THE STARS have finally aligned for Aga Muhlach and Bea Alonzo this time as they headline Paul Soriano’s “First Love.”
This was what the two actors, arguably the finest in their generation, describe their coming together to do the film.
Muhlach revealed that Alonzo was his only choice as leading lady when Soriano pitched the project to him.
“When Paul presented to me this love story, he went to my house. Paul, before you present to me this story, I want to work with Bea. Hindi pa niya (Bea) alam to, ako pa lang ‘to,” the 49-year-old actor said during the press conference held at the Providore in Summit Galleria Cebu before their jampacked promo show at Robinsons Galleria Cebu last October 5.
During that meeting, Soriano showed the last page of his presentation on the film and to Muhlach’s surprise and delight, his name and that of Alonzo were written.
“He had that in mind, too. Nakakakilabot talaga,” he said.
Why was Alonzo his only choice?
Muhlach, whose most recent film before “First Love” was last year’s “Seven Sundays,” said he stopped doing films with a love story as theme for eight years (2011’s “In the Name of Love” opposite Angel Locsin) but had the chance to watch the movies of Alonzo with her perennial screen partner, John Lloyd Cruz.
“Yung gusto ko is ‘Second Chance.’ Sabi ko, wow, ang galing ng babaeng ‘to. She is really a mature and a good
actor,” he said.
“I am grateful that she (Alonzo) accepted the project. Who am I? I can choose, I can only wish for Bea and when she said yes I said, Oh my God, Lord, talaga?” he said.
Alonzo, for her part, was just happy to work with Muhlach, as she has always been a fan. Her favorite film of his was 1995’s “Sana Maulit Muli” with Lea Salonga.
“Unang una, masaya ako kasi finally naka trabaho ko na siya, di ba? Kasi medyo ang tagal kong naghintay,” the 30-year-old
actress said.
“Parang nasabi ko na oops … 18 years ako nag te-training. Kailan kaya? Kailan ko kaya ma e-earn ‘yung right to work with the Aga Muhlach?” she added.
Alonzo said he had always hoped Muhlach would finally choose her to become his leading lady.
“He would never pick me. He picked Angel (Locsin), Anne (Curtis), and Angelica (Panganiban) but not me. Sabi ko, bakit kaya?” she said.
But Alonzo also explained that now is the best time for them to work together.
“Na realize ko rin na mas maganda na ngayon ko lang siya naka trabaho kasi kung mas bata pa ako, iba pa rin yung tingin ko sa craft. Iba pa ang tingin ko sa buhay. Mas malalim na kaalaman ko ngayon tungkol sa love, life at tungkol sa industriya,” she added.
Directed by Paul Soriano and shot in Vancouver, Canada, “First Love” is co-produced by Soriano’s Ten17 Productions, Star Cinema and Viva Films.
The film opens in Philippine cinemas on October 17, incidentally the birthday of both
Soriano and Alonzo.
It is about a woman named Ali (Alonzo), who has a serious heart condition. Aware that her days are numbered, she gets into a relationship with Muhlach’s character, Nick in order to “seize the day.”
