Can a man and a woman be “just friends”? For Christian Bables, the answer is ‘yes,’ and it all boils down to setting clear intentions from the start. A genuine platonic friendship between a guy and a girl is not only possible but incredibly special.

In an episode of "Kuan On One," the Bisaya talk show hosted by our ever-charming ‘Kuantie’ Melai Cantiveros, Christian shared his thoughts on maintaining a purely platonic friendship between men and women. He also took the opportunity to delve into his Bisaya heritage, giving viewers a glimpse into his background.

Christian hails from Negros Occidental on his mother’s side but was raised in Cavite. Reflecting on his college years, he admitted that although he was an introvert, he did form a close friendship with a girl. Unfortunately, their relationship became complicated when an awkward situation happened between them, leading to a break in their communication. Despite this experience, Christian firmly believes that with the right boundaries and intentions, a meaningful, platonic friendship with the opposite sex can indeed thrive.

Christian is known for his friendly demeanor, but he approaches friendships with a certain level of skepticism. He doesn't readily give his trust away; he's cautious, often because he has encountered many people who seemed well-intentioned but later turned out to have ulterior motives.

One of his closest friends today is Jennica Garcia, someone he considers one of his best friends. Their close bond has sparked curiosity and excitement among many, with some hoping that their friendship might evolve into something romantic. To address these speculations and clarify their relationship, Kuantie Melai directly asked Christian about his connection with Jennica. And he was clear and straightforward in his response, stating, “We are good friends.”

Christian, who is part of the upcoming series “Saving Grace” alongside Jennica, candidly shared that when they first became best friends, he found it difficult not to be attracted to her due to her undeniable beauty. However, he was fully aware of her existing commitments as a married woman and mother. Despite his feelings, he chose to keep them to himself, only confiding in a mutual friend who also disclosed some insights about Jennica’s feelings.

Although Christian chose not to delve into specifics, he admitted that these revelations made him think, “Sayang!”—expressing regret over missed opportunities. He confessed, “I don’t know if we felt the same way. I can’t and I won’t speak for her. But, for me, it felt like it was really wrong timing. If she weren’t married with kids, I would have pursued her.”

At this point, their friendship holds even greater significance. Melai agreed wholeheartedly, attesting to Christian's genuine respect for his female friends. She described him as a true gentleman who is dedicated to ensuring that his female friends are well cared for, believing they deserve nothing less.

Christian himself clarified, “But there are also limitations.” He explained that if someone cannot reciprocate his feelings or efforts, he feels as though he’s not valued. He further noted, “If it feels like she’s taking me for granted, I’ll walk away.” The award-winning actor emphasized that he is quick to move on from relationships where his feelings are not equally matched, adhering to his belief that life is too short to waste on unrequited love.

From Melai's perspective, she disagreed with Christian's view that a girl and a boy can maintain a purely platonic best friendship. She argued that, often, a close friendship between the opposite gender will eventually lead to romantic feelings. She herself experienced this firsthand with her husband, Jason Francisco. They began as friends, grew incredibly close, and eventually saw each other in a romantic light.

In response, Christian agreed, noting that he is the type who takes the time to truly get to know a woman before falling for her. He clarified that his attraction is not based on physical appearance alone but is deeply rooted in a woman’s heart and mind. He expressed that he is not a fan of short-term relationships, emphasizing that while he has a preference for Asian-looking women, his focus remains on the substance of a person rather than superficial traits.

Dakong Problema

After delving into the complexities of maintaining a platonic versus romantic relationship, Christian and Kuantie Melai moved on to the “Dakong Problema” segment, where they faced a fun and engaging acting challenge.

Here, Christian’s first task involved acting out a scenario where he had to confess his feelings to his best friend. The twist was that the scenarios would vary based on the choices drawn from a box. For the first scene, Christian drew a situation where he was inside a jeepney with his best friend, The challenge was to figure out how he would convey his feelings in such a confined and everyday setting. Christian showcased his quick wit and charm by delivering an impromptu pick-up line!

Next up was Melai’s turn, where the scenario was set as if they were classmates who had just finished their class and stopped by a store to buy soda. While enjoying their drinks, Melai’s task was to confess her feelings to Christian, who acted as her best friend in this playful setup.

To add an extra layer of hilarity, both Melai and Christian devised their own scenarios for each other to act out. While Melai excelled at bringing humor, Christian turned up the charm, delivering a performance that was not only entertaining but also surprisingly heartfelt. Christian, you’re in a game, but that performance was worthy of a Best Actor award!

Ultimate Yawyaw

The conversation took a more serious turn during the “Ultimate Yawyaw” segment, where the two Bisdaks shared their deep realizations and lessons from their discussion. And let me tell you, their words really hit us in the feels.

Melai reflected on Christian’s principle about not being a martyr in love. She echoed his sentiment, saying, “Firstly, if you fall in love, you should give it your all. But if the love you give isn’t reciprocated, it’s okay to slowly distance yourself.” She added, “That way, you’ll still have self-love and love left for yourself.”

Christian agreed, emphasizing the importance of recognizing when it’s time to stop. He elaborated, “It’s great to be a go-getter and to express your feelings, but don’t forget about yourself. No one else will take care of you but you.”