I have been fascinated by actors Paulo Avelino and Xian Lim. My personal encounters with these talented actors reinforced my belief that these leading men of note are on a league of their own.
Avelino and Lim could have been dubbed as the Princes of Philippine Romantic Movies since both their movies were part of the First Summer Metro Manila Film Festival that never happened because of the COVID-19 virus onslaught.
Avelino is the main male squeeze in T-Rex Entertainment’s Ngayon Kaya while Lim is torn between Alex Gonzaga and Kylie Versoza in Viva Film’s Love the Way U Lie.
Whatever happens to these movie offerings, and the six other that made it to the SMMFF cut, is a story that we can’t uncover as of yet.
Lim’s Love Thy Woman afternoon drama is back on air via the Kapamilya Channel and there is no report if the movies of Avelino will push through or what his next television project will be since we all know that the franchise of the network where he is part of is still up on air.
Ever since his StarStruck Avenger days, the man with roots from Baguio, had always been cordial. More than the usual exchange of pleasantries whenever I get to interview him during set visits, product launches, and press conferences, I always felt that Avelino is sincere.
He did not mind me placing my hand on his thigh when we accidentally met at a Cinemalaya film premiere. During the set visit of the movie I’m Drunk, I Love You, he remembered that the last time we had a photo together was during the premiere. When we were about to pose for a photo and I blurted how conscious I was because of my size, he moved slightly forward so as to cover my heftiness then.
In a mall, he was cordoned en route to a shindig, coincidentally I was also there to cover another event. When he saw me from afar, he went out of the cordon and said hello and exchanged a few minutes to converse with me. During an after premiere night party for a movie he starred in, we exchanged hugs and spent a few seconds with me telling him an honest critique of his performance.
Those were some of the small acts of kindness that I have experienced with Avelino.
With the perennial on-screen partner and real-life lover of the actress Kim Chiu, it was through an entertainment writer colleague that Lim and I met. For me, Xian is the Philippines’ best candidate to be considered as an Asian male superstar. He has good looks, the X factor, a towering height, and a well-built physique, apart from the fact that he’s got classy fashion sense.
We seem to have a genuine connection in the limited instances that the actor and myself get to be together, most especially during a press conference. In the pictures on my social media account, one can witness the level of comfort that I share with the actor.
I have never requested for their personal mobile numbers and email accounts, their activities as actors and endorsers, in their respective social media platforms and the buzz written about them, are my only means to connect with them.
No stalker here. I’m just wondering when our eyes all meet again. Will my yearning for the two be quenched and satiated? Only time and fate can tell.