RJ Jimenez recalled how his friendship with Yeng Constantino began during their time on ABS-CBN’s reality singing competition, Pinoy Dream Academy, in 2006.
The singer recently reunited with Yeng on August 29 at her Byaheng Bente anniversary concert, where they performed “If We Fall In Love” together. It marked their first time sharing the stage again after 18 years.
In a 2024 interview with PUSH Bets, RJ opened about how naturally their friendship developed even before entering the academy.
“What's happening at that moment...we really don't know what's being aired. So, we were just being friends and being close,” he maintained.
“Even before the show started kasi, when we were auditioning, magkasunod na kami sa pila. That time, auditions ng reality show was really – ang haba ng duration ng audition process. We were auditioning for like three months. So, three months kaming pipila, babalik-balik, ganun. So, in that span, lagi kaming magkasunod, for some reason. Hanggang sa umabot sa final screening, hanggang sa huling kickoff sa Cebu. And then, nung nasa loob na kami, well, close na kami agad.”
Their familiarity with each other became even more valuable once they entered the academy, while they were also getting to know their fellow contestants.
“Syempre, 'yung iba, wala pa naman kaming good relationship with the other schoolmates that time. Eh kami, kilala na namin [ang isa’t isa]. That time pa, hindi naman namin alam kung ano 'yung ine-air.”
As their friendship continued inside the academy, viewers began noticing their chemistry and eventually started pairing them together.
RJ said they only realized how much fans wanted to see them together after they began appearing in shows following Pinoy Dream Academy.
“So, after PDA, when we were doing shows in Pinoy Dream Academy, nagulat na lang kami. Parang minsan nagkaka-tinginan kami [at tinatanong ang isa’t isa na] ‘They want us together?’”
Despite the fans’ shipping, RJ said he was not particularly concerned about how audiences perceived their friendship, knowing that they both focused on learning and enjoying their time making music.
“Hindi ko na maalala 'yung reaksyon ko with that. Pero kasi, I was just enjoying the moment,” he candidly admitted. “So, hindi ako masyado nag-iisip kung ano 'yung iniisip nila. Wala sa isip ko 'yun.”
He also said the fans’ pairing did not change their dynamic, emphasizing that what viewers saw between them was simply an organic friendship.
“Hindi ko kasi nafe-feel 'yun. Kasi ang reality show is reality show,” he said.
“Habang tumatakbo 'yung show, I'm just doing my best. Always preparing, nag-aaral ka doon, 'di ba? Just like a student. So, nag-e-enjoy kayo sa kilig-kilig moments, laro-laro, we were just kids playing there. We don't even know what's airing. It was fun.”
Although fans once hoped that their closeness would eventually turn into something romantic, RJ and Yeng remained friends.
Years later, their friendship would take an unexpected turn when they lost communication for 18 years. During Yeng’s Byaheng Bente concert, she revealed that she had become jealous of RJ’s manager at the time, which eventually contributed to her decision to distance herself from him.
Their recent reunion, however, gave them an opportunity to finally leave that chapter behind.
During the concert, RJ apologized to Yeng and admitted that he had carried anger from their past for years. The two eventually reconciled onstage, turning their performance into an emotional reunion for both of them and their longtime supporters.
After sharing the stage, RJ penned a message for Yeng on Instagram, thanking her for having the chance to reconnect and reconcile.
After his time in Pinoy Dream Academy, RJ has since continued pursuing his passion for music.
In his interview on PUSH Bets, RJ enthusiastically shared how became involved in musicals, worked as a musical director, and composed songs for musical plays.
He also became part of Star Creatives, where he wrote songs for movies, television shows, radio, and other artists.
Among his songwriting credits are “Nagkakakulay ang Mundo,” performed by then-loveteam Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo for their film Must Be Love, and “Diskarte,” which he wrote for Daniel.
One of his theater projects, Si Jack at ang Mahiwagang Beanstalk, earned him a finalist nomination for Best Musical Director at the 2012 Aliw Awards alongside Mike Villegas and Mel Villena.
He later established his own music label, Vantage Music, which is now presenting the upcoming 20th anniversary reunion concert of the Pinoy Dream Academy alumni.
Years later, both RJ and Yeng have found forever with their respective partners.
RJ has been married to Tin Rodriguez since 2014.
Yeng, meanwhile, has been married to Yan Asuncion since 2015. The couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year with a renewal of vows in February.
After their recent reconciliation, RJ and Yeng will once again take the stage with their fellow Pinoy Dream Academy alumni on September 19 for Pinoy Dream Academy 20: The Alumni Homecoming at the Music Museum.