In a recent entry on her website, breakthrough artist Maine Mendoza admitted that she was disappointed when her Kalyeserye love team partner Alden Richards declined an invitation to her birthday celebration in the island of Boracay this march.

Extremely excited at the chance of being given a few days off for her special day, and this being her first visit to the popular vacation spot, Maine recalls that she had invited him two weeks before the scheduled trip and would ask him every day since then if he could make it.

The Pambansang Bae told her he would try his best to join her celebration, but two days before her birthday, and five days before the departure for Boracay, he sent her a text message explaining that he would not be able to forgo an earlier commitment.

Calling herself “matampuhin,” she expressed her disappointment that he would not be there to celebrate her birthday. Making her even more annoyed were clues being given by Alden, their co-workers and friends that the actor might just have a surprise up his sleeve. Maine explained that she tried her best not to get her hopes up so she wouldn’t end up disappointed.

True enough, on Day 1 of her 3-day celebration, Alden surprised her by appearing at her hotel door in the morning, having rented a private plane just to get to the island. “It took me 10 minutes to grasp the actuality that he was there,” wrote Maine, surprised and excited at the arrival of Alden.

Despite only being able to stay for a day, Alden made sure that it was a day well-spent as he and Maine tried out every activity available on the island. They took a speedboat to hop around the many beaches, went scuba diving, parasailing and even rode on jet skis and banana boats.

As the time came for Alden to leave, Maine felt sad but said she was still happy that they got to spend time together. “We were really having a whale of a time and then the next thing, he already has to leave. Lungkot lang [It was sad] but c’est la vie, at least we get to spend time and have fun on our own. (It was the first time!),” she said. “The important thing is we had a great time together– REALLY great time.” (gma)