Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu are best friends-turned-lovers in Paano Na Kaya
by Jeffrey Osoc ( PeP ) 01.14.10
Two years after appearing in the box-office hit I've Fallen For You, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson will be seen once again on the silver screen via Star Cinema's opening salvo for 2010, Paano Na Kaya. This romantic drama is about best friends secretly falling in love with each other. Its theme song is performed by Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 runner-up Bugoy Drilon.

At the helm of Paano Na Kaya is Tayong Dalawa's director Ruel Bayani. The Kimerald tandem will be joined by Tanging Yaman star Melissa Ricks as well as Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition alumnus and MYX VJ Robi Domingo.

Other cast members include seasoned actors Rio Locsin, Ricky Davao, Zsa Zsa Padilla. Lloyd Samartino, and Bart Guingona. Completing the cast are Janus del Prado, Empoy Marquez, Alwyn Uytingco, Jon Avila, Cai Cortez, Timothy Chan and IC Mendoza. Actress-TV host Rica Peralejo also makes her movie comeback through Paano Na Kaya.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN's most sought-after love team, Kim and Gerald, last January 10 at the ABS-CBN compound.


How would you describe your characters in the movie?

Gerald: I'm Bogs Marasigan in the movie. Kim is my best friend na si Mae Chua. In my entire life, mom ko lang ang kasama ko kasi wala akong nakagisnang ama.

Kim: I play the role of a Chinese girl named Mae Chua. Best friend ko si Gerald: si Bogs. Bubbly at may pagka-martyr sa pag-ibig ang personality ko dito sa movie. I have strict parents who own a restaurant. Nahahati ang priorities ko sa life: either handle the family business or focus my attention kay Bogs whom I secretly love.

What's the difference of your role in this movie compared to other roles that you've done before? How challenging is your role?

Gerald: Siyempre, ibang Gerald Anderson ang makikita niyo sa movie na to. Compared to Tayong Dalawa, dun mabait at palaban ako. Dito sa Paano Na Kaya, nagva-vary yung character ko. Oo, mabait pero puwede maging masama at the same time.

Can you expound your last statement? What do you mean by 'puwedeng maging masama at nakakawa' regarding your role?

Gerald: Dahil sa challenges in his life, like having no father at all, puwede pumangit ang ugali niya because he's looking for a father figure. At the same time, maaawa ka rin because you know where Bogs is coming from.

For you Kim, what's the difference of your role in this movie and how challenging is it compared to other roles that you've done before?

Kim: Ibang-iba ito kasi nag-evolve yung character ko physically and emotionally. Physically, nag-transform ako from pagiging 'manang' to a full-grown lady. Emotionally, from pagiging martyr naging honest na ako sa tunay na emotions ko kay Bogs.

Emotionally challenging din because in the first place, hindi naman ako nag-fall sa best friend ko kasi babae 'yon [laughs]. Pinag-aralan ko talaga kung paano yung atake ng isang best friend na na-in love sa best friend niya. Besides, 'andito na lahat ng elements—drama, comedy, kilig so dapat marunong kang maglaro ng emotions para makitang effective ka sa role.

Since this is Star Cinema's initial movie offering for 2010, how does it feel be in the front line?

Gerald: Napaka-overwhelming ng feeling kasi pinagkatiwalaan kami ng Star Cinema to do this movie. To think this is their initial movie offering this year at kami pa ni Kim ang napili, sobrang blessed at happy ako. Sobrang nagpapasalamt kami [ni Kim] kay Ma'am Malou [Santos, Star Cinema managing director], Ma'am Charo [Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN President] at sa buong Star Cinema sa tiwalang binigay nila sa amin.

Kim: Nung nalaman ko na kami ang opening salvo ng Star Cinema, hindi ako makapaniwala. Sabi ko, 'Totoo ba talaga?' Honestly, I'm very grateful kasi pinagkatiwala sa amin ng Star Cinema ang ganitong napakalaki at napakagandang pelikula. Sa cast pa lang, sina Ms. Zsa Zsa [Padilla], Ms. Rio Locsin. Mr. Ricky Davao, award-winning na. Pati sa direktor di matatawaran ang galing, si Direk Ruel Bayani, pang-world class.

Do you feel any pressure?

Gerald: Nandun yung pressure pero confident ako. Confident ako sa story material, sa cast, sa movie execution at sa mga bumubuo ng pelikula.

