MANILA, Philippines – Actress Anne Curtis has denies rumors of any romantic involvement—past or present—with Derek Ramsey, but admitted that she used to hang out with the actor.

“This happened way before I started dating Luis (Manzano),” the actress said during the press launch of her latest TV series, “The Wedding,” on the Kapamilya network. “But I’d rather not talk about it. It’s part of our past.”

Anne’s statement piqued the curiosity of show biz reporters at the launch. This was why Derek, who plays Anne’s “dream guy” in the series, was asked if he regretted not courting the actress.

“It’s interesting how this relationship developed,” said Derek, who is now dating Anne’s friend, actress Angelica Panganiban. “We still share some sort of bond. We’re really close friends. I have no regrets.”

According to Anne, she first met Derek six years ago at a game show. They were teammates and they hit it off because both grew up abroad.

“Siya kasi ang Inglesera sa team [She was the only one in the team who spoke English all the time]. I just got here from England, where I grew up, and still didn’t speak much Filipino. She was one of the people who helped me get around,” the actor explained.

Was Angelica ever jealous of her closeness to Derek?

“I don’t think so,” said the Fil-Australian actress. “I always hang out with the two of them. I’m always their third wheel. She knows she has nothing to worry about.”

In “The Wedding,” Anne plays a rich girl, Candice, who longs to have the perfect nuptial with her dream guy Warren (Derek Ramsey), who suddenly has to leave for the United States.

As a way of rebelling against her parents, who both want their own marriage annulled, Candice gets herself a fiancé her parents will never approve of—Marlon (Zanjoe Marudo), an employee of the family’s construction business.

Conflict arises when Warren arrives just as Candice is starting to fall in love with Marlon.

If you find yourself in a similar situation as your character, what would you do?

It’s really a sticky situation to be torn between my past and present loves. I will think very hard before I chose between them. I will just probably cross the bridge when I get there.

What, to you, would be the perfect wedding?

It doesn’t really matter where the wedding would be, as long as it’s a place where the sunset is visible. That’s the most romantic setting for me. The wedding gown would be similar to what I’m wearing now, a creation of Francis Libiran. It’s classic and vintage-looking.

If Derek and Zanjoe were both unattached and hopelessly in love with you, who would you chose?

I need to know them first, not just on a professional level. I want to experience how it’s like to be wooed by them. Safe answer ba [Is it a safe answer]? (laughs)

How do you find working with the two guys?

We’ve known each other for quite a while, but it was working on “The Wedding” that we got really close. We see each other every other day. We hang out even when there’s no more taping. We also talk on the phone a lot. There’s no more awkwardness among the three of us.

What difficulties did you encounter while doing the show?

In the beginning, nangangapa pa [awkward]. Now, I feel more comfortable. Most of my scenes are very light, pero may konting kurot [with slight drama]. Maybe the challenge would come when it’s time to shoot the heavy drama scenes with my on-screen parents (Michael de Mesa and Eula Valdez).

What kind of man do you consider an ideal partner?

He’s somebody who’s loyal and honest. Someone I could talk to everyday and never run out of things to say. I used to picture Sam as my ideal man. We had a lot of good memories.
(Anne and Sam broke up late last year. Both refused to reveal the reason behind the split.)

When do you think you’d be ready to get married?

It’s not in my hands to say when it would happen. It really depends on my groom-to-be. I’d rather wait. I know he’ll pop the question when he’s ready. I think I’d know I’m ready if I already consider my partner as the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, if I already want to have a family with him. I’d know I’m ready if I’m done with the things I want to accomplish. I imagine a traditional wedding proposal. I imagine my man kneeling while he gives the engagement ring to me.

What song do you want sung on your wedding?

I still can’t say. With each person, there’s a theme song. When that right person comes, the right song would come, too. I imagine Lea Salonga would sing it. If that’s not possible, I hope my closest friends Nikki Gil or Iya Villania would.

What was your reaction when you first learned that, after “Dyosa,” you’d do a more mature role in “The Wedding?”

This is actually a family show. It’s safe for kids to watch. It’s light and heartwarming. My character is younger than I am now. She will grow up with the show. I had no second thoughts. I liked the story immediately.

“The Wedding” airs weekdays on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida after “Tayong Dalawa.” It is directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Czarina Cruz. It also features William Martinez, Irma Adlawan and Baron Geisler.

E-mail: mcruz@inquirer.com.ph