ICYMI, Maine Mendoza recently announced her engagement to actor and Quezon City District 1 Representative Arjo Atayde. While fans of the couple can’t help but gush over the engagement, some turned nostalgic. You see, Maine isn’t just any girl. She’s Yaya Dub, someone who will have a special place in the hearts of everyone glued to their TV screens almost every afternoon in 2015.

Maine Mendoza brings will always bring nostalgia

Sobrang emotional ko sa engagement ni Arjo at Maine kala mo naman kasali hahahaha. Di ko kasi makalimutan around 2015-2016 Aldub era. Ang nostalgic alalahanin. Ang layo na pala ng narating natin at ang bilis lang ng panahon. Tumatanda na tayong lahat.

— Rhea (@rheapcb) July 29, 2022

Who could forget how Maine was thrust into the limelight in 2015 as Eat Bulaga’s Yaya Dub? She had a spontaneous but legendary on-screen romance with Alden Richards. Their love team ‘AlDub’ captivated the entire country making everyone tune in to the noontime show’s Kalyeserye segment almost every day to see what happens next. Back then, our only problems were schoolwork and stressing over Alden and Yaya Dub’s failed attempts at meeting each other. Like this moment:

The end of a fangirling era

I never thought that my greatest heartbreak would be you two. My TOTGA. I’ll be fine/we’ll be fine someday we just need to heal in our own phase. Still thank you Alden and Maine I’ll always treasure the journey we all share. Maybe in another lifetime, maybe.

SIGNING OFF. pic.twitter.com/CNtyEAlQEc

— . (@salaciaxtefnut) July 29, 2022

After the pairing of Alden and Maine was born, the projects kept coming. They’ve starred in a couple of movies including My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore (2015) and Imagine You and Me (2016). The fans were nothing short of ecstatic to see AlDub jump from the small screen to theaters. Fans expected them to date IRL, especially when they’ve been spotted eating out and bonding outside work.

Seriously, Aldub has a very special space in my heart. They thought me a lot of things and that’s the time when I am at my happiest. No heavy problems in life, just crying because of Lola Nidora’s madness. That’s why I am only wishing for Alden and Maine’s happiness. pic.twitter.com/EcoZRPzsMZ

— shin (@uu_shinnn) July 29, 2022

AlDub will always have each other

Alden and Maine, our AlDub. I’ll always be proud that once in my life, I became a part of the amazing AlDub Nation. Thank you for letting us experience an era we’ll never forget. You’ve both come a long way since then. As your fan, I have nothing but well wishes to you both! 💛 pic.twitter.com/uTP56EkBSO

— Reggie (@pawlaine) July 29, 2022

What true blue AlDub fan doesn’t know about Maine’s sweet Instagram post for Alden back in 2016? It was exactly a year after their fateful on-screen meeting.

“We might not know what the future holds but you should know that no matter what happens, you already have this special place in my heart. And I want you to know that even if we end up being together or not, that spot is yours–forever. Happy first anniversary,” wrote Maine. It was enough to make the whole internet swoon.

Breaking out of the local showbiz tradition

arjo and maine are such a lowkey couple. aside from kathniel, they’re the local couple i was rooting for. was an aldub fan back then but i knew they were never real and saw how she struggled to break out of the loveteam curse in the ph. kaya i’m really happy for you @mainedcm.

— L 🌷 (@elaiesey) July 29, 2022

While AlDub was at the heights of its success, their fans became overprotective and even started attacking anyone remotely linked to the pair. It came to the point where Maine had to pen an open letter in 2017.

“I am grateful to have all of you who have walked this path with me. But I need to be honest, I am at this point where I feel like I live in a box. I have not been able to do what I want and say what I feel,” she wrote. She also clarified that she’s simply friends with Alden — nothing more.

Maine had the gall to break out of the local showbiz success formula (be an IRL couple with your on-screen love team partner) even at the risk of losing her fans. It’s this boldness, perhaps, that made her the fearless woman that she is today.

The ‘cutie’ charm that worked

Grabeeeeee, when everyone thought Alden will be Maine’s endgame because of the classic ‘Kalye Serye’. Little did we know that her “Arjo cutie” manifestation is on work. What a world. ✨🤎 pic.twitter.com/6TlfzEOHC8

— shin (@uu_shinnn) July 29, 2022

Maine and Arjo officially started dating in December 2018 (to AlDub fans’ disbelief) but it looks like their story started even years before. Folks dug up Maine’s July 28, 2013 tweet that simply said two words: Arjo cutie. Like a manifestation whispered into the universe, her tweet about a celebrity crush led to her engagement exactly 9 years later. The pair got engaged last July 28, 2022.

A bittersweet moment for fans

Seriously, Aldub has a very special space in my heart. They thought me a lot of things and that’s the time when I am at my happiest. No heavy problems in life, just crying because of Lola Nidora’s madness. That’s why I am only wishing for Alden and Maine’s happiness. pic.twitter.com/EcoZRPzsMZ

— shin (@uu_shinnn) July 29, 2022

Sensible fans are happy for Maine’s engagement and for Alden too. These people know that while AlDub was a highly successful love team and they will always have a space for each other in their hearts, a thriving relationship isn’t always romantic. It could be a life-long friendship too. One that’s so legendary, everyone got to witness its beginning, Yaya Dub’s innocent but cute blush after seeing Alden on the split screen 7 years ago.

congratulations arjo and maine! i remembered my 12 year old self fangirling over aldub, so happy to see you grow menggay! 🥺🤍

— nini (@smilewithdb) July 29, 2022

Wishing Alden and Maine only the best

Di ako nagsisising naging #Aldub fan ako. It was a wonderful experience filled w/ happy memories. Hindi man sila naging sa huli, sigurado ako that they will have a special place in their hearts for each other. Their paths crossed for a reason. Hugs #ADNFAM 💚 #ALDUBatADNAlamin

— Troobs (@troobie_md) July 29, 2022

If you’re ever sad that a love team (or anything else in life) has ended, think of all the beginnings it creates. “Di ako nagsisising naging AlDub fan ako,” wrote one netizen on Twitter. “It was a wonderful experience filled with happy memories.” In the end, fans can only thank Alden and Maine for making parts of 2015 and 2016 bearable with their on-screen pa-kilig. And if you ever want to revisit Kalyeserye, you can find all the episodes on YouTube.

In conclusion, fans also win here

u think u can hurt me? im an avid fan of jadine, aldub, thirbea, donkiss HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA emz bye

— ًcielo de leon (@uaapdiaries) July 29, 2022

All these love teams not translating to real life plus other celebrity breakups have only made fans stronger. Like the tweet above said, you can’t hurt them. If they survived the James Reid and Nadine Lustre breakup, Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin ending their love team, and Alden and Maine going their separate ways, they can survive anything.

But yes, we’re totally expecting Alden to be invited to that wedding. Imagine the nostalgia of seeing Maine in her wedding dress hugging Alden while her new husband smiles behind her. Ah, we’ve all come a long way.

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple!

What do you think of AlDub fans’ reaction to Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde’s engagement?

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