JC Alcantara, Shanaia Gomez are each other’s TOTGA in Love Bites

MANILA, Philippines — In Love Bites’ latest episode, JC Alcantara’s Mark and Shanaia Gomez’s Mia tell the complicated romance of The One That Got Away (TOTGA).

As stated in the information given to media, disk jockey Mia reminisces her once young love for a seminarian when years later, she receives an invitation from him of his nearing sacerdotal ordination while on air.

ABS-CBN’s Love Bites is part of the Made for YouTube offerings and produced by RCD Narratives. It streams every Friday night at 8 on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

According to Shanaia, the takeaways she gleaned from that episode are to “live with no regrets. Life is so short. It really is. It’s very, very short and you only live once talaga. So, if there’s something you know, if you have a crush parang just say it. You know what I mean, just live your life to the fullest and then, if it doesn’t work out, lang, at least walang regrets (and) at least walang what if.”

“But at the same time, don’t let go of who you are, your beliefs. And yun po kung sino ka talaga as a person,” she added.

JC also remarked, “‘Pag nag-desisyon ka sa love, dapat alam mo rin kung ano yung pupuntahan kong pangarap kasi ‘pag pinagsabay mo yan, love and your dreams… when you make a decision, dapat alam mo na buong-buo ka na magmahal or yung pangarap mo kung saan sa dalawa yung mangingibabaw.”

Shanaia echoed, “Make sure you are not giving up a piece of yourself or yung pangarap mo for love. Make sure you know what you’re getting into.”

The two admitted they once had TOTGA in their own lives.

“I’m sure there’s always a person na parang in a way it’s like what if or what we could have been, something like that. Or what would have happened if we were still together now… or if we became something. For me, siguro oo pero at the same time, alam ko naman na parang bata pa naman ako so…” shared Shanaia.

When asked if she experienced being someone’s TOTGA, she didn’t want to assume and said, “It really depends on the person. Unless they told me themselves naman di ba? In a way, besides the fact na parang ‘assumer’ naman nito (laughs) in a way, for me, there’s a reason that they let me go or that they let their partner go.”

“You know the saying, if you love them, let them go. And if it’s meant to be, if you, guys, are really meant to be, sooner or later kahit 10 years down the road, 30 years down the road, even who knows, you, guys, will find your way back to each other,” she added.

Nevertheless, the former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate stressed the word “trust” when in a relationship.

As for JC, he said that he felt that TOTGA moment in his previous relationship. It didn’t work out because that person didn’t support his dreams to be in showbiz. “We are still young, may mararating pa tayo. Sometimes kasi ‘pag hindi natin alam na, I mean, pumasok tayo sa ganitong relasyon pero sobrang higpit, we can’t go after the things that we want… Hindi tayo maka-explore pa ng pangarap natin kasi hinihigpitan tayo, so ayun.”

TOTGA comes with “regret,” JC admitted. He experienced it himself when he was in a “toxic” relationship. “I want someone who would support my dreams (like) we would support each other’s dream. Kasi ayaw niya pumunta ako sa pangarap ko like to be an actor. (That someone) hindi niya gusto yun kasi marami daw siyang magiging kaagaw sa akin. Hindi pa ako nag-sho-showbiz nun. So sabi ko, bakit naman kasi ito yung pangarap ko eh?”

JC believed it was his “hint from God” that the person was not meant for him. “Paano pa kung darating yung panahon na meron akong gusto pero binabawalan niya pala ako? So, hindi ko magagawa yung mga pangarap ko.”

When also queried if he is someone’s TOTGA, he recalled, “Ang pinili niya yung pinsan ko. So, ang sakit lang di ba (laughs)? I experienced it when I was in high school. Sabi ko hindi naman ‘to kawalan. Mas marami pang better na makikilala ako at mas magugustuhan ako. Siguro hindi rin sila nagtagal. Of course, we also know our worth.”