Both Jema Galanza and Deanna Wong have been a source of inspiration for the Filipino youth.
Given their openness about their relationship, many see the couple as barrier-breakers and role models, sending a message that there is nothing wrong with being yourself.
“Kasi ako ‘yung klase ng tao na parangm siguro nga nung nakilala ko siya, gusto ko talaga na maging honest sa sarili ko, maging honest sa iba. Alam mo ‘yun, kung ano ‘yung nakikita nila sa akin, ‘yun talaga ako,” shared 23-year-old Galanza during last Saturday’s episode of So She Did!, presented by SMART Sports.
“Ang hirap din kasi kapag nagtatago ka eh, so parang feeling mo may ginagawa kang mali. So parang gusto ko, bahala na kayong i-judge ako, basta ako ie-enjoy ko ‘yung life ko kasama siya. Ganun ako. Sila, kung may gusto silang i-out, may gusto silang sabihin kung kanino ‘man, ‘wag silang matakot. Soon naman maiintindihan sila ng mga tao or kung sino ‘man maging close nila, ‘di ba? So ang una talaga, maging honest ka sa sarili mo.”
“Para sa akin siguro, just be yourself. I think you should think of yourself lang siguro, think of loving yourself. Kasi nung time na nagkakilala kami ni Jema, parang dun ako… Parang naging happy ako kasi tama naman si Jema — when you’re hiding something kasi, parang hindi mo nae-express ‘yung sarili mo. Hindi mo nae-express ‘yung feelings mo. And it’s like you’re hiding something, parang parati kang nagu-guilty kasi you’re hiding something. Parang you’re doing something wrong kahit alam mo namang hindi kasi ‘di ba?” added 22-year-old Wong.
“Nagmamahal ka lang naman ng tao.”
But with fame comes a price.
Both Galanza and Wong are supernovas in volleyball. As individuals, they have their legion of fans watching their every move.
And when they became an item, they received more adoration. However, it came at the expense of their privacy.
Galanza had just graduated Adamson around the time they officially became a couple back in 2018. She shared that her whole life changed when the public knew that they were together.
“Sobrang [daming problema], lalo sa’kin. Sobra. Sobrang dami. Lalo nung pinaka-unang buwan, unang taon namin, kasi I mean… Sa totoo lang siyempre… tahimik na tao naman ako, pero nung nakilala ko siya, dun din parang…” Galanza mused.
“Kasi parang when… Well, nung dumating ako sa buhay niya, parang nagulahan ‘yung… Alam mo naman ‘yun mga fans ng Ateneo sobrang vocal, sobrang ang daming masasabi kasi nung time na hindi pa kami magkakilala ni Jema, parang tahimik pa ‘yung buhay niya. So parang nung naging kami, naba-bash siya kasi bakit daw ganito? Bakit daw ganiyan? Lagi ko namang sinasabi sa kaniya na hayaan mo na yun kasi ganun talaga yung mga tao ‘di ba? Para lang may masabi. Basta yung focus niya kami, kami lang dalawa. I keep on telling her that naman lagi,” Wong continued for Galanza.
Galanza had to literally block off the noise around her, especially on social media platform Twitter. Sometimes, however, her patience would run out, replying to some of the rude fans.
“Siyempre tao ka lang rin naman napupuno ka rin. So yun, parang minsan, parang ayoko na mag-out kami kasi relationship lang naman din talaga, gusto naming mabuhay nang free kami, nagagawa namin yung gusto namin pero yun nga bigla na lang kaming may maririnig na ganun,” she continued.
“So sobrang hirap magkaroon ng jowa na katulad ni Deanna Wong. Siguro ano na lang, naha-handle ko ko lang din talaga.”
Wong then pressed Galanza if she knew what she was getting into when she courted her. For her part, Galanza shared she was able to brace for it.
But it was not enough.
“Did you think of going into a relationship na alam mong ganun mangyayari sa’yo?” asked Wong during the show hosted by Martie Bautista and Katrina Guytingco.
“Siyempre alam ko na ‘yun. Siguro ang pagkakamali ko lang parang… Kasi nung time na ‘yun na nakilala ko siya, parang dun lang din ako naging free sa sarili ko. Like sobrang happy ko na nagagawa ko ‘yung gusto ko. So parang sobrang sumabog ‘yung sarili ko nung time na ‘yun and hindi ko na-control, kaya parang ‘yung mga fans, naging nasanay sila na ganun kami lagi na parang nag-a-out,” replied Galanza.
“So ngayon, gusto na namin i-clear ‘yung bagay para hindi kami naaapektuhan doon sa nangyayari sa labas ng relationship namin.”
It’s been two years since Galanza and Wong entered their relationship. By the looks of things, they have already endured and emerged stronger.
Still, Galanza and Wong know that there will be more hardships to face and sacrifices to make for each other.
Having experienced so much, they are confident they can get through anything and everything as long as they get through it together.
“I think ang pinaka na-sacrifice ko was my loved ones, I think. I think that was my ultimate sacrifice.
“Ayoko na mag-elaborate pa masyado, pero I had to sacrifice ‘yung the ones I loved. ‘Yung mga tao na andoon sa akin ever since I was a baby. So ‘yun, ‘yung na-sacrifce ko kasi iba kasi ‘yung beliefs, iba ‘yung perspectives ng mga tao, so hindi natin mapipigilan ‘yun. So, ayun. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka na-sacrifice ko for my happiness,” said Wong.
Galanza added, “Siguro ‘yung sarili ko kasi, parang bago kami mag-start, ‘yung like nagkaroon bigla ng spark. Parang kailangan kong i-sacrifice ‘yung sarili ko para maging happy kasi alam kong madaming nang-bash, marami talagang magiging problema sa relationship namin ‘pag nag-start kami,” added Galanza.
“So sinacrifice ko ‘yung sarili ko. L,ike kumbaga parang pinandigan ko ‘yung magiging desisyon ko ‘pag naging partner ko siya.”
