With the upbeat song "Low" playing in the background, Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin danced and laughed heartily on the grounds of the Victory Church in Caloocan City. The lead stars of Lobo smiled at each other as they shot their final sequences for ABS-CBN's fantaserye Lobo, which will end on July 11 (Friday).
When PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) visited Angel and Piolo during their last taping day last July 3, they expressed their mixed feelings about the ending of show, which ran for six months on the Kapamilya Network.
"It's been a really wonderful time working on this project and I've been always bragging about this," says Piolo. "I'm very, very proud because we've made it. And more than anything, it's a fulfillment to do something so difficult yet nagawan mo ng maganda. So I'm so happy because nagawa namin nang maayos yung trabaho namin."
Angel adds, "Ako naman hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. Masaya akong matatapos na iyong show namin, na masasabi kong sobrang ipinagmamalaki ko. Maipagmamalaki ko pa after ten years, ‘pag nagkaanak na ako, maikukuwento ko, maipagmamalaki ko siya.
"Mami-miss ko talaga itong show na ito. Malulungkot din ako. Masaya at malungkot. Masaya ako dahil nagkaroon kami ng chance na makatrabaho ang kapwa artista ko na very professional, makukulit; lahat kami may topak at yun yung nag-jive."
What would they consider as their most memorable moments while shooting TV series?
"Kanina actually we were feeling so awkward because we were doing an intimate scene and a lot of people were watching so parang nakakailang," says Piolo regarding his kissing scene with Angel shot earlier that day. "But you know kailangan naming gawin. But if you ask us about siguro mga memorable scenes, nothing beats the last transformation. I felt so awkward, we were both just wearing skin tone na damit and sabi ko sa kanya, ‘I've never felt so awkward in my whole life.'"
Piolo is referring to the scene wherein they had to wear flesh-tone body stockings while he and Angel were taping inside a church. "Sabi ko talaga, ‘the things we have to do for craft.' Iniisip ko, paglabas namin ng church, malay mo, madaming tao diyan nanonood tapos akala mo hubo't hubad kaming naglalakad. It was funny, pero ikibit balikat mo na lang kasi kelangan mong gawin, kelangan mong panindigan."
They also cite their seaside encounter in a beach resort in Calatagan, Batangas as one of their most memorable scenes. They even refer to it as their "burak-ay" escapade.
"Our beach scenes na akala ng mga tao na super...not to demean yung pinanggalingan namin pero yung happy moments namin sa beach, hanggang dito yung putik, e," recalls Piolo.
Angel adds: "Yung burak talaga, as in, lumulubog kami so nakahawak lang kami sa isa't isa."
TOPLESS AD. Angel was in the news recently when she came out in photos wearing jeans and nothing on top as an endorser of a clothing company. She has been criticized by some sectors of society for her daring billboard. What can she say about her detractors?
"Well kasi, tanggap ko kung anong opinion nila. Pero ako, bilang isang babae at miyembro ng Gabriela, alam ko kung ano yung mga nakakadegrade. Alam ko kung ano yung dapat, ano yung hindi dapat. Nakita ko na yung ad na likod nga lang yung nakita. Wala namang maseselan na parte. Hindi iniisip ng iba yung image ko. Ginawa ko lang para maiba naman kasi para meron naman akong bagong ipakita, so 'eto bago. So, sa lahat ng naka-appreciate maraming, maraming salamat. Ako, bilang isang babae, hindi ko hahayaan na mabastos ako o bumaba ang tingin sa kapwa babae."
Gabriela is an alliance of women's organizations that that advocate for women's issues.
Her co-star Piolo also expressed his opinion regarding the controversial ad. "This is a testament...to how much she respects her craft. I mean that's something that people don't really see. When it comes to expressing your beauty, Angel definitely has it and she knows how to show it in a respectful manner."
After Piolo and Angel's team-up in Lobo, they will soon be seen in a movie under Star Cinema. "After a few days rest, we're gonna start training already for the movie," reveals Piolo. "Then we'll be flying out to Bukidnon and then we're going to Australia after to shoot and it's gonna be shown within the year."
After the brief interview, Piolo immediately left to catch his flight bound for Paris, France, to attend the screening of Dekada ‘70 in the 2008 Paris Cinema International Film Festival. Angel stayed behind to sign items for her fans and to shoot her remaining scenes for Lobo.