(From left) David Licauco, Barbie Forteza, Jak Roberto. Images: Instagram/@davidlicauco, Instagram/@jakroberto

Behind the popularity of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco’s “FiLay” love team is the actress’ supportive boyfriend, Kapuso hunk Jak Roberto.

Forteza and Licauco star as Klay and Fidel in the GMA historical fantasy series “Maria Clara at Ibarra”, where the former enters the world of “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” which were written by national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

One of the soap opera’s titular scenes show Fidel delos Reyes, a friend of protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra (Dennis Trillo), developing feelings for visiting nursing student Klay, but being left in agony as she returns to the modern world.

This arc was such a hit that producers of the show had decided to mine this “love team” even though it was public knowledge that Forteza is very much in a relationship with Roberto.

The Kapuso actress said Roberto is an avid supporter of the FiLay loveteam in a cover interview with digital lifestyle publication FreebieMNL, saying that he would even encourage her to carry on with their promotions.

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“It usually comes from Jak na, ‘If kailangan niyong mag-post, if kailangan niyo mag-promote, go,’ kasi nakita niya ang lakas talaga ng FiLay and super support siya. Kaibigan niya rin talaga si David kasi, so full support,” she said.

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(Usually, Jak would say, ‘If you need to post or if you need to promote, go,’ because he sees how popular the FiLay loveteam is. He’s very supportive of us, especially that he’s friends with David in real life.)

View this post on InstagramA post shared by David Licauco (@davidlicauco)

Forteza said she is thankful that her boyfriend of more than five years was being “mature” about the popularity of her onscreen pairing with Licauco.

“If, napapansin niyo, yung mga postings ko lang of us is yung holidays, pero other than that, para hindi siyempre ma-divert yung attention, naiintindihan niya yun. So, I really appreciate that. It’s such a mature move from him,” she said.

(If you’ve noticed, we only post about our moments together during the holidays. But other than that, I promote our loveteam which can divert my attention and he understands that. So, I really appreciate that. It’s such a mature move from him.)

Forteza and Roberto first met on the set of the GMA teleserye “Meant To Be” in 2017, and started dating in the same year. In a May 2021 report of INQUIRER.net, Roberto said the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” star is “the one” for him.

The GMA fantaserye is down to its final four weeks on air, as it transitions to the storyline of “El Filibusterismo”. The series also stars Dennis Trillo, Julie Anne San Jose, Juancho Triviño, Andrea Torres, and Khalil Ramos, among others. EDV