[Featured Image from The ALDUB Runaway Episode Screencap] The ALDUB Runaway episode opened with YayaDUB writing a letter. The KalyeSerye commentator Bossing Vic Sotto had to look closer at the monitor to check the words. Fellow KalyeSerye commentator Boss Joey de Leon even helped him read. The former mistook the letter as addressed to “Dear Xerex”. Their pop culture references may be a little dated. But it helped set the mood. Is YayaDUB with Alden?
YayaDUB was shown by the living room. She doesn’t look stressed or abducted. Later she called on Alden. Alden appearing on the other monitor looking afar confirmed that he is not with YayaDUB. He was visibly distraught at the ALDUB Runaway episode. But keepign YayaDUB safe is his priority. “Dyan ka na muna. Baka masundan ako ni Lola. Kapag kasama mo naman sina Lola Nidora, wala namang mangyayaring masama sa yo.” (Stay there for now. Granny might track me down. When you are with Granny Nidora, nothing bad will happen to you.)
YayaDUB was worried too despite remaining safe in Lola Nidora’s mansion. “Eto nga sumusulat ako kay Lola Babah eh. Para maintindihan ka niya.” (That’s why I am writing to Granny Babah. So that she’d understand you.) YayaDUB saw on the monitor that Alden is not in his den for the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Ano ba ginagawa mo diyan?” (What are you doing there?) Bossing Vic even suspected him of going suicidal. “Lulundag.” (He will jump.) YayaDUB got extra worried. “Iiwan mo na ba ako? Wag kang magbibiro ng ganyan ha?” (Are you leaving me? I don’t like that kind of joke okay?) When he voiced out his suspicions, Alden denied any suicidal thoughts. “Mataas po eh.” (It was too high.) YayaDUB told Alden to not even think about leaping to his death.
YayaDUB kept on reminding Alden to be safe by clutching to the rails at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Huy! Humawak ka. Baka mamaya …” Alden knew how to calm YayaDUB down. “Baka mahulog ako sa yo?” (You think I might fall for you?) YayaDUB got too dumbfounded to answer. Alden then tried to be serious. “Hindi, seryoso. Nagiisip isip lang ako.” (No, seriously. I’m jusst deep in thoughts.) It was difficult for him to leave YayaDUB behind. But he can’t afford dragging YayaDUB along with the trouble that Donya Babah got him into.
YayaDUB was more worried that Alden’s smile is gone far too long. “Basta tandaan mo lang, andito lang ako. Alden, smile ka na. Ngiti ka na.” (Just remember that I’m always here. Alden, please smile. Smile now.) The KalyeSerye commentary panel then egged YayaDUB for a joke. “Wala ka bang joke?” (Don’t you have any jokes?) YayaDUB then reminded Alden of a previous joke. “Di ba naalala mo nung tinanong ko anong tawag sa tagabitbit ng bell?” (Remember when I asked you what do you call a bell carrier?) YayaDUB had difficulty in eliciting a smile from Alden at the ALDUB Runaway episode.
YayaDUB then shifted to asking Alden about his fall at the ALDUB Sumptuous Lunch episode. “Kumusta ka na nga ba? Di ba nadapa ka?” (How are you doing again? You fell right?) Even the KalyeSerye commentary panel got concerned too. It may look funny. But at the ALDUB Runaway episode, the concern on how bad it may be was addressed. And Alden said that it was okay.
YayaDUB pressed for more info. “May pasa ba?” (Are you bruised?) Alden did not answer directly. “Gumaling agad. Dahil sa yo.” (It quickly healed. Because of you.) It was then Alden’s turn to ask at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Alam mo kung bakit nadulas?” (You know I slipped?) YayaDUB braced herself for the answer. Alden then answered his own question.”Kasi nahulog na.” (Because I have fallen.) YayaDUB then tried to connect it to her joke to make Alden laugh. “Alam mo ba yung DELICACY? Yun kasi ang sinabi ko sa yo nung madapa ka. Ayan! NagmamaDELICACY! Tatawa na yan!”
