Some fans of Kristine and Jericho (left) have protested the Kristine-Oyo pairing.

Actress Kristine Hermosa came to the defense of rumored boyfriend Oyo Boy Sotto, whom detractors subjected to harsh criticisms recently.

Apparently, anti-Oyo sentiments flooded ABS-CBN’s mail box after it was announced that the two are to be paired in an episode of the afternoon soap "Precious Hearts Romances Presents."

The pairing, it seems, did not sit well with the Kristine Hermosa-Jericho Rosales fans.

The criticisms hurled against the son of Vic Sotto and Dina Bonnevie seemed too harsh, prompting Kristine to react in the March 10 episode of "Showbiz News Ngayon."

“May mga supporters kami [ni Jericho] na medyo masakit na 'yong mga salitang binibitiwan. Kasi, kami ni Oyo, nandidito lang kami. Sana maka-reach out din kami sa kanila, mapasaya din sila. Sa ibang tao na saradung-sarado 'yong mind nila at 'yong puso nila para dito sa ginagawa namin sa 'Precious Hearts [Romances] Presents,' siyempre hindi namin kayo pipilitin,” Kristine said.

The actress almost pleaded to the fans to give Oyo a chance.

“We’re hoping na somehow, buksan nila ang puso nila, 'yong isipan nila na 'sige, panoorin naman natin, baka naman matuwa tayo.'

"Sigurado ako na may mapupulot kayong aral or somehow may matutuwa, mapapangiti namin kayo, alam namin 'yon.”

Oyo is cool about the matter.

“Ako, okay lang kahit isa lang 'yong fan namin. Walang kaso sa akin 'yon. Mapasaya ko ang isang tao, masaya na rin ako,” he said.

Kristine and Oyo are excited over their new TV pairing.

“Excited ako. Gusto kong mapanood ninyo 'yong pinagtrabahuhan namin ni Oyo,” Kristine said.

Oyo concurred: “Nilu-look forward ko talaga 'yong finished product kasi nakikita naman namin kung ano ang nangyayari pero iba pa rin kasi ‘pag natapos mo.” 

Kristine, however, was non-committal when asked if Oyo is "the one."

“'Yong talagang ibibigay sa akin ni God, kung sino talaga 'yong taong prinepare niya for me. 'Yon 'yong gusto kong makilala,” Kristine explained.

Oyo claims they're both praying hard to know if they're right for each other.

“Nag-pray kami ni Tin kung kami ang para sa isa’t isa.”

Just recently, Kristine and Oyo were rumored to have tied the knot in the US. Both denied doing so.