Xian Lim Speaks Up On Alleged Sightings With “Hearts On Ice” Leading Lady Ashley Ortega

Ashley Ortega admits getting bashed for her team-up with Xian Lim

Hearts On Ice” lead stars Xian Lim and Ashley Ortega have clarified netizens’ allegations linking them together.

Coach Ronan Capili, one of Lim’s trainers for skating, posted a direct message from a netizen accusing him of tolerating Lim and Ortega’s secret dates on Twitter on March 2. The netizen also accused Lim of cheating on his girlfriend, Kim Chiu.

The netizen told Capili, “Matagal na kitang pinagmamasdan at inoobserbahan. Madaming balita mismo galing GMA ang nakakarating sa akin na ikaw mismo ang kumukunsinti diyan kay Xian Lim at Ashley Ortega at sa lihim na relasyon nila. Coach ka na din pala ng panloloko ngayon. Paano mo naatim na tulungan ang Xian Lim na yan na lokohin si Kim? Paano mo nagawang maging daan para patagong magkita yan si Xian Lim at Ashley Ortega na yan at lokohin si Kim? Huwag sana kumita yang show niyo, mga manloloko.”

Capili uploaded a screenshot of the message on Twitter. He only says, “Alam ko receiver ako nung nag vo-volleyball pako, pero mukhang nasasanay nakong maging blocker lol. ‘Coach ka na din ng panloloko,’ that’s new.”

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Ashley Ortega is dedma

During the press conference of “Hearts On Ice” on Friday, March 3, 2023, Ortega and Lim both deny the allegations. They also clarify the sightings the netizens were accusing them of.

Ortega first answers, saying, “Kami ni Xian, we’re just friends.”

She also admits getting bashed because of their team-up. “Siyempre, nakakatanggap din ako ng mga ganyang ano, almost every single day, pero dedma na lang ako. Si Xian din naman, he’s aware of it.”

Lim then takes the microphone, saying that he should be the one answering the issue.

According to Lim, practicing ice skating is part of his preparations for “Hearts On Ice.” In the story, Lim and Ortega play ice skaters who fall in love. Prior to the show, Ortega was already a professional ice skater, winning several awards in international competitions.

Capili is Lim’s trainer for his ice-skating practices. He also clarifies that ice-skating coach Anna Bermudez is also present in these trainings, being the official consultant of “Hearts On Ice.”

Xian explains, “Actually, ang requirement po rito, ang sabi po nila sa akin from the beginning of the show, ‘O, Xian, maybe you can do some hockey, a little bit of skiing. Siyempre, baka kailanganin ni Direk and mga writers also na makasama ko po si Ashley sa mga scenes. Kaya sabi ko, ‘Sige, mag-training tayo.’ So, we’re really preparing for the time that I get to a certain level…”

Lim then says that he’s posting his skating journey on Instagram for his followers to see. He also had to reach for a certain level and get a certificate to be able to skate with Ortega on ice. “Because mahirap naman po na isasabak na kami agad at masagasaan namin ang isa’t-isa. Lalo na po ako. Si Ashley, stable na stable na yan.”

Xian Lim explains

Lim and Ortega training together for their choreography could be the “sightings” netizens were talking about. After all, they were training and taping in a public ice-skating rink. The choreography also requires them to be sweet, playing lovers in the show.

Lim explains, “Yung mga choreography namin ni Ashley, siyempre, on ice, we’re dancing. Kita niyo naman sa material namin, we’re very much—kumbaga, we played on the theme of love. We’re expressing love with each other, yung mga character namin.”

He continues, “So, wala, e, public. Public yung skating rink. Hindi naman namin pwedeng ipasara kahit gusto namin for safety rin, baka makasagasa kami ng mga bata. So, we’re skating in public. So, yung mga emote-emote namin, nakikita ng public. Siyempre, nagtataka sila, ‘Bakit yung dalawa, nag-e-emote-emote rito?’”

Aside from being Lim’s trainer, Capili also choreographs their skating moves for the show.

Of this, Lim says, “He will send me [the screenshots], may nagse-send sa kanya. Siyempre, yung coach, nagulat din siya because he’s just doing his job, di ba?”

In the end, Lim reiterates that he and Ortega are just on-screen partners. Smiling, he confirms with the press, “Yes, of course.”

“Hearts On Ice” marks the first team-up of Lim and Ortega. It is also Lim’s second project with GMA Network. Dominic Zapata helms the project which will premiere on March 13, 2023.

Banner Image Dani Sison

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