The actress’s controversial statement emerged after announcements of her relationship with Marco Gumabao.

Marco announced his relationship with Cristine on April 24 via Facebook and Instagram posts. Marco described Cristine as his “home” and “adventure” in the post, and the photographs showed them on trips and holidays.

It became overwhelmed with congratulations from their friends and netizens, who said they were a fantastic match and that they were both single.

To remember a joke Cristine told Boy Abunda during an unedited interview on “Tonight with Boy Abunda” when she was still with ABS-CBN.

During the interview, they presented Cristine various images of actors and asked if they were her “Jowa” (partner) or “Tropa” (friend). When they flashed Cristine a snapshot of Marco, she quipped, “Am I a cougar?” The term “cougar” refers to “an older woman seeking a s*xual relationship with a younger man”.