MANILA — A decade since they parted ways, Joem Bascon and Meryll Soriano are rumored to have rekindled their romance, after being photographed together during what appears to be a New Year welcome with the latter’s family.

The two, however, were evasive of the topic when asked to react to the speculation on Monday, during a press conference for the January 10 conclusion of the primetime series “Starla.”

The ABS-CBN teleserye, starring Judy Ann Santos, includes both Bascon and Soriano as cast members. Their respective characters, however, have little interaction with each other.

Bascon opted for a general answer about the camaraderie built among the cast and crew of “Starla,” following one reporter’s mention of “balikan” or reconciliation between him and Soriano.

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“Very special for us ang ‘Starla’ kasi sobrang daming pagkakaibigan na nangyari, naging well-bonded kami,” Bascon said, pointing out that the series’ primary shooting location did not have phone signal.

“Even after hindi kami nag-te-taping, nagkikita kami… We get together. It’s very special for me, especially, kasi sobrang tagal naming ginawa ang ‘Starla.’ Talagang naging magbabarkada kami, naging masaya kami na magkakasama,” he said.

The Dreamscape Entertainment production started rolling in June 2018, more than a year before it debuted on ABS-CBN in October 2019.

Bascon went on: “That’s why it’s very special for us — not just for me and Meme (Soriano). I guess I can speak for Judy Ann also and Tito Joel [Torre], and for everyone in the cast.”

Bascon replied in the affirmative when asked whether he considers “I Love Betty La Fea,” the 2008 TV series, as similarly “special” — a reference to the last project where he co-starred with Soriano.

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Soriano agreed, describing the Philippine adaptation of the Colombian soap opera is “very, very special” to her. “Marami talagang nabuong love,” she said.

When asked if her supposed reconciliation with Bascon was something she wished upon Starla — the series’ titular character, played by child actress Jana Agoncillo, grants wishes of kind-hearted people — Soriano quipped, “Abangan sa last five starry nights!”

“Happy New Year! Happy 2020!” was Soriano’s only subsequent response when prodded to confirm whether she and Bascon were together on the eve of the new decade.

Bascon and Soriano were reportedly together for a year before they broke up in 2010. The rumored rekindling of their relationship came in the wake of Bascon’s confirmation the he had recently separated from his girlfriend of eight years after Soriano.