the scenes. ‘Pag meron silang, uy, huli ka, mag-re-record ako, hahaha!
“Joke lang yun! All part of the tukso-tukso. I think, like everyone else, kinikilig ako sa kanila. They have this tremendous chemistry, obviously on screen, and from what I see of them whenever I tease Janine, namumula siya agad. Hahaha, joke! It’s ano… kinikilig tayo for them. Ang sarap nilang panoorin, ang sarap nilang tingnan. They keep us excited and the suspense is killing us. Ano na nga ba? So, it’s great, I love it.”
Ogie was asked if Janine and Paulo ever reminded him of that time when he and Regine Velasquez didn’t yet go public with their relationship.
“Yes, I definitely remember the times,” Ogie quipped.
He said he couldn’t blame them if they’ve chosen to be mum about their relationship status.
“Actually, hindi ko naman sila masisi kung gusto nila sikretuhin ‘yan kasi ang sarap kaya nun yung kayo lang nakakaalam. It’s special. I can understand if that’s the situation. At the same time, they keep us guessing, which adds to the intrigue…,” Ogie said.
The veteran singer-songwriter claimed though that he has no idea whether or not the two are a romantic item. But there’s one thing he has observed.
“Sa totoo lang di ko alam pero alam kong may gusto sila sa isa’t isa (To be honest, I don’t know but what I know is that they like each other.) Yun ang nararamdaman ko, yun ang pakiramdam ko. I don’t know if it’s correct but it’s the energy that I get,” he shared.
Whatever it is, Janine and Paulo’s rumored romance is expected to be a drawing factor for the US concerts.
When The STAR asked why they really click together on and off screen, Janine said, “I don’t know. Chemistry is hard to explain. But I think nag-ta-translate lang talaga, ako personally, kung ano yung nafi-feel ko. Talking to Pau, whatever, hanging out, when we do scenes, it’s really genuine that we get along. So, I think it translates on screen.
“Yes, we also have a lot of similar interests and I really enjoy talking to Pau. Maybe that’s the first thing you’ll notice sa bago mong kakilala like when we did our movie before, (I was like) oh my gosh, sobrang OK siya kausap.”
In past interviews, they revealed that they went on dates a few years before they were paired in the yet-to-be-released film Ngayon Kaya and in the 2021 ABS-CBN romantic-comedy series Marry Me, Marry You.
When queried repeatedly about their “relationship,” Paulo maintained, “Busy kami pareho eh, may ginagawa akong isang project na medyo sikreto pa na kasama ako. Then with Janine, kakatapos lang niya gumawa ng isang iWant (TFC series Sleep with Me) niya, so work muna.”
The actor added, “Let’s see in the future what will happen but for now, we’re just happy that we get to work together, and we really have a good friendship.”
As for Janine, she described her degree of closeness to Paulo as the “masayang level.” “I’m happy lang and I’m really looking forward to this trip.”
During the tour, they’ll have about a weeklong break to enjoy some sights.
Paulo confirmed that he’s going to see his son Aki with ex-girlfriend LJ Reyes in New York. “I already mentioned (the planned visit) to his Mommy and they’re just asking for the dates. Since I’m already there, I might as well see my son. I haven’t seen him since they left.”
He hinted that Janine will be joining him on this side trip.
Teased about how he will introduce Janine to his son, Paulo quipped, “Diretso na, Aki, nanay mo, hahaha! Joke lang!”