Are you willing to take risks for the person you love?

Dear MOR’s Celebrity Specials “Ako Na Lang” episode is a touching story that shows how love blossoms, changes, and endures. Sometimes, we think we have an idea of what love is, especially when we have a crush on someone. Eventually, we realize that love is deeper than that. And as we get to know a person, that’s when we understand how to truly care for a person.

In this story, we are introduced to Alvin (Brent Manalo), an introverted 25 year-old finishing his college education. He has a major crush on his classmate, the kind and sweet campus beauty Trish (Anji Salvacion). While being a shy guy already puts him at a disadvantage to confess his feelings, he’s also competing against a handful of suitors pining for Trish’s attention.

As soon as he’s gathered the courage to bare his true feelings to Trish, things don’t go as planned. He overhears Trish fighting with their classmate — something no one would expect of her. Alvin ignores this and still tries to confess to Trish. Unfortunately, Trish is in a bad mood and rejects Alvin with hurtful comments and insults.

Crushed, Alvin tries to move on. But as fate would have it, he encounter’s Trish once again and learns of her secret — her mother is a mistress, leeching off rich men to survive. At times, she would even use her own daughter, Trish, against her will to flirt with the men.

Trish is ashamed of this secret and despises Alvin, fearing that he would use it to ruin her reputation. Alvin, however, doesn’t plan to do anything like that. If anything, this made him more curious about Trish. Knowing that Trish shows a different color of her personality or something real with him made him feel connected with her.

Alvin’s attraction to Trish slowly turned to care. He worried for her safety. While Trish would try to push him away, Alvin still kept a close distance so that he’s ready to help her when she needed it.

Eventually, the worst for Trish has come. Her mother sold her to a man to large sum of money. Trish couldn’t help but cry and run away. Fortunately, Alvin found her and offered to take her in his home for the meantime. Trish didn’t want to at first, but Alvin’s sincerity convinced Trish that he could be the only one to help her now.

Their bond grew and Trish finally softened towards Alvin. It’s not a happy ending yet though. Trish’s mother hounded Alvin’s house and accused his family of kidnapping. Eventually, Alvin and his mom were able to scare Trish’s mother off by threatening to sue her for attempting to sell her daughter.

As for Trish, she found protection and a place to stay with her stepfather. Alvin was glad that Trish can finally be in control of her life and start over. And while he realized that he has truly fallen in love with Trish, he didn’t rush her into any serious relationship.

Alvin knew Trish needed time to heal and find herself. Moreover, they had a future to think about, so they focused on their studies and then career. After three years of patiently waiting, Alvin finally asks Trish to be his girlfriend.

To this day, they are still going strong. Though there are still challenges along the way, Alvin is confident that Trish is all he wants and needs. He is willing to fight for her over and over again.

Anji and Brent, this episode’s featured celeb voice actors, made us feel a mix of emotions getting to know their characters. They certainly hooked listeners to the story from beginning ‘til the end, which shows how well-connected they were to their characters.

In a short behind-the-scenes video, Anji said that she liked Trish’s strong exterior when, really, she’s just as vulnerable as everyone on the inside. Anji, herself, was looking forward to Trish’s growth after letting herself be more trusting to others. No man is an island, after all.

Brent, on the other hand, admired Alvin for coming out of his shy shell in this story. He became more courageous and took various risks in order to stand up for himself and the people he loves.

Tune in to more heartwarming stories from Dear MOR Celebrity Specials, available on MOR’s YouTube Channel, until August 26 (Friday).