Lolong Season 2 attempts balance of action and drama

CEBU, Philippines — Around the filming of Lolong’s first season in 2021, Ruru Madrid wasn’t sure if the show would be a hit. Like all local TV and movie projects shot that year, productions had to adhere to COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, which included locked-in taping.

Aside from being confined to a single location in a bubble, the rules included a mandatory 10-day quarantine before filming, the cast had to practice social distancing during breaks, and they had to wear masks when the camera wasn’t rolling.

“It was very hard when we first shot Lolong,” Madrid shared during a press conference over the recent Sinulog weekend. “During quarantine, I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to be an artista at that point.”

“Lolong” did well when it premiered a year later in 2022, leading to GMA renewing the show for a second season that premiered on January 20.

With the pandemic behind them, the production expanded its cast from 12 to around 50 and was no longer limited to a single location.

“What was successful about the first season was our location. Even if we were only allowed to shoot in a specific place, it was still visually pleasing because we focused on nature. Now, the pandemic is gone, and we are not limited in our resources,” said Shaira Diaz, who plays Madrid’s on-screen partner, Elsie.

The second season, subtitled “Bayani ng Bayan”, picks up from where the first left off. In its pilot week, Lolong and Elsie’s wedding is disrupted by a tragedy that forces the hero to recover the Ubtao, a gem that grants him miraculous powers to save his wife-to-be and his Atubaw people.

“There are so many challenges in the relationship between Lolong and Elsie. They love each other, but it hurts so much. It’s like they went back to zero,” Diaz said.

With Christopher de Leon’s character Armando killed off, John Arcilla joins the cast as the new main antagonist, Julio, alongside Martin del Rosario as Ivan. Jean Garcia also returns as the show’s secondary antagonist Dona, Armando’s widow.

While Madrid has yet to shoot scenes with Arcilla, he was excited to reunite with his fellow castmate from the 2016-17 version of “Encantadia.”

Also returning from the first season are Rochelle Pangilinan, Paul Salas, Mikoy Morales, Alma Concepcion, and Maui Taylor.

“It feels great to work with people who actually like working with you. It gives this extra energy to do your best because you enjoy working with them too,” Madrid said.

The second season of Lolong continues Madrid’s collaboration with GMA Public Affairs, which he praised for its openness to suggestions. Their projects together include his previous action teleserye “Black Rider” and the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture winner “Green Bones” which he co-starred with Dennis Trillo.

“GMA Public Affairs is always open to my ideas. Before we shot the second season, we had a brainstorming session about what we wanted to do, and I suggested we promote Filipino martial arts like arnis because it’s a good opportunity to show viewers that we have our own fighting style, and they were all for it,” he shared.

Madrid admitted that training for arnis was challenging due to its repetitive nature, but he remained determined.

“I spent so many hours perfecting one move before I could try another. But at the end of the day, it’s fulfilling because I know somehow, the youth might be inspired to try arnis,” he said.

While the show has fantasy elements, Madrid emphasized that Lolong still needs drama to keep it grounded in reality.

“You cannot separate the drama from the action because if you focus only on action, the story has no heart,” he explained. “If we do intense action scenes, we want them to be relatable to viewers or at least motivate them that they can perform the action scenes too.”

“If I spent eight hours training, it’s also the same amount of hours in the workshops. For me, action and drama are connected. I always love to push myself to my limits to be the best version of myself.”

Madrid, who recently won Best Supporting Actor at the 50th MMFF, is eager to achieve  more in his career.

“I have done so much, but there is still much to do. That’s my mindset. I have been in this industry for 13 years, and I never thought I would be where I am today,” he added.

While Lolong and Elsie’s wedding didn’t go as planned, it’s a different story in real life for Diaz, who is set to marry her fiancé and fellow actor EA Guzman this year.

Diaz wants an intimate church wedding with close family and friends, set near Metro Manila.

“Because of Lolong, my schedule is packed,” she said, noting that they haven’t set a date yet. “But I don’t want to drag our wedding out any longer. That’s why I told EA, this is it, we’re getting married in 2025.”

Diaz told The FREEMAN that her celebrity bridesmaids include her childhood friend Julia Montes, along with fellow Sparkle actresses Arra San Agustin and Jenzel Angeles.

As for Madrid, when asked if he’s planning to put a ring on Bianca Umali’s finger anytime soon, he responded that they are both focused on their careers but that marriage is hopefully on the horizon.

“Bianca is definitely the one,” Madrid affirmed. “I know I want to spend my life with her. I don’t know when or where I’ll propose, but I know she’s the one for me.”

“We’re both busy, I am doing Lolong and she’s doing Sang'gre, both big projects of GMA, and we don’t want to waste these opportunities,” he explained.

“But who knows? That day might come, and when it does, it’ll be at the perfect time. I can’t say if it’s sooner or later, but I’m waiting for the right moment.”

“Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan” currently airs 8 p.m. on GMA Prime after 24 Oras, with a same-day replay on GTV at 9:40 p.m. — (FREEMAN)