Writer-director Jurey Mirafuentes is unashamed about the inspiration and influence behind ABS-CBN Cebu’s newest Cebuanovela. Mirafuentes, who also wrote past Cebuanovelas “AmorChicko” and “Summer Sunshine,” is a big fan of Korean serials—popularly known in the country as Koreanovelas.
The title alone is already a giveaway, which means “I love you” in Korean. This light drama cum romantic comedy—the ending of which is still a work in progress—tells about an industrious young danggit businesswoman Louie (played by Gryka Barrientos, who’s already a familiar face on local TV dramas) who will eventually be torn between her childhood friend Jonathan (Cueshe’s frontman Jay Justiniani) and a mysterious Korean visitor who’s running away from his past.
The Korean “import” who completes the love triangle is 21-year-old, 6’2” tall looker named Choi Jin Wook who also goes by the English name Keric. A first-time actor with zero experience in anything at least remotely related to showbiz, this Maritime student from Seoul has been here for six months now to study English, but looks like he’s going to stay longer than he initially planned.
ABS-CBN Central Visayas Entertainment head Donna Ocampo said that what she is most excited about is the reaction of the Korean community in Cebu towards the Cebuanovela. An indication of interest was the presence of Korean media in the presscon held last Saturday at the Fil Hangang Korean Restaurant at SM City Cebu.
Choi Jin Wook, for his part, said that his friends here and family back in Korea did not expect him to go into acting. “They are curious. They did not expect this. I did not want to be an actor before, but I accepted this because this is a [once-in-a-lifetime] opportunity.”
When asked what he hopes to achieve with his acting stint in the Cebuanovela, he said that he hopes to leave a good impression of the Korean culture. He is aware of the bad press some of the Koreans are getting. He hopes to prove that there are also many good Koreans in Cebu.
Mirafuentes said that a slice of the Korean culture will be served via “Saranghe”—even the way Koreans deal with love and interracial relationships. Hopefully, they will able to shoot some episodes in South Korea itself, planning to do it on November as part of the final scenes of the Cebuanovela.
The teaser of the Cebuanovela has only been airing for about two weeks now, and according to the Korean acting newcomer himself that he does get recognized already, with Cebuanos calling out to him “Saranghe.”
What with the ongoing fixation on Korean dramas, here and elsewhere in the world, I would be the last person to be surprised of the local interest and curiosity this new Cebuanovela will generate.
We were told that “Saranghe” will also bear the finer points of the phenomenal Koreanovela. I don’t find anything wrong with it, as I myself get the appeal of Korean dramas. Not to demean our own teleseryes, but what I appreciate about Korean dramas is the effort they make in showing off their culture—food, fashion, faith, history and values. This may come across alien or strange to those who have never ever been exposed to this culture, but this surely keeps televiewers fascinated at the same time enlightened and educated.
I hope “Saranghe” will showcase the best of Cebuano culture as well, especially as this is bound to rake in viewers from the sizeable Korean community, not just in Cebu but in other Visayan-speaking areas where this Cebuanovela will see broadcast. Choi Jin Wook said that the Philippines is drawing attention in South Korea, and in fact, aired a documentary about Sandara Park when she shot to prominence in the Philippines a couple of years ago.
Still and all, I’m looking forward as to how this Cebuanovela would interweave elements of our culture with the Korean culture—and how they perhaps clash, yet, complement in the end.
Catch the pilot episode today at 10:00 to 10:30AM. Beginning tomorrow, it will take the afternoon timeslot at 3:45 to 4:15PM. Co-directed by Jose “Beling” Rodriguez, “Saranghe” also features Margie Visitacion, Katrina Cadampog, Suzette Estinoso, Ranny Uy, Rhys Lord Senoron, Czarina Dampor and Suzette Estinoso.