(From left) Mark Herras and Jojo Mendrez. Images: Facebook/Rodel Ocampo Fernando, Jojo Mendrez
Weeks after surprising Jojo Mendrez with a bouquet of flowers at a media gathering, Mark Herras said it was meant to show his support for Mendrez, nothing more.
Herras and Mendrez were hounded by rumors of a romantic dalliance after the “Starstruck” alum surprised the latter with flowers at a media event, just minutes after the singer had to deny any romantic involvement between them.
Herras explained in an interview with showbiz reporter Rodel Fernando via Facebook that it was simply his way of expressing his support for his friend.
“Just to be there and show my support kay Jojo. I mean, yeah, we started as [katrabaho], and eventually, naging close friends kami. Wala namang masama magbigay ng bulaklak,” he said.
(I just want to be there and show my support to Jojo. I mean, yeah, we started as co-workers and eventually became close friends. There is nothing wrong in giving flowers.)
The “Starstruck” alum maintained that he and Mendrez have a “very good relationship as friends and colleagues,” saying his words will always be twisted by naysayers no matter what.
“Ganito lang ho ‘yan. Kapag sinabi kong meron, ang daming magrereact. Ang daming magbabash or magsasabi ng kung ano-ano. Kapag sinabi kong hindi, magtatanong pa rin sila. So bahala sila. Bahala po kayo isipin kung anong gusto niyong isipin, basta wala kaming ginagawang masama,” he said.
Herras further added: “We have this very, very good relationship as friends and colleagues. ‘Yung mga nangyayari ngayon and sa mga issues, kayo na bahala… Nagtatrabaho lang ang tao.”
(Let’s put it this way. If I say there is something between us, we will be bashed. People will say a lot of things. If I say there’s nothing between us, we would still be asked about our status. Let’s just let things be. Believe what you want to believe. We are not doing anything wrong. We have this very, very good relationship as friends and colleagues. With the issue happening now, I’ll let you be. We’re just working.)
Herras, who was raised by his adoptive gay parents Daddy Jun and Tito Hermie, said a man can fall in love with someone of the same gender when asked about the topic.
“Based on my experience kasi, may gay parents kasi ako eh, so it’s possible. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na hindi mangyayari kasi with my parents, it happened with them. Kung possible bang mainlove ang lalaki sa kapwa niyang lalaki, oo naman,” he said in the same interview.
(Based on my experience, I have gay parents so it’s possible. I don’t want to say that it can’t happen because it happened with my parents. Is it possible for a man to love someone of the same gender? Of course.)
Herras and Mendrez were hounded with dating rumors after they were spotted at a hotel casino in Parañaque in February, which the latter firmly denied in a statement on his Facebook page.
Dubbed the “Revival King,” Mendrez recently released his first original song “Nandito Lang Ako,” which was composed by OPM songwriter and record producer Jonathan Manalo. In a press release, the song is about “patience, sacrifice, and unconditional love.”
He is best known for his rendition of “Somewhere in My Past” which was originally sung by the late actress-singer Julie Vega.