Enchong Dee Marked Independence Day With An Erich Gonzales Photo Dump

Filipino love teams just hit different. And when it comes to Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales, let's just say the chemistry hasn't exactly faded with time.

Today on June 12, a.k.a. Independence Day, Enchong sent the Internet into full-on kilig mode after he posted a carousel of old photos with his former on-screen partner and longtime friend, Erich. No context, no emotional essay. Just a simple but loaded caption: "happy independence day."

But of course, this is the Philippines, where Independence Day isn't just about "freedom" from colonial rule; it's also low-key code for finally letting go of someone who was hard to forget. So, when Enchong casually dropped those photos (and that caption), fans read between the lines. Hard.

On the TikTok version of the post, things got even more intense. He used "Baliw" by Sud as the background music. It's a song that screams emotional damage from someone who had loved deeply but had to move on. Not exactly your typical Independence Day vibe… unless you're soft-launching heartbreak.

ICYDK, Enchong and Erich have been one of the most loved on-screen tandems since 2009. They first teamed up in the 2009 teleserye Katorse, which basically made them one of the hottest young pairings of that time. They kept the momentum going with projects like Tanging Yaman (2010) and the romantic comedy I Do, their first full-length mainstream movie together. In 2011, they gave us all the feels in Maria la del Barrio, the local adaptation of the hit Mexican telenovela. Then in 2014, they reunited in the dramatic romance Once a Princess, proving their love team still had that spark.

For over a decade, fans have admired their undeniable chemistry and solid friendship—so much so that many assumed there was something more going on. But both Enchong and Erich have consistently clarified that they're just super close friends.

"I think hindi kami magbibigyan ng chance magkatrabaho ulit kung nagkaro'n kami ng relasyon dati. I'm sure ayaw ko siya makatrabaho or siya ayaw niya ako makatrabaho because we had a past," Enchong said in a past interview. 

Erich is now married to her long-time partner, Mateo Lorenzo (who also happens to be the brother of Claudia Barretto's husband, Basti!). Erich and Mateo tied the knot on March 23, 2022, in an intimate ceremony at St. James the Great Parish in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Since then, she's chosen a quieter life, staying away from the public eye. 

In 2023, rumors sparked that Erich may have already welcomed a child, after a baptismal photo circulated online. The actress has neither confirmed nor denied the speculation.

Meanwhile, Enchong has been stirring nostalgia among fans. Earlier this year, he joined Cup of Joe's "Multo" trend on TikTok with the captions: "#throwback with my 'day ❤️." Fans couldn't help but react, with some jokingly commenting that it looked like "someone hasn't moved on."