Privacy, privilege and public perception

There are growing perceptions that actress Bea Alonzo is losing some of her appeal among Pinoy showbiz followers. This is largely due to how she has been speaking about her decision not to share updates about her love life with billionaire businessman Vincent Co. She has stated — quite bluntly — that she does not owe the public any such disclosures, a tone some perceive as arrogance.

Alonzo has admitted at a media event that she is already engaged to Co, only to shut out both the public and the media when questions turned to wedding plans. She could have simply said yes, that they are in the early stages of planning and that she would share details in due time. Instead, she abruptly invoked what many described as a “human rights” argument.

At 38, Alonzo is at an age where she can still lead films and television dramas, but she is also increasingly being cast in mother or mature roles opposite younger stars. Some showbiz insiders believe these are the kinds of roles GMA Network has been quietly offering her. Her last series with GMA was War of Widows, where she shared the titular role with Carla Abellana — an actress who has not enjoyed the same box-office success Alonzo once had during her peak years at Viva Films alongside John Lloyd Cruz. Alonzo’s manager, Shirley Kuan, also has other talents to pitch to producers, including 22-year-old Andrea Brillantes, who is currently in high demand for her bold openness and strong market appeal.

When showbiz idols are young and still on the rise, they rarely speak the way Alonzo does now. Without property, security, or a massive fan base yet assured, young stars typically respond to the media and fans with more caution and humility. Alonzo, however, now owns properties not only in the Philippines but also in Spain. With Co openly accompanying her anywhere and anytime, it appears she may be relishing the prospect of becoming Mrs. Vincent Co in the near future.

It is also likely that Co and his ultra-wealthy family prefer to keep wedding details private, wary of fans or curious onlookers who might crowd the venue. Even if the wedding were held abroad, Filipino communities are present almost everywhere. From this perspective, Alonzo’s defensiveness may stem from a desire to protect her path toward becoming Mrs. Vincent Co — the only boyfriend she has had who is reportedly far wealthier than she is.

Still, showbiz idols should be discerning about whom they snap at. Bashers and anonymous trolls are different from professional journalists and responsible vloggers. The latter do not frame their questions with the same malice or crudeness found in online attacks, often made under fake names that make accountability nearly impossible.

Meanwhile, actress Chie Filomeno, 29, is the latest showbiz figure linked to an extremely wealthy partner — Matthew Lhuillier, 28, a member of a prominent Cebu-based family. The former girlfriend of actor Jake Cuenca has recently appeared less defensive about being associated with the Lhuillier heir, perhaps because she has realized that Matthew has no qualms about being seen publicly with her.

A sharp-eyed netizen with the TikTok handle @kgo102397 recently posted a video of the couple on a nighttime cruise in a top-down Porsche Speedster in Cebu, with Lhuillier himself driving. The video was taken with the couple’s full consent. It showed the uploader recognizing Filomeno and greeting her briefly after she rolled down the car window. The rumored pair waved in response.

This was not their first public sighting. They were seen together several times in September, all in Cebu, where Filomeno now appears to be residing.

While the two have not officially confirmed their relationship, Filomeno posted a pointed message on Instagram in October: “Now, I’ve found new connections and safe spaces that I want to protect from unnecessary attention. This time, I’m choosing peace and privacy. And when the time comes, you’ll see what love looks like when it’s nurtured quietly.

“For now, this is what I can share — my truth, my story, my peace. I hope I won’t have to explain myself again.”

Lhuillier, however, does not seem to fear what Filomeno calls “unnecessary attention.” For families of immense wealth, the only attention they typically seek to avoid is that of criminal elements.

Chie Filomeno may want to reconsider whom she is protecting. Instead of guarding the Lhuilliers from public scrutiny, she might be better served by protecting herself — from herself.