MANILA — Did Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards file their Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 elections? That’s what many Filipinos joked about after seeing pictures of the two actors at the launch of their upcoming romance film.
On Tuesday, October 8, ABS-CBN News shared photos of Kathryn and Alden, both dressed in matching white button-down shirts, smiling for the cameras. These pictures, although completely unrelated to politics, were posted on the last day for COC filing for the 2025 midterm elections.
The timing of the post made many Filipinos think the pair was posing for COC filing, given that multiple electoral candidates had their photos taken by the media on the same day.
In typical COC photos, candidates are often seen standing in front of cameras while holding their documents. Sometimes, they even wear coordinated outfits, much like what Kathryn and Alden had on.
“Ba’t kasi ito ‘yung pinost [niyong] pic, mukha silang nag-file din ng COC,” one online user commented, which quickly gained 33,000 likes and 4,500 shares.
Another user joked, “Muntik na mag-file ng COC sa pics na ‘yan, HAHHAHAHAHA.” Others chimed in with similar playful comments like, “Mayor or senador ba? Mga accla kayo, kulang na lang may COMELEC sa likod.”
Even Rep. Raoul Manuel from the Kabataan party-list couldn’t resist poking fun. “Hello, Love, Again Partylist — tutulungan ang mga nasaktan para maging handa na magmahal muli!” he joked, using popular emojis to emphasize his point.
Kathryn and Alden were actually attending the trailer launch for the sequel to their 2019 hit film “Hello, Love, Goodbye” at Vista Mall in Taguig City.
The trailer for “Hello, Love, Again” was also released across ABS-CBN and GMA Network’s social media channels at the same time.
The trailer starts with the characters Ethan (played by Alden) and Joy (played by Kathryn), who are both overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), spending happy moments together. Ethan narrates how he envisions his future with Joy. But things take a twist when they meet again at an airport, where a new male character, played by American-Korean actor Kevin Kreider from the Netflix series “Bling Empire,” calls Joy by another name.
The sequel picks up five years after Joy leaves Ethan in Hong Kong to chase her dreams in Canada. Now, their paths cross again. As the trailer asks, “One more hello or one last goodbye?”
This much-awaited film, “Hello, Love, Again,” marks the first collaboration between ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and GMA Network’s GMA Pictures.
The original “Hello, Love, Goodbye” tells the emotional journey of Ethan and Joy as they balance their daily struggles as OFWs in Hong Kong while chasing their own dreams and discovering love along the way.
