The cinema pairing of Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin will be unveiled via “Love Me Again”—Star Cinema’s grand opening salvo this January 14, 2007.
Fresh from being awarded by the Philippine Movie Press Club last year, Piolo and Angel promise to make critics stand up and take notice of their acting in this film which is helmed by Rory Quintos.
For Angel, the film, which was shot in here and abroad, has provided her the “greatest bonding experience” with co-stars. “This is my 10th film. Dito we bonded so much, since we were in Bukidnon for a month and we got to really really know each other. Not as Piolo the actor and Rory the director but you know as people.”
Angel said that Piolo was a revelation off screen. “[He’s] very, very talented and I got to see him at his rawest form when the world is not looking e. Nakakatuwa syang tingnan.”
On the part of Piolo, Angel’s professionalism did not go unnoticed. “What I like about her is that she’s so open to learning and I appreciate very much the trust that she gave me as the director. And she’s a very intelligent actress, very talented. Talagang nagbibigay siya ng lahat ng makakaya niya.”
For both actors, what really provided them this kind of bonding were the set locations—Bukidnon and Australia. Piolo said, “Iba kasi yung experience sa Bukidnon. Definitely yung sense of parang being home na parang ako naman kasi pag nagtrabaho ako bumabiyahe rin ako around the world, pero yung calmness na binigay sa akin ng Bukidnon, yung peace talagang sabi ko di ko alam na ganon kagrabe na di mo pala kailangan ng any wealth di mo kailangan ng materyal na bagay to enjoy your life.”
He continued, “It’s just there right in front of you, mountains, greens, and the simplest things in life. Na-appreciate ko yung walang technology, walang phone, walang tv, walang pressure. So narelax ako talaga.”
In fact, so enamored was the actor with this destination in southern Philippines that he really is seriously considering of settling in Bukidnon. “Regarding sa property, the mayor is offering us a piece of land. I’m really considering getting a property there, maybe settle down there or maybe try to have something there. Napalapit na rin sa akin ang mga tao so gusto kong balik-balikan.”
Angel is equally impressed. “Ang ganda ganda sa Bukidnon. Muntikan na akong tumira don at mag-migrate for good. Kasi puro green tapos yung mga tao napakanatural ng kilos. Walang arti-artista don. Di naman sa di ko naa-appreciate buhay ko sa Manila pero don simple lang walang pressure. Gising ka ng umaga, tutulog ka ng gabi. Tutulog kami sa rancho ng walang ilaw, walang kuryente naka-bonfire lang, walang heater. Nakakasarap ng feeling. Nakakauntog kumbaga.”
While the set in Australia provided similar experiences as in Bukidnon, it nevertheless posed more challenges.
Piolo said, “It was my first time to go to the northern territory. Outback, literal na outback sya. Nakakatuwa isipin mo yung size ng Pilipinas walang tao. Kahit saang lugar ka tumingin walang tao. And what’s even worse mainit. Wala kaming shade. Ang pinaka-shade namin puno. It was so barren and literal na immersion sa outback.
Angel, for her part, said they actually braced for the worst. “Ni-ready ni direk Rory yung utak namin na eto mangyayari dyan. Hindi tayo hotel titira, wala tayong crew, wala tayong catering, wala tayong utility, wala tayong alalay, wala lahat, tayo lahat. Tayo magpa-pack ng baon natin. Tayo gigising sa sarili natin. Tayo mag-aayos, tayo maglalaba ng costumes nyo, mag-co-continuity lahat.
“Kung pwede nga tumulong kayo, di naman nila kami inutusan pero nag-request si direk na tulungan nyo ang production sa ginagawa nila. Hindi lang isa ang trabaho, 3, 4 ganon kami. Kami di lang artista, crew, script continuity, art dept, p.a., lahat.”
She said it was worth all the trouble. “Nakakatuwa kasi mas naging close kami sa isa’t isa. Pati sa crew na kasama namin, mas nakausap namin sila ng maayos. Mas naintindihan namin trabaho nila. Ganon din sila sa amin so masayang experience talaga sya.”
Piolo added that working with Australians was another unique experience in itself, “One thing I appreciated was yung mga Australians na tumulong sa min. Sila yung talagang tumulong para mas mapaganda pa namin locations na pupuntahan namin, kumuha ng mga permit, eh napamahal din sa amin. Kasi sinasabi nila napakaganda makisama ng Pinoy.”
“Love Me Again” will open in cinemas nationwide this January 14. Both its lead stars, Piolo and Angel, will be in Cebu this January 13 to promote the film. – NMT