STARTING the year right and light, GMA’s premiere artists Lovi Poe and Dennis Trillo braces 2018 with a refreshing take on love and friendships with “The One That Got Away.”
“It’s a breath of fresh air to do something like this because we are used to doing heavy drama,” Poe said. “Iba kasi ang rythmn ng romantic-comedy from drama. I am used to crying everyday almost all the time. Now it’s refreshing na uuwi ka from the set na hindi mabigat ‘yung feeling. Kasi when I was doing ‘Someone to Watch Over Me,’ talagang uuwi ako sa house na parang ang bigat na I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Ganun siya kalala na parang namatayan talaga ako ng asawa. It’s a great feeling that now I get to be in the house na magaan lang ‘yung feeling.”
In an intimate gathering with the local press, the Kapuso stars shared that more than being a sexy-romantic comedy, TOTGA is an exploration of not just love, but also of family, friendships, and anything crazy that comes with life. It is about three perfectly lovely women who are still in love with the same guy. Lovi as Alex, along with Max Collins (Darcy) and Rhian Ramos (Zoe) were all once romantically linked with the same man portrayed by Dennis Trillo.
“Maganda na naging part kami ng ganitong show sa first quarter ng taon na hindi siya ganun kabigat. At maganda siyang pang warm-up para sa mga susunod naming projects. Masayang magkaroon ng ganitong projects from doing ‘yung mabibigat, though I am not saying na ito’y madaling gawin. At least emotionally hindi siya draining,” Trillo surmised.
Will they set their personal differences aside and fight for love fairly? Or shall it be a case of every woman for herself?
“Right now, the audience will see how and why the girls are going crazy over the guy. In reality naman these things do happen and you will learn a lot of things not just about relationships, not just with love, but also on friendships,” Poe said. “Like the unwritten rule of the girl code, which we will also tackle in the future. I believe people go through that di ba? It’s hard to pick between friendship and love.”
Asked whether she has ever broken the girl code, Poe was quick to say that she has always been one with the girls. “No talaga, I really shut it off. Bawal.”
Excited in portraying the role as Liam, Trillo shared their preparations and their behind-the-scenes antics.
“Malaking bagay din na ang director namin ay super happy. Masaya siyang katrabaho na para lang siyang kaibigan na nag-we-welcome ng mga ideas and suggestion ng kanyang mga artista. And talagang group effort kami sa bawat eksena.”
“He is super bubbly dahil kahit madaling araw na ay nag split siya sa air. Super fun. Kahit puyat na ay tawa pa rin kami ng tawa,” Poe added. “Kahit na heavy ‘yung mga scenes ay masaya ‘yung buong vibe ng taping. I think it helps that everyone around you is bubbly and very jolly dahil nadadala ka dun ‘eh,” Poe added.
Asked about the state of their hearts, the Kapuso Drama King was candid, like the character he plays of a loving and true gentleman.
“Parang wala akong TOTGA eh. Dahil pag may gusto ako hindi ko talaga pakakawalan,” Trilllo said.
Poe, meanwhile shared, “I don’t think I have a TOTGA. Maybe there’s a relationship wherein it could have been better but then ‘yun nga lang hindi siya umayon sa situation. But I think things worked out pretty well with for me and with whoever I was with before. Because we are all on the right path now.”
All set for 2018, the actress is excited for her upcoming Joel Lamangan helmed “The Significant Other” along with Tom Rodriguez and Erich Gonzales while Trillo is geared for an upcoming yet to be announced drama-crime-thriller.
Both sharing their affinity towards darker and challenging roles, Lovi hopes to one day be in her acting element in the vein of “Gone Girl.”
And Trillo? “I want to do kontrabida roles. In the likes of Robert DeNiro in Cape Fear. A kontrabida na masama talaga, na ang mga audience ay talagang matatakot.”
With its intriguing storyline and interesting mix of characters, the Kapuso station’s opening salvo has its main characters amp their comedic timing.
Not immune to challenges, both stars are all excited and giddy when asked about scenes that make them nervous. “Abangan niyo ‘yung party scene na ginawa namin dito,” Poe then added. “There are days when you feel you are not at your best so you feel really nervous. Usually love scenes make me nervous, when everybody’s watching. People would always say na it’s sexy and it’s not. A lot of things go through in terms of preparation and behind the scenes. And drama scenes make me nervous as well. So if I feel na I am not doing my best hihingi talaga ako ng isa pa.”
Since both are in steady romantic relationships, will wedding bells be ringing soon for the two stars?
Poe said marriage is something she looks forward to. “I want to believe in marriage, it’s something that I am positive about and hopeful about.”
All smiles, Trillo added: “Siyempre naniniwala naman ako dyan, most especially ‘yun ay next level na ‘eh. Kailangan talaga na paghandaan iyan at pag-iisipan. Hindi dapat ginagawa ang mga ganyan kung hindi ka sigurado sa tao.”
Under the direction of Mark dela Cruz with Conrado Peru, “The One That Got Away” airs right after “Kambal Karibal” on GMA Telebabad.
