Powerhouse drama in Bridges of Love

Bridges of Love is a teleserye presented by ABS-CBN, directed by Dado Lumibao and Richard Somes, and topbilled by Jericho Rosales, Paulo Avelino and Maja Salvador. Also starring are Carmina Villarroel, Edu Manzano, Antoinette Taus, Lito Pimentel, William Lorenzo, Maureen Mauricio, Malou de Guzman, John Manalo, Joross Gamboa, Janus del Prado, Maxine Eigenmann, Nikka Valencia, Justin Cuyugan, Jopay Paguia and Manuel Chua.

The intense love story called Bridges of Love involves two brothers played by Jericho and Paulo as rivals for the love of Maja, who portrays a vivacious club dancer.

Maja Salvador plays the vivacious club dancer

One interesting revelation in the casting is that Maja got the role originally intended for Anne Curtis. She admits that the role is her most daring so far but says she likes to be challenged. Paulo also says his role as long-lost brother to Jericho is his most challenging so far. “It’s a role I’ve never done before, so it’s challenging to me,” he says.

Meanwhile, we discover that the glamorous character of Carmina has been all the while obsessed to attain Paulo’s love. This kind of role being one very new to her, Carmina confesses she may not be able to deliver the goods, so to speak.

Carmina Villarroel is nervous about her first kissing scene

There is no incident in her life that she can use to compare with the part that had been suddenly offered to her, she says. She admits she has always played it on the safe side. She has had accepted roles of mother, daughter, never yet a kontrabida role. Perhaps, it’s about time she becomes more adventurous and less on the safe and wholesome side.

However, Carmina reveals that she has taken the assignment as a challenge. Being cast alongside some of the finest actors in the business is proof enough that the producer and director feel she can do it. “All my life I have been on the safe side, when it came to acceptance of roles,” she says. The time has come to do something new and different, which to her at the moment means playing a kontrabida.

 She bears no evil thoughts towards anyone, has not done a sexy scene or a love scene but is willing to give it a try. Carmina’s co-workers have been helpful which she appreciates. Direk Richard took pains to explain to her what each and every scene involving her meant in relation to her character.

Director Richard Somes takes care of his entire cast in the ABS-CBN teleserye

The longest discussion with direk Richard was the one concerning the love scene and the kissing scene with Paulo. Carmina went into the actual approach to those “sensitive scenes.” She found herself apologizing for many things, for not knowing what to do in each difficult scene. But direk Richard stopped her apologizing and told Carmina that it was part of his responsibility to ascertain that every member of the cast understood the character each was portraying.

In fact, there were many problems involving the project, the biggest of which was the replacement of John Lloyd Cruz with Xian Lim since he was in the midst of renewing his contract with ABS-CBN. Xian also had to be replaced due to his scheduling problems. Finally, the role went to Paulo.

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