ANO nga ba ang ibig sabihin ng First Love? Literally and figuratively kung sino ang unang minahal mo siya na ang first love mo. Ito naman kasi talaga ang alam ng nakararami, kaya nga may kasabihang ‘first love never dies’ dahil kahit may asawa’t mga anak ka na ay hindi pa rin nakalilimutan ang taong unang minahal lalo na kung malalim ang pinagsamahan.
Pero iba si Direk Paul Soriano, dahil ang ibig sabihin ng first love para sa kanya ay kung sino ang pinakasalan niya dahil huling mamahalin niya sa buong buhay niya at si Toni Gonzaga iyon.
Ito ang sagot ng direktor ng pelikulang First Love, “For me yes, my first love is my wife! Because it’s the moment I knew she was my last, I’ve said I do and spend the rest of my life with you, she’s my first love and now, I’m able thru her to express my love that I’ve never express to my son (Severe Elliot), so it’s beautiful.”
Kinilig naman ang lahat ng nasa Dolphy Theater sa narinig at ang suwerte ni Celestine. Hello, masuwerte rin naman si direk Paul dahil siya ang una’t huling lalaki sa buhay ng TV host/actress.
Anyway, bakit First Love ang titulo ng pelikula nina Aga Muhlach at Bea Alonzo?
“When you have a first love, you’re always hope it’s your last. And when you have your last, you’re always treat like it’s your first, that’s what my writer said and I think, when you watch the film and you see and you go on this journey with Nick and Ali, you will really understand what first love is. And when you leave the cinema, well, I hope for, that you all have the definition and know your first love and for everyone it’s gonna be different.
Hmm, halatang pigil ang kilig ni direk Paul kina Aga at Bea dahil hindi naman siya ganito magsalita kapag presscon ng mga pelikula niya. Romantic-comedy din naman ang Siargao nina Jericho Rosales, Jasmin Curtis Smith, at Erich Gonzales pero wala kaming nakitang kilig sa direktor.
At dahil nakakikilig naman talaga ang First Love ay ramdam naming sa unang pagkakataon ay may masasabing super blockbuster movie na si direk Paul dahil open book naman na halos lahat ng nagawa niyang pelikula ay hindi gaanong tumabo sa takilya katulad ng Dukot (2016), Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (2016), Kid Kulafu (2015), Transit (2011), Thelma (2011), Pop Class, (2009) at ang una niyang pelikulang A Journey Home (2009).
Pero ang sigurado naman kami ay blockbuster sa awards ang mga nabanggit na pelikula kaya ito naman ang maipagmamalaki ni direk Paul, ‘yun nga lang, para makapag-produce siya ng maraming pelikula dapat box-office hits din ang mga susunod tulad nga nitong First Love.
Kung sina Aga at Bea ay pangarap nilang makatrabaho ang isa’t isa ay pangarap din pala silang makatrabaho ni direk Paul kaya siguro inspired silang lahat habang isinu-shoot ang pelikula sa Vancouver, Canada.
Ang sabi ni direk Paul, “it’s all started to dream to work with Aga Muhlach, it’s been my dream eversince. The first Filipino film I saw was ‘Hotshots’ (Viva Films 1984) which is directed by my father (Jeric Soriano), I was like 5 or 6 years old (when) I watched it. Ever since growing up, I always have this dream of wanted to work with Aga Muhlach, you don’t just work with Aga Muhlach, you can have to earn your right to work with him.
“Yes, seriously, the friendship that we had being family friends, into now working relationship and I’m just so happy that it’s finally here the opportunity to work with him.
“I’m sure Aga has also a lot to say about this, when I went to his home after several attempts, many pitches to Aga. What’s great about Aga is he tells you something and he’s very honest about it, ‘Paul I wanna work with you, but let’s find the right story.’ So, it took me several pitches and finally, one afternoon, I went to his home, I brought my presentation, I printed all out but before anything Aga speak, ‘I wanna work with Bea Alonzo’ sabi niya.
“When I brought my presentation and printed out, I had Bea’s photo and I want it also to pitch to him that this is an Aga-Bea film, so it’s really safe to say that my dream of working with Aga Muhlach only came true when Bea said yes to the project and I was very thankful to Bea for making may dream come true. Literally, the stars aligned for this project, it’s magic.”
Ikaw Ateng Maricris, naramdaman mo na ba ang sinasabing ‘it’s magic?’
Kaya sa lahat ng mga maka-Aga at maka-Bea, sa Oktubre 17 na mapapanood ang First Love mula sa ABS CBN Films (Star Cinema), Viva Films, at Ten17 Productions na idinirehe naman ni Paul. Kasama rin sa pelikula sina Sandy Andolong, Edward Barbers, at Albie Casino.
FACT SHEET
ni Reggee Bonoan