More than friends, not yet lovers

MANILA, Philippines - After her horror flick, Tarot, did well at the tills last month, Mother Lily Monteverde is focusing on Regal’s next project, Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo, the launching film of the hot Aljur Abrenica-Kris Bernal love team. “I believe in their tandem,” she says. “I’ve seen the film’s rushes and they do have great kilig factor. I’m sure they can now carry their own movie. I also take my hat off to the director, Maryo de los Reyes, who has really come up with a beautiful love story that is also about families.”

The movie used to be titled I’ll Be Waiting for You. But now, it has a new title, Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo. “The Tagalog title is more fitting,” she says. “Pati sa story, mas bagay ang Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo kasi Aljur really shows to Kris na he’ll always be there for her to love her. Also, these days, haven’t you noticed that the titles of local movies are always in English? Mag-Tagalog naman tayo dahil Pinoy tayo, di ba? After all, we’re also promoting local tourism here as this was shot on location in Bohol and captures its beautiful spots like Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Baclayon Church, and Panglao Beach. I also want to commend Aljur and Kris they did everything direk Maryo ordered them to do, like yung konting pagpapa-sexy na di nila magawa sa TV. They both look good in their revealing swimsuits.”

“Siempre, we want our launching flick to succeed kaya everything asked by our director, we did it for the movie,” says Aljur.

“We gave our all,” says Kris. “We also like the story as it’s very absorbing.”

In the movie, Kris is about to marry Baron Geisler. They’re both from Bohol but met each other while studying in the US. They return to Bohol for their wedding. Aljur is a poor boy whose mom, Anna Capri, sells medicinal herbs in front of the Quiapo church. Anna is dying so she tells her son the truth that his real dad is alive and lives in Bohol. They go to Bohol for Anna to introduce Aljur to his dad, Lloyd Samartino, who also happens to be the dad of Baron. At first, Lloyd won’t recognize Aljur, but they take a DNA test and it’s proven that Aljur is indeed his son. Things get complicated whe , Kris, and they fall in love. As may be expected, all hell breaks loose between the half brothers.

Supporting them in the movie are Valeen Montenegro as the cousin of Kris who’s her wedding planner, Julio Diaz as Kris’ dad, Anton Bernardo as the uncle of Aljur in whose house they stay in Bohol, Gerald Madrid and newcomer Dean Pastrano (son of director Al Quinn) as Baron’s best friends.

The love team of Aljur and Kris wasn’t planned. Both discovered in Starstruck 4, Kris was first paired with Mart Escudero as Ultimate Sweethearts while Aljur was named Ultimate Hunk. But the fans supported more the Al-Kris love team so they were paired as second leads in Zaido, Dyesebel and Gagambino. They first went solo in the afternoon soap, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin, which rated so high and which was also megged by Maryo de los Reyes.

“Kaya nga we really trust direk Maryo,” says Aljur. “For our launching movie, when he told me to wear trunks and Kris, a two-piece bikini, in our beach scene, we agreed right away.”

How did he feel when he saw Kris in her two-piece bikini? “I stared at her for a long time and she became conscious. Naasar nga siya. But in fairness to her, maganda talaga ang katawan niya, ha. She doesn’t think of herself as sexy, but she is.”

We notice they call each other Bebs. Does it mean they’re each other’s baby? “Term of endearment lang, but when we have tampuhan, we still use each other’s names.”

So what’s their status? “We take good care of each other. And we take care of our love team. We have an MU (mutual understanding), but I’m still courting her.”

Kris says she’s hesitant to have formal commitment. “Si Aljur kasi, lapitin ng chicks. I’m scared I might get hurt.”

Do they think they’re truly ready for film stardom? “I’m sure Mother Lily won’t launch us kung wala siyang tiwala sa love team namin ni Kris which is the reason why Kris and I did everything to make sure the movie is something that our fans will enjoy watching,” says Aljur.

What does he think of the Al-Kris love team being pitted against ABS-CBN’s Kimerald (Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson) loveteam? “I think it’s not fair for us to be compared as they already have more accomplishments. They’re much ahead of us. Kris and I are just starting. But it’s said okay rin daw yung may competition as it’s more appealing to the fans. Right now, Gerald and I are being pitted by the fans against each other on Internet debates, especially after we appeared at the Cosmo bash. The important thing is hindi kami basta magpapaapekto.”

How come talks linking him to Rich Asuncion persist. It’s said Rich went secretly to Bohol (her home province) to have a tryst with Aljur while he’s shooting his movie there with Kris. Is this true?

“I don’t really know kung bakit hindi matigil yang pagli-link sa amin. I already said si Kris lang ang nililigawan ko. I think some folks are just out to ruin our love team, which is the reason why Kris was also linked to other guys (like Aldred Gatchalian).”

Did he get jealous when Kris was linked to Aldred? “Not exactly jealous as Kris and I were always together these past several months taping Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin and All My Life then shooting Nandito Ako, so I’d be able to sense it kung meron siyang iba. But I did ask her about Aldred and she said wala talaga silang relasyon. I believe her as I trust her and she doesn’t keep secrets from me.”

How does Kris feel now that the playdate of Nandito Ako is fast approaching?

“Aljur and I are both excited but siempre, kinakabahan din kami as to how the public will accept our movie,” she says. “We’re praying that viewers will support it like they did our TV shows. We promise hindi kami mapapahiya sa kanila.”

Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo opens on Sept. 30 with a premiere night on Sept. 27 at SM Megamall.