Jak Roberto clarified that both he and his girlfriend, actress Barbie Forteza, opted to attend the GMA Gala separately with the intention of representing the designer who made their individual outfits.

Roberto briefly spoke about walking separately on the gala’s red carpet during an interview with entertainment journalist Nelson Canlas, as seen on GMA Integrated News’ YouTube channel on Tuesday, July 25. It can be noted that Forteza wore a custom cyan blue ballgown by Ehrran Montoya, while the actor donned a dark gray suit by the same designer.

(From left) Jak Roberto, Barbie Forteza. Images: Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter, Instagram/@niceprintphoto

“Jak Roberto, you’re dateless tonight. Why?” Canlas asked.

“Last year din, dateless kami pareho!” he said in jest without mentioning Forteza’s name, while laughing. “Talagang solo-solo, nag-usap na kami na solo-solo kaming maglalakad sa red carpet para mas ma-emphasize ‘yung damit, mag-thank you sa designers, mas may spot kumbaga.”

(We’re also dateless last year. No! We talked about it beforehand that we’ll walk solo on the red carpet so our looks will be more emphasized, we can thank the designers, and have more of a spot to shine.)

The video also showed the “Maria Clara and Ibarra” star briefly addressing the speculations about attending the gala as an independent artist, where she said, “Kailangan ba [ng date]? Oh hindi naman pala eh (Do I need to have a date? I don’t think so).”

Following the event, Forteza said she’s “one lucky gal” on her Instagram Stories last Tuesday, where she reshared a Cosmopolitan Philippines article about her boyfriend supporting her “career choices.”

Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@barbaraforteza

The longtime couple sent netizens abuzz after walking separately on the GMA Gala’s red carpet last Saturday, July 22, after fans speculated whether Forteza will choose Roberto or her loveteam partner David Licauco to be her date at the event.

Forteza and Roberto have been in a relationship for six years, after working together in the show “Meant to Be” in 2017.

The actress shared during an interview with digital lifestyle publication FreebieMNL that her boyfriend is supportive of her onscreen partnership with Licauco, where he would even encourage her to carry on with promotions.