Aga, Angel, Jake promise a passionate romance drama

CEBU, Philippines - It was a light-hearted affair when the three top-billers of Star Cinema’s romantic drama “In the Name of Love” held its Cebu presscon May 6 at Krua Thai in SM be-fore they headed down to the Event Centre for a mall show, where numerous fans awaited the good-looking cast’s arrival.

Angel Locsin and Aga Muhlach were clearly very at ease with each other, cheerfully bantering every now and then while fielding questions about their first co-starrer and other side issues. Jake Cuenca, for his part, had Angel as the very first actress he shot a scene with in his entire acting career. This was back when they were still both GMA-7 talents, so they’ve had enough history to be the chummy co-actors that they are.

Apart from their agreeable personalities, their closeness is a result of the movie taking over a year to finish, after months and months of delay due to the artist’s conflicting schedules. It must be a sigh of relief for them to finally see their hard work fleshed out on the big screen today, as “In The Name of Love” begins its first run in over 100 theaters nationwide.

Helmed by director Olivia Lamasan, this is said to be a movie event because, among other things, it is Aga’s last movie with Star Cinema now that he has joined the TV 5 group. But the actor, deservingly hailed as the “Eternal Romantic Idol,” saw to it that he carry out an amicable exit from the network which for a decade gave him profitable projects.

“I just want to be an example that when you change networks, it doesn’t mean that you have to burn bridges. There was a better opportunity being offered to me in TV 5 so I grabbed it. It’s okay to compete but huwag naman yung siraan,” said the former Bagets idol.

As for the hefty accolades thrown his way, such as the labels “Star Cinema King” or “Premier Leading Man of Romantic Dramas,” Aga quipped he is flattered and felt truly blessed to be offered the kind of roles usually reserved for his younger counterparts. After playing opposite the likes of new generation faces such as Anne Curtis, Kristine Hermosa and Angelica Panganiban, Aga here is paired off with the 26-year-old “Imortal” star.

He is a former dance instructor Emman Toledo, assigned to choreograph for the Governor’s Ball where he meets Cedes Fernandez (Angel) who is about to be engaged to Dylan Evelino (Jake), the governor’s son.

Does the constant reference to the age gap between him and his leading ladies bother him?

“I never look at it that way. We’re all the same. We all do the same thing. We act, nagpupuyat kami. Alam ko din naman kung hanggang saan lang ako. I mean, if you partner me with Serena Dalrymple, that’s another thing!” Aga replied. “Besides, Angel does not play a teenager here. I believe that in movies, if those are the roles that you are playing, it doesn’t matter who your partner is. I’m playing my age here, which is 41. I’m turning 42 this August and I’m proud of it.”

A noticeably curvier but still beautiful Angel was all praises for her “Kuya Aga,” saying he had no airs for a showbiz veteran and that his work attitude alone was a stress-buster.

“No wonder ang daming artistang babae ang gusto siyang makapareha kasi wala siyang attitude sa set na ‘Ako ang bida dito.’ Susuportahan ka niya sa eksena kung sa tingin niya kailangan mo ng tulong. Hindi siya madamot. Kaya tawa lang kami ng tawa kahit mahirap yung ginagawa namin. Kasabay kong ginawa yung movie with Imortal, pero kahit ganoon, nawawala yung pagod ko dahil sobrang okey yung mga kasama ko dito.”

She reveals to being initially wary with the dancing (ballroom and pole dancing which she had to train three months for) and intimate scenes required of her, but that the storyline convinced her those were necessary. “Yung listahan ko na mga bagay na hindi ako komportable gawin on-screen, pinaggawa sa akin dito. I had no choice kasi kailangan sa story talaga. Mature kasi yung character ko. Napaka-passionate nung intimate scenes niya.”

If Angel was hesitant at first, Jake didn’t need any more convincing when the role of a young politico was offered to him. This he said, is a dream project, even if viewers might box him into the role of an often cocky antagonist. He comes with strong endorsement, as Aga readily declared this compliment for his young co-actor: “After this movie, watch Jake Cuenca fly.”

Based on a script by Enrico Santos, “In The Name of Love” also stars Dante Rivero, Carmi Martin, Ryan Eigenmann, Emilio Garcia, Dimples Romana, Smokey Manaloto, Bobby Andrews, Michael Flores, Kat Alano, Joshua Zamora, Nanding Josef, Maliksi Morales and Paul Salas.