(UPDATE) Maricar Reyes behind Luis-Angel ‘rift?’

MANILA – Is Maricar Reyes behind the reported rift between sweethearts Luis Manzano and Angel Locsin?

In a press conference for his upcoming film, “In My Life,” Tuesday, Manzano admitted that he and Locsin’s relationship is going through what he called a “phase” right now, but he quickly added that Reyes has nothing to do with it.

“I’d been hearing the weirdest stories, I don’t need to elaborate. Ang sinabi ko never was, never is, walang third party,” Manzano said.

Reyes was supposed to be Manzano’s leading lady in his now defunct television series, “Flash Bomba.” The plan did not push through and she was replaced by Roxanne Guinoo.

The actor, son of Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and “Game KNB?” host Edu Manzano, maintained that his relationship with Locsin is private.

“It’s not a showbiz thing, iyong sa aming dalawa. It’s very personal…. Kung paano namin pino-protektahan iyong isa’t isa noong nagsimula kami, ganoon din namin pro-protektahan iyong phase na ito,” he said.

He also shot down rumors romantically linking him to his best friend, Anne Curtis.
“Pati ba naman sa amin ni Anne [ini-intriga]. Everyone knows kung ano ang relasyon namin ni Anne. I don’t need to elaborate,” he said.

“I don’t want to give you false answers. I’d tell you straight up na hindi ko pag-uusapan iyong kung ano man ang pinagdadaanan namin ni Angel. So instead of paikut-ikotin ko ang kwento, I’d tell everyone right now [that] I’d rather talk about the movie,” he added.

Cold shoulder?

A lot of people noticed the coldness between the two when Locsin did a production number on musical variety show “ASAP ’09.” Manzano also reportedly did not go to her dressing room.

They both refused to talk about the issue when they were interviewed separately. Speculations about the real status of their relationship then surfaced.

Manzano also hinted that the reported rift was a factor why Locsin was not able to host the fourth episode of the five-part TV special of his mom as what was originally planned.

“Hindi naman sa kasama iyon sa pinagdadaanan. Siguro, there were things na nakadagdag lang sa choices namin noong time na iyon.”

“Pero sana lang hindi pinapangunahan ang kung ano man. Huwag tayong humusga agad kung ano man iyon reason kung bakit hindi niya ginawa. I am sure there's something behind it naman talaga. Hindi naman siya basta-basta magti-trip na hindi pupunta sa taping. We all know Angel as a very, very professional artist. Hinding-hindi siya ganoon,” he said.

Manzano said he and Locsin are talking and trying to work things out.

Curtis reacts on ‘break-up’ issue

When sought for reaction, Curtis, meanwhile, said she hopes that Manzano and Locsin will be able to patch things up.

"You know, whatever it is, I know that they will be able to handle it. Kung mayroon mang problema, I hope they will be able to fix it," she said.

Curtis said she is in constant communication with Manzano. She assured that the actor is doing good.

"Nakakapag-usap kami. I see him on ‘ASAP’ and okay siya,” Curtis said. -Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com, and Rachelle Siazon, ABS-CBN.com

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