Prior to becoming a rising star in the crazy jungle called Philippines show business, JC Santos has never had to deal firsthand with the perils of fame.
That time, the days simply rolled by, with Santos and his longtime theater actress-girlfriend Teetin Villanueva sharing a wonderful relationship that was totally under the showbiz radar. Like Villanueva, Santos was then pretty much a hardworking and disciplined albeit relatively unknown theater actor. Except for their circle of friends and colleagues in the theatrical world, nobody really paid any attention to their social-media posts. Netizens didn’t make a big fuss over their romantic liaison.
Their quiet little world was shaken when, after a Gawad Urian-nominated turn in the indie effort Esprit De Corps, JC started winning more mainstream breaks, including a prominent part in the last JaDine TV series Till I Met You, the surprise hit movie 100 Tula Para Kay Stella and another starring role in the current mainstream romantic drama Mr. and Mrs. Cruz.
Santos was always proud of his now-former ladylove. He never denied that he was in a relationship with the said stage actress, also a batchmate of his at Dulaang UP.
Not used to the glare and attention, dealing with her boyfriend’s sudden popularity proved quite a lot for Villanueva to handle. In fact, when Santos was just starting to make a name, Villanueva felt slighted with a story that she believed was a yarn spun “from assumptions.” The supportive girlfriend proved she could be blunt, even a little sharp-tongued.
In a special episode of a morning talk show on ABS-CBN in early-2017, Villanueva agreed to be interviewed while in the same frame with her then-boyfriend. She said that even while the actor was still courting her, his playboy image had already preceded him. And so, she was initially hesitant to entertain him. “Ang kapal ng wall ko,” Villanueva related, adding “Segurista ako eh. Kahit kinikilig na ako, I was telling myself, ‘Magpanggap ka.’” Alas, both Santos and Villanueva have no more reasons to pretend that things are fine between them. One of the first big showbiz stories of 2018 has been the couple’s parting of ways in a rather discordant manner.
In an interview this month, Santos admitted that his four-year-old relationship with Villanueva was “on the rocks.” The truth was they’ve broken up. When Villanueva posted three loaded words on her Instagram account (“Time discovers Truth”), that started a conversation between her and a netizen. She accused Santos of cheating on her not just once. “He can’t be trusted. So no, there’s no way we’re getting back together.” She would eventually delete that comment of hers against Santos.
Appearing on Tonight with Boy Abunda to promote his latest movie, Santos knew there was no escaping questions about her ex-girlfriend’s accusations. He admitted that they’ve ceased to talk. “Bukas pa ’yung sugat,” he said.
The actor proceeded to tearfully address the camera as though the girl he loved for four years was right before him: “You deserve someone better.”
He categorically denied cheating on her and that if there was ever a third wheel, it was his career. Or in a manner of speaking, his burgeoning popularity.
One netizen thought that Santos has just fully embraced the ways of the industry he is now an active part of. “Ang showbiz na n’ya,” the virtual spectator hissed. In a showbiz environment some 20 years ago, before the emergence of social media, mystery was still possible. The lady, badly wounded, would not have committed an outburst online for everyone to feast on. In like manner, the guy would not have had to cry buckets while issuing an apology to his ex-flame for having come short of her expectations.
It’s hard to state with certainty but just maybe, in a pre-social media showbiz, relationships would have been conducted away from the public’s prying eyes and there could have been a bigger chance to patch things up with nobody privy to the relationship watching it with rapt yet insensitive attention.
Some good things don’t last. But if there are endings, there are also beginnings. A closed book leaves room to be opened some other time. Maybe, just maybe.