CEB gives Sarah-JLC pic an ‘A’

MANILA, Philippines - The third installment of the most successful Filipino movie franchise It Takes A Man And A Woman, topbilled by Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz, has been given the “A” grade, the highest rating by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). The Cathy Garcia-Molina-directed film is now showing nationwide.

According to direk Cathy, the third part of the Laida (Sarah)-Miggy (John Lloyd) love story is a “level up” of the first two installments. “Iba na ‘yung level ng kilig ng part three. It’s not about the same girl who’s giggling over her crush. In part three, we’ve taken it a notch higher na hindi lang basta kilig,” she said. “Dito, natuto na sila Laida and Miggy kung paano magmahal. Kaya ‘yung kilig dito, hindi na nanggagaling sa pa-cute. Mas kikiligin ka kasi alam mong mahal na nila yung isa’t isa in the true sense of love.”

“Bagay na bagay ‘yung theme song sa kwento ng part three kasi from a girl and a boy, Laida and Miggy have transformed into a man and a woman. It really takes a man and a woman to love kasi love takes more than just the kilig. Kasama sa pagmamahal ‘yung pinagdadaanang problema at ‘yung capability mo to forgive.”

The box-office director further shared that apart from Laida and Miggy, the lead stars themselves, Sarah and John Lloyd, have matured as individuals. “Dati kulitan lang nang kulitan at talagang medyo petty ang mga pinagkikwentuhan nila, anything that would make them laugh,” she related. “Ngayon, meron ng sense ang pinag-uusapan nila — may about love, how to love a person, how to keep a relationship.”

More than the box-office success, direk Cathy is proud that the movie franchise has touched many moviegoers’ lives. “We have created a lot of characters na sa pelikula pero sina Miggy at Laida parang hindi sila tao. Para silang characters sa Snow White at Cinderella. Kaya lang ‘yung mga ‘yun, babae lang ang bida at ‘yung mga prinsipe nila parang generic. Dito ‘yung prinsipe natin may pangalan, si Miggy,” she said. “Nakakatuwa na nakapagbigay pala tayo ng ganoong klase sa audience na paulit-ulit na pinanonood at hanggang ngayon ay napapakilig pa rin sila. I believe Miggy and Laida provided happiness and entertainment to the audience, and made them believe in love and kilig.”

Co-produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, It Takes A Man And A Woman also features Joross Gamboa, Gio Alvarez, Matet de Leon, Al Tantay, Irma Adlawan, Guji Lorenzana, Rowel Santiago and Dante Rivero. The movie also introduces Isabelle Daza, who will play the character of Belle, the socialite girlfriend of Miggy.