Joshua Garcia took to social media to greet his good friend and once-rumored girlfriend Ria Atayde as she turned 30 on Wednesday, March 23.
On Instagram Stories, the actor posted a photo of a smiling Ria on a boat, with the short caption that read, "Happy birthday rumored girlfriend."
In a previous interview, Joshua said that while he would be incredibly lucky to have Ria as a girlfriend, he and the actress are merely friends.
"Napakamalisyoso niyo, 'yun ang masasabi ko. Alam mo 'yon? At kung kami man ay napakasuwerte ko, napakatalinong tao, napakaganda inside and outside. Alam mo 'yon, wala ka nang hihilingin napakamaalaga niya. Actually sa circle of friends namin siya 'yung parang nanay namin," he said.
"I think may mga relationship na mas better kapag magkaibigan kayo kaysa more than magkarelasyon kayo."
Ria likewise had laughed off rumors linking her to Joshua, stating in a past interview: "We laugh about it. It's actually like something, 'uy rumored boyfriend halika rito.' Like, I mean, we are friends."
READ: Ria Atayde goes daring in 30th birthday shoot
According to the actress, she and Joshua became close when the actor worked with her mother Sylvia Sanchez on the 2016 series The Greatest Love.
"I am super super comfortable with him. Because nga he is my mom's grandson in The Greatest Love and because of that he actually celebrated Christmas with us that year and we're close. Like we just don't post about each other or anything. Pero 'yun nga we're close because of that," she explained.
"Things got busy pero we always keep in touch throughout the years. Then kasi we are also working together on Viral [Scandal] so you know lot of reasons to hang out. And he also just recently started playing golf with the boys of my friend group. Now he is part of it as well. So it's really just that."
READ: Joshua Garcia warns fans about poser account as his photo with Ria Atayde makes rounds online
Meanwhile, aside from Joshua, other close friends of Ria in showbiz also turned to social media to wish her a happy birthday.
Here's a look: