New Cebuanovela 'Summer Sunshine' takes viewers to Hong Kong

The cast and crew of the new Cebuanovela "Summer Sunshine," who were part of the Hong Kong shoot, were bursting with stories about the working trip during a presscon last Saturday at Krua Thai Restaurant, SM City Cebu. They spent four days in the former British colony, shooting 54 scenes for the 13-week television series.

They shot at such favorite tourist spots as Victoria Peak, Avenue of Stars, Tsim Tsa Tsui, Causeway Bay, Victoria Park, Times Square and Mongkok, according to ABS-CBN Cebu marketing head Trixie Tolentino.

At Victoria Peak, they had an interesting encounter with the security, who were somehow strict with commercial filming. They got away with it, as the young director-writer Jurey Mirafuentes ingeniously told the security they were students on a filming assignment.

They also shared that at Victoria Park they bumped into a couple of Cebuanos who worked as entertainers in Hong Kong hotels. And that during filming, foreigners curiously watched the goings-on.

Scenes in Hong Kong will tell viewers about how the lead female character, the college intern Andi portrayed by TV host Sunshine Cunanan, becomes the object of affection of the son of the owner of a Hong Kong-based travel agency played by model Cassidy Shun. (It's the first acting experience of Cassidy and he's now open to pursue more acting-related projects after this.)

Jurey is particularly proud of how they shot this Cebuanovela, their third after "Milyonaryong Mini" and "Amor Chicko." Unlike in the past, this time they employed two cameras to ensure all angles and nuances are captured onscreen.

"Summer Sunshine," which premieres this afternoon, also stars "Let's Go's" Bol-anon looker Blumarc Roces who plays the lead actor Andrew, an acoustic singer who dreams of becoming a recording star. Andi and Andrew are adopted siblings who get separated as kids then serendipitously cross paths as young adults one summer.

We noted to Jurey the Koreanovela-ish quality to the story (particularly the forbidden love story between siblings who are actually not blood-related), and he doesn't deny his inspiration, saying that the love plus humor formula of Koreanovelas has always appealed to local televiewers. The people behind the Cebuanovela are also undaunted over how the absence of well-known Manila-based Visayan artists (except for Blumarc) in "Summer Sunshine" will affect its ratings.

"Summer Sunshine," nonetheless, will feature a slightly mature romance replete with scenes that truly utilize the tear ducts of its cast. Other cast members include Charlene Go, Roy Empleo, Bernard Visitacion, Meriam Sanchez, Baby Condeno, Ramon Villanueva, among other familiar faces on local television.