The Richard-Dawn ‘loveteam’: What’s the secret?

MANILA, Philippines - Following the successful comeback of their “loveteam” in last year’s Walang Hanggan, Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta will partner anew on ABS-CBN’s upcoming primetime series You’re My Home, slated to open early 2014. Apart from Dawn and Richard, Cherry Pie Picache, Iza Calzado, Shaina Magdayao and Enchong Dee form part of the cast.

Unlike their previous projects, wherein they usually start off as star-crossed lovers, Richard and Dawn portray a married couple in You’re My Home.

During last Friday’s story-conference, Dawn said, “It’s a family drama. Richard and I play husband and wife here. Our kids here are Enchong and Shaina. It’s the story of two families — the second family is that of Cherry Pie and Iza’s — and how these two get together. (It tells about) the ups and downs that happen in a family.”

“It’s a wonderful cast. I’m very excited about this,” Richard said, before describing his character, “I play a struggling architect, who loses his job and his family goes through the hard times to the point that Dawn’s character will sustain the family (as the breadwinner).”

Dawn explained, “(Our characters are) childhood sweethearts, but Richard’s character got her pregnant when she was just 16. She works as a singer in a band and had to stop schooling to support Richard’s studies.”

Then, Richard crosses paths with Iza and her character’s wealthy family, “and from then on, life becomes more ‘colorful,’” Richard said.

“It’s really about family, the value of taking care of each other, and how you cope up with struggles,” the actor added.

Despite some pronouncements early this year and even right after the run of Walang Hanggan, it took a while to have a follow-up project because both got busy, especially with the mid-term elections last May, with their respective spouses re-elected into office. Richard and Dawn are happily married to Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres and Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo, respectively.

When the taping commences for You’re My Home in November, they will also simultaneously shoot two movies, which probably makes the tandem as busy if not busier than the new generation of romantic team-ups.

“Parang nakakahiya, di ba? Isn’t it embarrassing?” Dawn joked when being compared to the popular Kapamilya pairings KathNiel and KimXi, etc.

But why is their onscreen partnership still patronized by televiewers and movie fans after all these years? Dawn surmised, “Perhaps, it’s our chemistry. The only edge we have over other loveteams today is that we have a history. Siguro mas madali naming maipalabas yung chemistry na yun onscreen.”

It was some 20 years ago when their real-life romance helped heat up their films from 1991 to 1994, starting with Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit. Even Lucy, long before meeting and marrying Richard, has been a big fan of the Richard-Dawn loveteam.

When asked if the past and what-could-have-been had ever cropped up in their conversations now that they have become friends, the two gave out a laugh and commented that they never discussed it. “Naku, wala kaming mga what-if. That would be weird!” laughed Dawn.

The father of one and the mother of two credited their friendship for keeping their onscreen chemistry alive and appreciated.

Dawn said, “I guess it’s because Richard and I are really friends, genuinely friends. You can leave us (in a corner) and (we’re) entertained kasi nagtatawanan lang kami palagi.”

Richard said, “And for every scene that we do, we talk about it.”

“But we don’t need to have those focus-group (discussions to nurture the chemistry),” Dawn said. “For us, it comes out naturally.”

You’re My Home is an original story of Dreamscape Entertainment writers Rondel Lindayag and Mari Lamasan.