The ABS-CBN Ball: Gathering new couples and rumored exes

The ABS-CBN Ball is like a real-life fairytale: Everyone gets dressed in glitzy gowns and dapper suits, while fans get to freak out over their favorite love teams and actual couples.

Back when it was still known as the Star Magic Ball, we’ve already seen constants in the bunch like KathNiel, LizQuen, and JoshLia, among many others. At the same time, we also get surprised by new couples—either romantic or platonic—walking the red carpet. This year is no different.

So let’s see the couples that have been around for a while, the new ones, and the ones we didn’t expect to see again due to, ahem, breakup rumors.

The constants

As mentioned, these couples have been attending the ball together ever since their love teams flourished into actual relationships.

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, who have been each other’s dates for more than five years now, went for white and gold motifs for their looks. Fans also can’t get over Kathryn’s “wifey” moments.

Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil decided to do sultry looks for the ball. Liza wearing a nude Alexander McQueen dress and Enrique unbuttoning his white shirt. Oooh, daring.

Time for JoshLia—Julia Barretto channeled her inner Paris Hilton and Kendall Jenner in a Mark Bumgarner mini-dress. Joshua Garcia on the other hand came in a black suit with a blush pink bow tie.

Jessy Mendiola was glowing in an almost mermaid tail gown by Patricia Santos. Alongside her is boyfriend Luis Manzano who donned a navy blue suit.

We reported yesterday that Kim Chiu and Xian Lim wore matching outfits for the ABS-CBN Ball. But if you need a refresher, here is another photo of them together.

Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati were also back on the red carpet. Sarah wore a pink sequined dress from Halpern Studio. Missing in action: her cute baby Kai bump seen from last year’s ball.

Last year, the tandems of Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber, Elisse Joson and McCoy De Leon, Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte, and Maris Racal and Iñigo Pascual were fairly new on the red carpet. But this year might be proof that we’ll be seeing more of these couples in the following balls.

New duos

The red carpet arrivals are a great way to spot new couples. But at the ABS-CBN Ball, it’s a mix. For example: JC Santos and Myrtle Sarrosa arrived together, explaining that they were partners in an acting workshop. No romantic involvement whatsoever!

Moira Dela Torre and Sam Milby also went together as friends and Cornerstone labelmates.

Yassi Pressman and Arjo Atayde were photographed together, and they were both wearing red. There are no news if they’re dating so they’re probably just together because they star in Ang Probinsyano. Also, Yassi’s Lauren Design gown is EVERYTHING.

Also on the radar are DonKiss (Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin). They didn’t arrive together but Donny made sure to bring a bouquet for his onscreen partner.

Now we have couples like JaDine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre), Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli, and Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff. All of them are under Viva Artists, so this is the first time for some of them to attend the ball.

As for rumored couples, we only have one: Barbie Imperial and JM De Guzman. The two star in the show Araw Gabi and have been rumored to be together for a while now. Last night, JM settled the score about their relationship and said, “Medyo totoo na.” (It’s kinda real.)

Return of the exes

The most notable exes of them all were Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino, who won couple of the night. The Exes Baggage stars still haven’t confirmed if they’re dating again but the CarGel hype is definitely strong!

Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson also went together despite several rumors that the two broke up this year. Maybe the two managed to patch things up? Or they just went as friends? Hmmm.

Although it was never confirmed that Pia Wurtzbach and Marlon Stockinger broke up, rumors still popped up after a certain “No boyfriend? No problem” post. Plus the fact that Pia went solo during last year’s ball. But at the ABS-CBN Ball, the two arrived together, squashing al speculations. (Also, when did Pia get a Jennifer Lopez tan?)

 

Photo courtesy of Star Magic Philippines’s Instagram account

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Jacqueline Arias: