The hashtag #WeGotYouNadine trended globally on Twitter on Monday afternoon as thousands expressed support for Filipino actress Nadine Lustre. This, shortly after the announcement that the 26-year-old cut ties with Viva Artists Agency.

Lustre is now self-managed and will directly handle her own bookings and inquiries, according to a press statement circulating online.

“Consistent with her rights under the Civil Code of the Philippines, specifically Article 1920, she has decided to terminate her agency contract with Viva,” read the statement from her lawyers. (The article mentioned states: “The principal may revoke the agency at will, and compel the agent to return the document evidencing the agency. Such revocation may be express or implied.)

They added that Lustre would “directly manage her affairs from now on”.

‘JADINE’ LEAVE VIVA?

The announcement comes days after Lustre and fellow actor James Reid — who made up the cinematic ‘loveteam’ JaDine — confirmed their break-up.

“After quiet and mature conversations, we decided to focus on ourselves not only for our careers but more for our personal growth as we are still young and we want to achieve as much as we can,” they said on January 20.

The pair — who had been together for nearly four years — were both spotted at a party on January 25, reigniting hope in the hearts of some fans.

Reid had announced in October of last year that he would leave Viva Group after seven years with the talent agency.

“To put an end to all the recent speculation, Mr. James Reid would like to make it clear that, after careful deliberation, he has decided not to renew his contract with the Viva Group,” read a statement from his lawyers.

‘NEED US MORE THAN EVER’

Lustre — who recently shared snaps of herself from her Calvin Klein #MyCalvins campaign to her 7.8 million Instagram followers — received thousands of messages of support.

The phrase #WeGotYouNadine trended worldwide.

“A good heart always wins. Excited for your future projects Nadine!” wrote one fan.

Others directed their messages at both Lustre and Reid: “Spread your wings, your arms. Take your time to grow and nurture your talents and skills. Achieve all your goals. I know you both can do it,” one said.

“James and Nadine need us now more than ever… Let us always include them in our prayers,” another proclaimed.

Nadine Lustre charms fans in Dubai

The Filipina actress and singer — and one half of popular duo JaDine — was in town to promote their new film, ‘Never Not Love You’

JaDine fans flocked to the Dubai Mall on Wednesday night to see the other half of the popular Philippine love tandem JaDine, Nadine Lustre, who’s in town to talk about her latest flick.
Despite the short notice, a section of the mall’s cinema lobby quickly swelled with hundreds of screaming fans as Lustre, wearing a dark blue, off-shoulder onesie, emerged for an hour-long meet and greet.
“It’s great to be back,” Lustre said.

Speaking of her loyal fans, some of whom had taken leave from work and waited for hours at the venue, she said, “I’m really blessed,” drawing more cheers. “They love us very much and we love them.”

Lustre’s new film Never Not Love You — out now in the UAE — is a romantic drama about young lovers who try to build a life together until career opportunities send them out of the country.

It’s been nearly two years since fans saw JaDine — the real-life partnership of Filipino stars Lustre and James Reid — on the big screen, following their 2016 movie This Time.

Wednesday night’s reception showed how fans have been clamouring to see the love team back once again on the silver screen.

The tandem performed in a concert at the World Trade Centre last year as part of the JaDine in Love: The World Tour concert. Reid, though, could not join Lustre for this trip.

“He’s in Manila,” Lustre explained. “He’s got work to do.”

In Never Not Love You, the 24-year-old Lustre plays Joanne Candelaria, an ambitious career woman who works in the advertising industry. James Reid portrays Gio Smith, a freelance graphic artist who moonlights as a tattoo artist.

Joanne’s got her life goals set, which includes a five-year plan for her career, while Gio is an uninhibited soul who describes himself to Joanne as someone who “chooses to be happy”.

“Joanne is a very career-driven woman. I think that’s where Joanne and me are the same. I am very focused when it comes to my work and what I do,” she said.

And what do they not have in common?

“Her attitude. In the movie she’s impatient. I’m the opposite,” she said

Lustre said Gio’s character is the complete opposite of Reid.

“It’s very very different because Gio is short tempered. He is a bad boy and he’s very reckless. James is the complete opposite of Gio,” she said.

Lustre, who has starred with Reid in box-office hits like Dairy ng Panget, Talk Back, You’re Dead and Para sa Hopeless, said Never Not Love You helped the duo “take [their acting] to the next level”.

“We’re done with the teeny-bopper roles, the romcoms,” she said, adding that the movie is “so real” because “most of the lines were improvised and impromptu.”

Lustre says the movie explores the dilemma of being stuck between love and career. She offered her take when faced with such big decisions.

“Just keep everything simple,” she said. “The more you make everything complicated, the more you will put stress on the relationship or on the work. It’s going to be so much stressful for the both of you. If the relationship is not working, then you shouldn’t push it. Maybe you are not meant to be together or if the work is not working for you, maybe there’s another opportunity. You can’t really force things if it’s not meant to happen,” said Lustre.

The movie also tackles the challenges of long-distance relationships, although Lustre said she has not been in such a situation herself.

“I’ve never been into a long-distance relationship, but I think the only thing that matters is trust,” she said.

The movie is written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, who has collaborated with the love duo for the third time following the hit television series On the Wings of Love and Till I Met You.

Don’t miss it!

Never Not Love You is now showing in the UAE.

JaDine return to the UAE to spread the love, and music

Just after a year of their successful and sold out JaDine in Love: The World Tour concert in Dubai, the reel and real-life couple, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, are back with Always JaDine Live in Dubai on May 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“The concert will be very different,” said Lustre in an email interview with Gulf News tabloid! ahead of their concert on Friday. “This time we [have] added a lot of visuals and we’re really hands-on with this concert.”

Reid adds: “I’ll be singing some of my songs from my album.”

The talented couple said they are looking forward to an unforgettable show.

Reid said his experience at Skydive Dubai was one the highlights of his visit last year. “I did skydiving last year! One of the memorable experience I had.”

Unfortunately this time, Reid and Lustre will have a shorter stay in the emirate. Reid, who will be turning 24 on May 11, said they will be in the Philippines when he celebrates his birthday.

JaDine is one of the most sought-after loveteams in the Philippines. The partnership of the two talented stars started when they were teamed up in Reid’s music video for the song Alam Nya Ba, which featured Lustre.

In 2014 the duo’s palpable on-screen chemistry paved the way for the blockbuster movie hit, Diary ng Panget: The Movie. Their popularity soared higher, particularly with international audiences, with the On The Wings Of Love soap opera.

Since then, JaDine magic continues and the two are now considered one of the bankable stars and endorsers in Philippine showbiz.

Aside from their upcoming concert, Filipino-Australian Reid is busy working on his new album.

“I’m so excited for people to hear it,” says Reid, who won the Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010 before he rose to stardom as a singer and actor. “I’ve not only written all the songs, I’m producing it. This album is really a good representation of me and my music. And one of the songs is dedicated to Nadine.”

While 23-year-old singer actress Lustre is looking forward for a new movie, after the duo was paired in This Time last year.

“It’s been a year since the last one [project], This Time, so we’re already excited to start shooting.”

With all your projects right now, does it help that you’re a team both on and off screen?

Reid and Lustre: Yes it does. We’re already very comfortable with each other and we already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses [so well] that we can easily help each other bring out the best in ourselves. It makes the work less stressful and more enjoyable.

You’ve been working together since 2014. Were there lessons you learned from each other along the way?

Lustre: We actually discover more about each other almost every day because we are together almost every day. Of course, not all of what we discover about each other are great, but that’s okay. It’s part and parcel of any relationship, both professional and personal. What’s important is we keep growing, both as individuals and as a team — #teamreal.

How do you think can you maintain the status you have right now as one of the most in-demand endorsers in the Philippines and one of the hottest and popular loveteams as well?

Reid: I’d like to think that what many fans like in us is our honesty. With us, it’s always what you see is what you get. We don’t hide anything or put up fronts. That’s why we didn’t keep our relationship a secret for long. So we’ll just keep being true to ourselves and honest with everyone, me being James, Nadine being Nadine, and us being JaDine.

You are considered role models. How do you handle the pressure and what does it take to be one?

Reid: We don’t really let that get to our head. We just try to do the best we can in everything that we do as performers, whether it be music, movies, TV, concerts, endorsements. As individuals, we keep everything as honest and as real as possible.

If time comes for both of you to go on separate career paths, how would you deal with it? Are you open to the idea of having separate love teams or leading men/lady in the future?

Reid and Lustre: We know that eventually we’d have to do solo projects, especially on TV and movies. We’re very open to that and would welcome them. They would present a different set of challenges that we think would only make us better actors. And we’re both ready to take on those challenges. Hopefully they would also make us grow professionally.

The details

When: May 5

Where: Zabeel Hall 6, Dubai World Trade Centre

Ticket prices: Dh350 (with dinner) and Dh175 (VIP, seated) and Dh125 (General admission)