Alden then gave up and laughed. “Oo na. Di ko na mapigilan.” (Alright then. I can’t help it anymore.) Now that it seems like he’s back on track, he dished out another pickup line. “Dilim ka ba?” (Are you darkness?) YayaDUB asked why. “Kasi mula nang makita kita, wala na kong ibang makita.” (Because ever since I saw you, I saw no one else.) YayaDUB was so overjoyed. She clutched the nearest cushion and hugged it. But she never forgot to remind Alden at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Ingat ka diyan ha? Wala ako diyan para saluhin ka.” (You be careful there. I’m not there to catch you.)
Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” was then heard on the background. Turns out it’s just Lola Nidora DUBsmashing the said track at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Kaka-tone down ko lang. Kaka-tapos ko lang mag-practice ng mixed martial arts.” (I just toned down. Just got done practicing mixed martial arts.) Her idea of toning down is scratching her back with the door post. Seems like she’s been with Lola Nidora for more than 24 hours now. Lola Nidora then greeted Alden.
Lola Nidora quickly addressed Alden’s knee. “Masakit pa ba yung tuhod mo?” (Does your knee still hurt?) Alden said that it doesn’t hurt anymore. Lola Nidora was pleased. At least Alden remembered YayaDUB’s safety and returned her to her folks. It avoided another beast mode episode from Lola Nidora at the ALDUB Runaway episode. Still, she doesn’t like the idea of eloping. “Tingnan mo kasi ang nangyari sa inyo. Nagmamadali kayo na makalayo. Nadapa tuloy kayo.” (Look at what happened to you. You were in a rush to runaway. You fell down.)
Alden explained at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Lola, hindi ko naman po ilalayo si Yaya eh. At hindi ko pa po siya itatanan. Gusto ko lang pong ilayo si Yaya sa oras na yun. Kasi hindi ko po gusto yung mga sinasabi ni Lola Babah. Baka po masaktan siya.” (Granny, I will not take nanny away. I won’t elope with her just yet. I just want to take nanny away at that time. Because I don’t like the things Lola Babah is saying about her. She might get hurt.)
Lola Nidora agreed with Alden. “Kahit ako, ayoko ring naririnig yung masasakit na salita. Pero, Alden. Hindi ang paglayo ang solusyon sa problema mo. Kapag yan lagi ang ginawa mo, palagi kang madadapa.” (I don’t like hearing those biting words too. But, Alden. Going away is not the solution to your problems. If you keep on doing that, you will always fall.” Alden understood it literally and figuratively at the ALDUB Runaway episode.
Lola Nidora was happy though that Alden is now protective of YayaDUB. “Mabuti naman kung ganun. Pinoprotektahan mo lang si Yaya.” But whatever Alden’s reason may be. Lola Nidora never faltered in her reminders. [And Donya Tinidora is not around to complain about the endless reminders like this one at the ALDUB Runaway episode.] “Hintayin ang basbas. Ang pagtakas ay senyales ng pagiging duwag. Duwag na harapin ang wasto.” (Wait for the blessing. Escaping is a sign of being a coward. A coward in facing the truth.) Alden reasoned out. “Hindi naman po ako lalayo, Lola. Nagiisip-isip lang po.” (I won’t be too far, granny. I need to think things over.)
Lola Nidora also addressed the obvious upon seeing Alden runaway with YayaDUB. “Eto pa. Matagal ko na tong kinikimkim sa sarili ko. Tapatin nyo ako. Kayo na bang dalawa?” (One more. I’ve been holding it within me for so long. Tell me honestly. Are you going steady?) It took several DUBsmash tracks at the ALDUB Runaway episode before Alden and YayaDUB could reply simultaneously. “HIndi PA po.” (No. Not YET.) Lola Nidora was half-exhausted half-relieve. “Hindi pa pala. Ang tagal nyong sumagot! Pinakaba nyo pa ko.” (So you’re not yet going steady. It took you forever to answer! You got me nervous.)
