Wait, Was 'The Loved One' Really Almost A BL Starring Jericho Rosales And Piolo Pascual?
Published on Feb 17, 2026
There are days when doom-scrolling feels like a full-time job—but then there are days when something on my FYP makes me pause, rewind, and fully investigate.
Because a clip from a recent The Loved One presscon had the Internet imagining an alternate universe: one where Jericho Rosales almost ended up with Piolo Pascual or Gerald Anderson as his co-star. Anne Curtis completed the fantasy by saying it could've been a Heated Rivalry-style moment.
The video that made the rounds was, posted by Viva Films' official TikTok account. It shows Echo sharing how he got involved in Director Irene Emma Villamor's romance film, which he stars in alongside Anne.
"I said, 'Let me read the script', and then after reading the script, wala na, I couldn't resist it. I said, 'Let's look for the right person,' so I offered myself to be the hunter," Echo recalled.
Then—and we quote from the video—he says, "Pero in-offer ko siya kay Piolo [Pascual], in-offer ko kay Gerald Anderson. I was declined many times. That's the only time I realized, it had to be a female."
Meanwhile, Anne was caught on cam smiling as she quipped, "Sayang, parang Heated Rivalry na sana," with Echo playfully agreeing—because, honestly, can you imagine?
And so, for everyone's peace of mind, we just had to ask straight from the source. The Cosmopolitan Philippines team reached out to Echo's camp to confirm the statement, and well, it was all a lovely joke from the actor. (Too bad, right?)
It's Happening! Jericho Rosales And Anne Curtis Are Reuniting Onscreen—Here's What We Know
We're so thrilled for this!
READ MOREJericho Rosales and Anne Curtis on The Loved One
Okay, jokes aside now: The Loved One is Echo and Anne's reunion project after their award-winning 2008 film, Baler. It's been so long!
Thankfully, Echo eventually couldn't resist the script, which first landed in his inbox in 2024. In earlier interviews, he admitted he was initially hesitant, saying he wanted to steer clear of romance for the time being. ICYMI, the actor had just come off the historical film Quezon, where he portrayed former Philippine president Manuel Quezon in the titular role.
Romance may not have been on Echo's bingo card, but when he finally gives in, you know he's gonna keep us on our toes. Well, he did, together with Anne, who, by the way, has always been a fan of telling love stories in the most unconventional scripts she could get her hands on.
Her filmography says everything about her romantic craft as an actress—Sid & Aya, Just A Stranger, Aurora, The Gifted, No Other Woman, and so on. "I'm looking for something a little bit more mature when it comes to telling a story about where love can lead you," she said during The Loved One's press conference. And thankfully, again, Direk Irene's script entered the scene.
The Loved One is now showing in Philippine cinemas. It tells the decade-long love story of Eric (Jericho) and Ellie (Anne), depicting not just how sweet and happy relationships can be, but also how sour and painful they can get—no matter how "perfect" and how "strong" a couple's love is for each other.
Jericho Rosales Shares That He Almost Quit Acting—And What He's Doing Differently Now
Mr. Pogi has come a long way.
CONTINUE READINGKate runs on caffeine and K-drama cliffhangers. She also thrives on plot twists—on screen, on the page, and, of course, in the group chat.