Edward Mendez clarified that he is not the rumored new admirer of comedy queen Ai-Ai de las Alas. The rumor began during a guest appearance on The Buzz where Marian Rivera revealed that Ai-Ai has a new admirer whom she described as “gwapo at malaki ang katawan” and “mukhang foreigner.” With the said description, some speculated it was their Kung Fu Divas co-star Edward whom Marian was referring to.

However, Edward denied this in an interview at the cast party after the movie’s premiere on October 1. For starters, according to Edward he is “pure Pinoy.” But he was quick to add that the box office actress was beautiful “in and out” which makes falling in love with her not too impossible at all.

“Kahit sino naman mai-in love kay Ai-Ai sa personality niya eh. As a person. I think a lot of people are in love with her in general. Napaka-beautiful person niya in and out,” Edward said.

Another issue Edward cleared up was the fact he was called “gifted” by Ai-Ai at a press event. “When Ai-Ai said that I’m gifted, I just take it as a compliment kung ano man ang ibig sabihin nu’n completely,” he explained with a laugh.

Did he know that he was “gifted” prior to Ai Ai’s revelation? “Kasi I’m unassuming eh, so it’s a new discovery for me. So I guess a lot of people call me now as ‘big bird’ for some reason. I don’t know if I should be happy about it or not. I guess I’m flattered,” Edward admitted.

Edward’s unassuming personality notwithstanding, he still flushed scarlet red during the press conference due to the repeated quips of Ai-Ai but he clarified that he wasn’t offended simply because, “Eh siyempre naman, eh we know naman Ai-Ai she’s naturally funny and wonderful so para sa akin, that’s fine.”

Meanwhile, aside from the notable special effects, what came in as a shocker during the entire film’s run was Edward’s unexpected kissing scene with Marian. Asked what he felt that Marian’s longtime beau Dingdong Dantes was in the audience during the premiere night, he remarked laughingly, “Well trabaho lang, naiintindihan niya rin naman ‘yon eh.”

Did he speak to Dingdong about the said scene after the screening? “Dingdong is a nice guy. We know each other matagal na. So he knows me naman very well. Tsaka hindi si Edward ‘yung nag-kiss kay Marian, si Kojic ang nag-kiss kay Samantha so ‘yun,” he explained.

According to him, they didn’t have a lot of takes for the said scene but he added, “I guess it’s a privilege for me to kiss someone that beautiful.”

Considering Kung Fu Divas as his big break, Edward confessed that he was initially pressured, not to mention felt tense, upon learning the fact that he will be acting alongside two of the country’s biggest stars.

Thankfully though he was eventually able to loosen up a bit especially during the part wherein, “Nung na-attach na ako sa character parang nawala na ‘yun eh. At tsaka sobrang masayang katrabaho si Marian at Ai-Ai kaya sobrang nawala rin ‘yung kaba ko.”

But how would he differentiate both actresses? “Well they’re very unique in their acting but you know they’re both funny. Siyempre si Ai-Ai naturally, ‘yun talaga ‘yung forte niya eh. But I’m surprised na si Marian being a dramatic actress, meron din pala siyang side na nakakatawa. So she really did well especially with Ai-Ai. ‘Yung tandem nila sobrang naging dynamic. So ‘yun ang isa sa mga malalaking discovery para sa mga manunod na ‘yung part ni Marian being a komedyante eh magaling rin pala siya doon,” said the actor who played the role of Kojic Acid in the comedy-action film.

Catch Ai-Ai de las Alas, Marian Rivera, and Edward Mendez in Kung Fu Divas playing in cinemas nationwide.