MANILA, Philippines—“Lumayo ka sa ‘kin. Kaya tayo nagiging topic ng tsismis,” Marian Rivera told on-screen partner Dingdong Dantes after a short session with photographers on the set of their upcoming movie, “One True Love.”
The lensmen and a group of entertainment writers recently visited the set in Posadas Village, Sucat, Parañaque. The two lead stars had been filming there for a week, logging more than 18 hours a day.
“Tama na ang mga sweet poses. Ayaw ko na ng tsimis,” Marian said, maybe just half in jest. That signaled the end of the 10-minute photo op. The photographers earlier requested Dingdong and Marian, in a royal blue mini-dress and silver-colored slippers, to sit beside each other— real close— on a bench by the village pool.
In the news
Dingdong has been in the news lately after breaking up with singer-actress Karylle, his girlfriend of three years. People have been pointing to Marian as the cause. She has consistently, vigorously, denied this.
Dingdong and Marian first teamed up in the top-rating Pinoy adaptation of the Mexican telenovela, “Marimar,” on GMA 7. The successful tandem was followed by another top-rating show, Mars Ravelo’s “Dyesebel.”
“One True Love” is their first big-screen project, a co-production of GMA Films and Regal Entertainment.
The actors were scheduled to shoot the honeymoon scene later that day. “Sasayawan nila ang isa’t isa,” director Mac Alejandre said of the scene.
Marian hastened to add, “It’s just a fun scene. Mabuti hindi seryoso.”
Alejandre said there were three other movie sets: a house in Tiera Pura, in Fairview, Quezon City, where most of the scenes with Iza Calzado were shot. Dingdong and Marian’s wedding scene were filmed at Fernbrook Gardens in Alabang, Muntinlupa. A Quezon City hospital was the venue, the director said, of a “touching scene that would reveal a big twist.”
Love triangle
In “One True Love,” Dingdong plays Migs, a medical intern set to marry Joy (Marian), a nurse. Days before the wedding, however, his ex-girlfriend Bella (Iza) returns from the United States, single and still very much in love with him. Migs then figures in an accident and suffers from lacunar amnesia, the type that blocks out specific time periods from one’s memory. In his case, he can’t remember the three years he has been in love with Joy, leaving him only with memories of Bella. To Joy, this is unacceptable. She vows to make Migs remember, even if it means competing with Bella.
At press time, filming was halfway through. Alejandre is confident that the movie will beat the deadline for its nationwide screening on Nov. 19. “I don’t think the fact that we’re rushing would have an effect on the outcome. We’re primed for this. Some of the best films were done in really short a time,” Alejandre explained.
Dingdong and Marian chatted with the writers and TV crew over lunch at the village clubhouse. Both actors had fried chicken and spring rolls. Later, Regal Entertainment supervising producer Manny Valera, who was celebrating his birthday that day, turned up with cake and ice cream.
No sleeping
Dingdong said he had been on the set for three straight days. “We are using one of the model units as the house that Migs and Joy share. The administrator forbade us to sleep in there. That was tough, especially on workdays that we finished filming at 3 a.m.,” said the actor, looking relaxed in a floral buttoned-down shirt, jeans and rubber slippers.
Alejandre confessed that Dingdong and Marian were “sweet” on- and off-cam. “Their closeness doesn’t end when I say cut,” he added. “It begins when they arrive on the set and ends when they leave for home. I was part of the team that built the Marimar-Sergio tandem. This is something we had hoped for. We’re happy about this — even though people have other interpretations.”
“One True Love” also stars Bianca King, Jennica Garcia, Pinky Marquez, Chinggoy Alonso, Tessie Tomas and Boots Anson-Roa.
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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