Lola Nidora had to explain herself too. “Kasi ako, kaya ko natanong lang, kung umasta kayo parang kayo na eh.” (I had to ask this since you act as if you’re already going steady.) Alden and YayaDUB denied being more than friends. So Lola Nidora had to appease the couple at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Alam ko nararamdaman nyo naman na mahal nyo ang bawat isa. Pero patuloy pa rin na magkakilala kayo. Alden, tamang panliligaw. Manliligaw ka na ba?” (I know that you love each other. But you keep on knowing one another. Alden, pursue her the right way. Are you pursuing her?)
Lola Nidora then turned to her grand-niece. “Yaya, magpaligaw ka. Ikaw sasabihin ko sa yo ha? Parang gusto mo nang kagatin si Alden noong Sabado.” (Nanny, let him pursue you. I am telling you this, okay? It’s as if you wanted to bite Alden last Saturday.) YayaDUB justified her behavior at the ALDUB Sumptuous Lunch episode. “Hindi naman po. Na-miss ko lang po talaga si Alden.” (No, not really. I just missed Alden.) Lola Nidora continued. “Ganun na ba ngayon pag nami-miss? Sumasampa sa likod? Dalagang Pilipina ang tinuro ko.” (Is that what usually happens when you miss someone? You go piggybacking? I taught you how to be a Filipina maiden.)
YayaDUB ended up defending Alden at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Wala po kasi akong suot na sapatos. Nakalimutan ko na po isuot. Kaya binuhat na po ako ni Alden kasi ayaw po niyang madumihan ang paa ko.” (I was not wearing my shoes at that time. I forgot. So Alden carried me on his back since he didn’t want my feet to get dirty.) Alden almost choked on his answer. He had to compose himself for awhile before replying. “Lola, wag po kayong mag-alala. Alam naman po namin ang mga nararamdaman namin.” (Don’t worry. We know how our feelings are.)
Lola Nidora then reminded them what made her against their budding relationship before. “Porke nararamdaman na mahal na siya, hindi na manliligaw.” (Not because you know she already loves you, you will not pursue her anymore.) YayaDUB took it from here before Alden chokes again. “Pero sabi nyo nga po, Lola, di ba? Wag magmamadali.” (Like what you said before, right? Don’t rush it.) Lola Nidora can finally breathe. “Hay salamat. Pengeng kape.” (Thank goodness. Coffee please.)
After having coffee, Lola Nidora continued with her reminders. Lola Nidora is the ultimate TITA. Full of reminders at the ALDUB Runaway episode. “Dapat gawin? Alagaan. Wag pabayaan. Pagyabungin na parang halaman. Hihintayin nating mamulaklak.” (What do you need to do? Nurture it. Don’t neglect it. Cultivate it like a plant. Wait until the relationship blooms.)
Lola Nidora kept the promise she made at the ALDUB EB Tamang Panahon special episode. “Kung anuman ang nagpapabigat sa inyo. Anuman ang gusto nyong itanong sa aming mga lola. Wag kayong magatubiling magtanong. Andito lang kami palagi. Sabi ko nga, di na ako nakaharang sa inyo.” (Whatever is burdening you. Whatever you would like to ask us grannies. Never hesitate to ask. We are always here. Like I said, I am no longer an obstacle to you.) Donya Tidora arrived shortly at the ALDUB Runaway episode for the Sugod Bahay errand.
Fast forward to today after the ALDUB Stay Strong episode. The letter that YayaDUB wrote in the ALDUB Runaway episode saved the relationship. Eat Bulaga’s hit KalyeSerye may be a parody of conventional soap opera fare. But it acknowledged one important aspect in relationships. That fighting for your love need not be defiance of parental authority. Donya Babah said it herself in the ALDUB Last Chance episode. That some things can be settled without resorting to a quarrel.
Still reeling over the week that was in ALDUB? Like Eat Bulaga’s official Facebook page to catch the ALDUB Runaway episode replay. Follow Eat Bulaga on Twitter to send your thank-you notes and story line suggestions.
What lies ahead of ALDUB now that Donya Babah has conceded to Alden’s feelings? Did Cindy really contract amnesia after that fall? Why do most amnesia incidents occur whether or not there is not? Before I go full Antonietta mode, might as well follow us on our social media accounts. Like our official Facebook page, The Philippines Web. And follow us on Twitter @pinasamazing. We’d be expecting you.
