Manila, Philippines - You can describe Aga Muhlach in so many ways — Premiere Leading Man of Romance Dramas, The Actor Everybody Loves to Fall in Love With, The Ultimate Matinee Idol, etc.
He doesn’t seem to age, that’s why he’s also called the Eternal Romantic Idol, an image that Aga is firming up in Star Cinema’s In The Name Of Love, his much-awaited first team-up with Angel Locsin, directed by Olivia Lamasan from a story and screenplay that she co-wrote with Enrico Santos. The movie is the company’s 18th anniversary offering.
Also in the movie is Jake Cuenca, who will be involved in a love triangle with Aga and Angel.
Aga is cast as Emman Toledo, a former dancer whose life seems to have hit a blank wall until he crosses paths with Cedes Fernandez (Angel) at the Governor’s Ball where her engagement to Dylan Evelino (Jake), the governor’s son, is to be announced. But then, Emman and Cedes catch each other’s fancy on their first meeting and their lives is radically changed.
“I love the role,” said Aga who once played a similar one in a movie with Vilma Santos.
Opening in more than 150 theaters nationwide on May 11, In The Name Of Love is Aga’s second movie with director Olivia; the first was Sana Maulit Muli, the 1995 hit Star Cinema rom-com with Lea Salonga as his leading lady.
Also starring are Dante Rivero, Ryan Eigenmann, Emilio Garcia, Dimples Romana, Kat Alano, Michael Flores, Smokey Manaloto, Bobby Andrews, Joshua Zamora, Nanding Josef, Maliksi Morales, Paul Salas and Carmi Martin (who’s returning to the big screen), In The Name Of Love is Aga’s 10th movie for Star Cinema, among them Basta’t Kasama Kita, May Minamahal, Dubai, Narinig Mo Na Ba Ang L8est, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana and A Love Story.
An “adjustable/adaptable” actor, Aga also holds the distinction of being paired with not just one actress but “all of them,” and his bankability has been amply proven by the box-office no matter who his leading lady is. He varies and reinvents himself all the time.
After proving her versatility in both teleseryes and movies, Angel shows yet another facet of her multi-talent by putting her dancing skills in harness in In The Name Of Love.
“I had to learn all kinds of dances, including ballroom dancing, and Kuya Aga was a big help,” said Angel who starred with Piolo Pascual in the ABS-CBN soap Lobo and the Star Cinema movie Love Me Again and now with John Lloyd Cruz in the ABS-CBN fantaserye Imortal. She had a chance to bond with Aga and get to know him closely when they shot some scenes in Japan.
“We were there for six days and because we had to maximize our time, we only had two hours of sleep every night,” said Angel. “But I really admire Kuya Aga because even if he said that he wasn’t used to that kind of schedule, he never complained. It was a difficult experience but worthwhile.”
It was also in Japan where Angel saw Aga the man besides Aga the actor.
“Kuya Aga is like a big kid,” added Angel, “always excited to be on the set. He’s smart, too, very cool and very calm. Relaxed na relaxed lang siya maski nagpa-panic na kaming lahat.”