NOT EVERYONE is a fan of KathNiel. And yet, when Kathryn Bernardo confirmed her break-up with Daniel Padilla last week, even those in their 40s and 50s couldn’t help but jump into the fray. It was a collective sigh of disbelief, sadness, and humor reverberating across the country. Past interviews were resurrected, and old movie lines were dissected. It was amusing to see one man say, “malamang damay kaming mga lalaki sa hiwalayang KathNiel.” It was enlightening to be reminded, “she deserves her freedom.”
Sure, celebrities provide entertainment, whether on-screen or off-screen. But they also give us inspiration, their achievements showing a plethora of possibilities, their lifestyle reflecting our basic desires and fantasies. And so, when the facade breaks, it can be discomforting. We are then reminded that they are human too. And sometimes, that is when we become even more invested in them.
Perhaps we are afraid that what happened to these famous individuals will happen to us. “Wala talagang forever” was the usual sentiment on chat groups, clearly said in jest but also not without a tinge of anxiety. We begin to think of our long-term relationships. We wonder if they are about to end too. We remember moments of doubt and how we tell ourselves afterwards that things are fine — It’s not possible that your soulmate, the one who promised to be with you, will stop loving you.
Perhaps we are forced to confront questions about faithfulness and commitment. We have a conservative, Catholic society. Some set standards of success when it comes to their private lives. Others value independence and living honestly, not wanting to surrender to the demands of society. So, what’s a person got to do? Is loyalty the same as contentment? Is it so wrong to compromise? There are no simple answers and choosing one could be as heartbreaking as the other.
Perhaps we are touched that even young public figures can keep it together for many, many years, starting it with respect and ending it with respect. It couldn’t have been easy. If there is an elegant approach to announcing a break-up amidst all the rumors, sightings, and social media unfollows, Kathryn Bernardo is showing us the way.
Perhaps we want to blame the tabloid industry — from the late Ate Luds to Kuya Boy, from Cristy to Ogie — and gossiping as a way of life. There is no story that is not worth sharing on traditional and social media. Everything is everyone’s business. Kanya-kanya tayong drama sa buhay; at ngayon, lahat kadamay.
“Chapter closed,” according to Kathryn’s November 30 Instagram post. Now, we move forward. As Waking Up creator Sam Harris so beautifully says in his daily Moments: pay attention to the present, do things not in spite of impermanence but because of it, be twice as patient, joyful, and grateful as you were a moment ago, and treat love as a gift of attention and not a craving for it. Saranghamnida po./PN