Kim: Oo naman napi-pressure ako kasi first movie offering to ng Star Cinema ngayong taon. Pinagkatiwala nila sa amin itong movie project kaya sana suportahan at magustuhan nila.

What are the exciting scenes that moviegoers should look forward to? Are there any 'first-time to-do scenes' in the movie?

Gerald: Marami silang dapat na abangan. Marami akong mga first-time scenes dito. Like the first scene in the movie, dapat nilang abangan 'yon dahil hindi ko pa nagagawa yun.

Sa opening scene, naka-boxer shorts lang ako habang sumasayaw. Dapat nila abangan kasi nakakatuwa yung eksena. First time ko rin mag-drive ng race car. Sa eksena, I was driving. Galit ako sa eksenang yun kasi something happened. Kung bakit ako nagalit sa eksenang yun, dapat nilang panoorin kasi maganda ang eksenang 'yon.

How about you Kim? What can the moviegoers expect from you in this movie?

Kim: Marami rin silang dapat na abangan sa akin kasi kakaibang Kim Chiu ang mapapanood nila dito sa Paano Na Kaya. Sa itsura ko pa lang, ibang-iba na ako dito sa pelikula. Kung mapapansin niyo sa movie trailer, 'manang' at medyo may pagka-naive character ko. Sa character, hindi ako palaban dito hindi katulad sa Tayong Dalawa at I Love You, Goodbye. Dito, parang sunud-sunuran ako kay Bogs. Yung atensyon ko nasa kanya. Lahat gagawin ko sa kanya kasi mahal ko siya.

What would you consider as unforgettable scenes in the movie?

Kim: As of now, favorite eksena ko yung si-nave ko si Bogs nang makita ko siyang hindi umaahon sa pool. Ayaw niyang umahon kasi may nangyari. Kung ano man yung nangyari, abangan niyo 'yon kasi exciting ang part na yon. Tumalon ako, bilang si Mae sa movie, nang nakadamit pa, may bag pa ako nun. Nung pagtalon ko, sobrang lamig pala ng tubig. Napahinto ako pero na-realize ko kelangan kong ituloy yung scene. Lumangoy ako. Imagine 3:00 a.m. namin shoot yun, sobrang lamig ng tubig sa pool.

What makes Paano Na Kaya worth watching?

Gerald: Of course, the story. Hindi lang namin kayo paiiyakin at patatawanin dito. Higit sa lahat pakikiligin namin kayo. Aside from the story, makikita niyo kung gaano kagaling ang mga ibang artista sa pelikula like Zsa Zsa Padilla, Rio Locsin, Ricky Davao at iba pa. Sobrang pinaganda at pinaghandaan po namin ang pelikulang 'to para sa inyo.

Kim: Siyempre makikita nyo rin ang kakaibang portrayal namin ni Gerald sa movie. Dapat niyo ring abangan ang Paano Na Kaya kasi marami kaming ginawang bago ni Gerald na dito nyo lang mapapanood sa movie. Handog po namin ang pelikulang 'to hindi lang sa Kimerald fans kundi sa lahat ng naniniwala at nagmamahal sa aming kakayahan.


SYNOPSIS. Mae (Kim Chiu) has always been in love with her best friend, Bogs (Gerald Anderson). Bogs, on the other hand, is madly in love with his girlfriend, Anna (Melissa Ricks). Mae is a very good best friend, but this doesn't make her a very good prospective girlfriend for Bogs. Bogs never saw Mae in a romantic light. She goes through college witnessing her best friend's relationship blossom, and she has no choice but to keep loving Bogs in silence.

When Anna breaks his heart, Mae has high hopes that her best friend Bogs will notice her romantically. As part of Bog's 'healing process,' he would always resort to having rebound relationships until he sees Mae in a new light, not just as his best friend but as a woman who can love him and whom he could love back.

The best friends become a couple. However, many of Mae's friends tell her that she is just the rebound girl. Their love is tested when Anna comes back into Bogs's life.

Will Mae be able to fight for her love? Can best friends really become lovers? Can rebound love finally become true love?

Paano Na Kaya will open in cinemas starting January 27.

Aside from starring in this movie, Kim and Gerald will once again be part of an upcoming primetime teleserye titled Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, which will air on ABS-CBN starting January 18.