Arzen Rose Dulzura

Gian Bernardino and Maris Racal share behind-the-scenes peek of their ‘Valentine’s clout’ photo

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino and singer-actress Maris Racal recently gave fans a look at how they made their viral &quot;plot twist&quot; pre-Valentine’s photo that led many to speculate about their relationship. </p><p>Last February 12, the two singers stirred buzz online after posting a photo together where Gian was resting on Maris’s shoulder while she held a bouquet of flowers. The timing, just days before Valentine’s Day, added to the intrigue. </p><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-22" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUppRQYk0Fe/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=754&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A22%2C%22os%22%3A26045380.599999994%2C%22ls%22%3A58094.70000000298%2C%22le%22%3A58097.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-22" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUppRQYk0Fe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-22" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUppRQYk0Fe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUppRQYk0Fe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Maris Racal (@mariesteller)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Maris kept her caption short and simple, writing: “plot twist 🤍”, which immediately left fans wondering about the real score between them. </p><p>Following the wave of hilarious reactions and speculations, both Gian and Maris shared behind-the-scenes clips explaining how the now-viral photo was created. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/2/13/maris-racal-reveals-the-plot-twist-with-cup-of-joe-s-gian-bernardino-2017"><strong><u>READ: Maris Racal reveals the ‘plot twist&#x27; with Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>On TikTok, the Cup of Joe vocalist showed a clip of Maris arranging his hand over the bouquet for the photo. In the video, she could be heard instructing him to make it look “nakakalalaki” while posing. </p><p>“pov ginawa kang pang clout ng mars mo this valentine’s,” Gian, who shared in 2025 that he was a pansexual man, wrote in the caption. “Hirap itago… ng nail art,” he added.  </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@gian.pb/video/7606299415023734037" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7606299415023734037" id="v15019183006228098" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v15019183006228098" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7606299415023734037?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-02-14T07%3A46%3A48.713386%3A9cadbffd-6bac-4f13-8e2c-de18e7eaf023%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:740px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>Maris joined in the comments section, jokingly asking, “Anong tawagan niyo, &#x27;mhie??&#x27; 😭😭😭” </p><p>Later, the <em>Sunshine</em> actress also shared her own version of the prank on her TikTok account. She captioned her post: “happy valentines mhie and dhie”. </p><p>In her video, the two were seen posing for the sweet photo while Maris held a large bouquet of flowers. She openly explained their intention behind the post. </p><p>“Ang goal is gumawa tayo ng prank,” she told Gian. </p><p>At one point, Maris laughingly asked, “What if mag-flop ‘to?” referring to the possibility that their prank might not gain traction online. </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@missmariestella/video/7606543398454955284" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7606543398454955284" id="v52227733797729816" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v52227733797729816" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7606543398454955284?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-02-14T07%3A46%3A48.713386%3A9cadbffd-6bac-4f13-8e2c-de18e7eaf023%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:722px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>“Archive agad,” Gian responded in jest. </p><p>Maris then revealed, “Guys, ako yung bumili ng bulaklak.” </p><p>Gian admitted he was surprised when she arrived carrying the bouquet. “Nagulat nga ako pagdating niya may malaki siyang dala [na bouquet]. Nakakahiya,” he said. </p><p>As they discussed the possible outcome of their post, Maris shared her lighthearted take on it. </p><p>“Hindi nagma-matter yung results. ‘It’s all about the friendship that we made’. Ganon na lang pag nag-flop,” the two agreed. “Pag nag-flop, [edit na lang] yung caption ng ‘mare.’” </p><p>“Sisterhood at its finest,” Gian joked. </p><p>While thinking of a caption that would spark curiosity, they eventually settled on: “Plot twist, pwede pwede,” they both agreed. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/2/12/maris-racal-shares-photo-with-cup-of-joe-s-gian-bernardino-plot-twist-1711"><strong><u>READ: Maris Racal shares photo with Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino: ‘Plot twist’</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>As fans later watched the behind-the-scenes clips, many shared their reactions in the comments section, admitting they were pranked. </p><p>“GRABEE TAWANG TAWA SIGURO SILA MARIS NUNG NA BALITA SILA WAHAHAHAHAHAH NAGING CHISMOSA TULOY,” one wrote. </p><p>“the mars we failed to separate 😂😂 ang lala nung na-air sa National TV. HAHAHAHAAHHA,” another added. </p><p>“na para bang Hindi niyanig ang pilipinas sa post mo AHAHAHAHAHA,” one netizen commented. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-20" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUsa80gk1_p/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=754&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A20%2C%22os%22%3A25911479.700000003%2C%22ls%22%3A58094.70000000298%2C%22le%22%3A58097.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="489" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-20" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>A day after their photo trended, Maris revealed that she and Gian were not spending Valentine’s Day as a couple. Instead, their collaboration was for her newest single, “Sino Ang Tanga,” where Gian stars as her onscreen partner in the music video. </p><p>In the video, Gian and Maris shared scenes that showed their onscreen chemistry, including moments where Gian was seen holding her face and talking with her inside a car. </p><p>The music video of “Sino Ang Tanga” is now available on YouTube.</p>

<p>Gian Bernardino and Maris Racal share what happened behind-the-scenes of their ‘Valentine’s clout’ photo that sparked dating rumors online.</p>

Gian Bernardino and Maris Racal share what happened behind-the-scenes of their ‘Valentine’s clout’ photo that sparked dating rumors online.