After Diego Loyzaga confirmed his romantic relationship with Kapamilya actress Barbie Imperial, the latter validated his new year reveal today, Jan. 3.

Posting her “favorite” photo of them, Imperial spoke of how the relationship blossomed from friendship to a romantic one.

“Totally unexpected to fall for someone I thought I’d be just friends with forever but I’m really happy to have found both love & friendship with this one,” she said on Instagram.

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Imperial is grateful for Loyzaga coming into her life.

“Thank you for making me happy & feel loved. Thank you for everything that you do to make me feel the love I deserve. So thankful for you, thank God for you,” she said, even using the hashtag “#angcheezynibarbie”.

“Pagbigyan ngayon lang ulit naging ganito,” she quipped. (Please let me be, it has been a while since I have been this way.)

On New Year’s Day, Loyzaga took to social media to make public his romantic relationship with Imperial. He posted a photo of them together with this caption: “Happy new year to us. Thanks for making the end of my 2020 memorable. [Let’s] gooo 2021!!”

Before confirming their relationship, Imperial said last November during a guesting in “Magandang Buhay” that Loyzaga had been making his presence felt.

“Siguro po nagpaparamdam,” she said when asked if Loyzaga is courting her. (Maybe he is trying to make his intentions felt.)

“Actually po magkaibigan talaga kami before pa; super close talaga kami. Iyon nga po matagal po kaming hindi nagkita pero isa lang din po iyong grupo namin,” Imperial related.

(Actually we have been friends since before; we are super close. But the thing is, it’s been a long time that we have not seen each other though we are part of the same group.)

She admitted that their friends suggested they try dating, but they were reluctant.

“Kasi noong 2018 hindi ba po parang ang dami kong pinagdaanan sa love life and si Diegs din. So parang ako, hindi kami perfect for each other nung time na iyon,” she explained.

(In 2018, I went through a lot in my love life and so was he. So, for me, we were not perfect for each other at the time.)

Back then, Imperial spoke up about being physically abused. Speculations were made that her bruises were from then-boyfriend Paul Salas. In the same year, she was romantically linked to “Araw Gabi” costar JM de Guzman.

Loyzaga, meanwhile, faced mental health challenges and reportedly went to rehab to recover.

Now, it seems, the two are finally ready to be a couple. NVG

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