Who is Kenneth Hizon, Kathryn Bernardo's alleged 'first crush'?

MANILA — After Kathryn Bernardo's confession in an episode of "Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Season 7" of her first crush, fans of the Kapamilya actress quickly jumped online to search for the certain "Kenneth."

Not too long after the confession, photos of Kathryn and a certain "Kenneth Hizon" surfaced and went viral.

Fans were pretty sure this was the "Kenneth" that Kathryn was talking about as she described the "Kenneth" as mestizo and someone she wouldn't talk to since he's her crush.

ABS-CBN News reached out to Kenneth Hizon, who went to the same grade school with Kathryn in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija.

Kenneth, who is now a doctor in their hometown, confirmed that he and Kathryn were classmates before.

He also confirmed that it was him and Kathryn in a photo circulating on social media that appeared to be a school activity, adding that he was surprised with the online attention he got after that PGT episode aired.

"Siyempre nagulat ako. Nung una, hindi ko talaga alam, but since my friends were tagging me after that PGT clip ni Kathryn, nagulat na ako. So inisip ko, mag-reminisce ako, ako ba 'yun? I'm not sure," Kenneth told ABS-CBN News.

"We were classmates before from nursery until, hindi ko lang maalala kung hanggang Grade 1 or Grade 2. But yes, we were classmates before," he added.

Although he was still unsure if he was the "Kenneth" being referred to, he still admitted that he felt butterflies from what Kathryn said.

"Siyempre, kinilig ako... Hindi lang ako sigurado pero [ang] napansin ko sa kanya before, hindi niya talaga ako pinapansin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya gano'n," he said.

When asked to describe how he remembers Kathryn from back then, he only had praise for the actress even in their grade school days.

"Pag nakita mo kasi siya, makikita mo talaga na bright kid siya. Tapos masayahin siya, and siyempre maganda," he said.

Even after all the online traction he received, he also revealed that he and Kathryn have not yet met after all the years that passed and that he hopes they could catch up.

"Hi Kathryn, I hope you are doing well. If your busy time would allow us, I hope we can catch up," he said when asked for a message to the actress.

Kenneth, who is now a 30-year-old doctor, plans to pursue residency next year.