Paano Na Kaya? tells a different "best friends" story
by Nerisa Almo ( PeP ) 01.24.10
"The 'best friends' version of Paano Na Kaya is really different from the movies na may 'best friend,'" declared director Ruel Bayani during the press conference of Star Cinema's pre-Valentine movie last Tuesday, January 19.

Direk Ruel admitted that every love team in the past generation had experienced playing best friends. However, he said that his first movie with Star Cinema would give a new story that the fans of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson would surely enjoy.

"Ang dami nang nagawang best friends movies," he said. "Sa totoo lang, never naman nang nag-ulit ng tema ng 'best friends' na parehong-pareho ang kwento. Every generation gets to enjoy that—from Jolina [Magdangal] and Marvin [Agustin] to Judy Ann [Santos] and Wowie [de Guzman] to John Lloyd [Cruz] and Bea [Alonzo] hanggang kay Kim [Chiu] at Gerald [Anderson].

"This time, may bago na namang variation, may bagong direksyong pinupuntahan. For example, hindi lang sila mag-best friend. Early on, hindi sila katulad ng kuwento na sa dulo lang malalaman kung ano ang feelings sa isa't isa. Hindi ganun ito."

One difference that Direk has mentioned was the story of a "rebound relationship" between best friends.

Mae (played by Kim Chiu) is secretly in love with her best friend Bogs (played by Gerald Anderson), who is madly in love with his girlfriend Anna (played by Melissa Ricks). Bogs only treats Mae as a very close friend and never sees her as a lover. However, when Anna breaks up with him, Bogs sees a sympathetic and caring person in Mae.

Mae and Bogs become lovers even if the former's friends keep on reminding her that she's just a rebound girl. The conflict begins when Anna comes back, which puts Bogs and Anna's love for each other into a test.

Direk Ruel said, "Start pa lang, mag-best friends sila, may nangyaring problema, inamin ni Kim. Tapos, pumasok sila sa isang rebound relationship. Iba naman ang ginagawa sa lahat ng mga Star Cinema 'best friend' stories. So, they both decided na alam nila na rebound 'yon in nature.

"But because there is this deep concern for each other, they attempted to make it work. Nakita nila at nalaman nila na mali pala. Nalaman nila na mahirap pala, marami palang complications, marami pala siyang kasamang conflict. Doon natuto ang dalawang characters kung ano ang mali sa ginawa nila at kung ano pala dapat ang tunay na pag-ibig at kung paano pala talaga dapat ito tinuturing at inaalagaan."

MATURE ROLES FOR KIM AND GERALD. Paano Na Kaya? lets Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson take on serious and mature roles.

Direk Ruel said that it was just about time that the former Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition housmates try out new characters that would veer them away from the "pa-tweetums" characters they portrayed in the past.

He said, "Siguro mahahalata ninyo, since lumabas sila sa Pinoy Big Brother, sandali lang naman sila in-allow na maging young. Pero Tayong Dalawa pa lang, nag-evolve na sila, nag-evolve na rin ang love nila. Talagang hinihingi ng pagkakataon.

"I'm sure it's also going to be the last movie na mayroon pang konting pa-cute sa simula. I'm sure sa next movie, mas lalo pang dramatic or mas lalong malalim ang mga eksena. Hindi rin maiiwasan kasi nagma-mature 'yon, nakikita ng audience kay Kim and Gerald sa maiksing panahon. Hindi rin natin maiiwasan na napapabilis ang pagma-mature nila."

Direk Ruel also noted, "It is the vision of everybody na makita 'yong dalawa na nag-e-evolve at nagma-mature at kinakaya ang mas mahira na pelikula. Hopefully, this is a good start."

Kim and Gerald will are joined in the cast by Melissa Ricks, Robi Domingo, Janus del Prado, IC Mendoza, Jon Avila, Cai Cortez, Empoy Marquez, Guji Lorenzana. Also part of the cast are Rica Peralejo, Ricky Davao, Rio Locsin, and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Paano Na Kaya? opens in theaters nationwide on January 27, 2010. It will have its premiere this Tuesday, January 26 at SM Megamall.