Maya weds Ser Chief today: ‘Seems so real’

A SHOT from the prenup pictorial. photo by mango red

One of Jodi Sta. Maria’s—or rather, Maya de la Rosa’s—top concerns is to look her best on the day she weds aviation businessman Ricky “Ser Chief” Lim, portrayed by unlikely heartthrob Richard Yap.

Somewhere in Laguna, cast and crew of the hit TV series “Be Careful with My Heart” have been taping for five straight days in preparation for the event.

A worried Jodi jests that she may “run out of beauty” before she puts on her gown. But the slight, feline-eyed 31-year-old actress need not fret. With very little makeup, she still looks radiant under grim skies brought about by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The set is the De la Rosa residence, a quaint house in the town of Pila. The scene showing Maya being made up for the wedding is about to be shot.

She’s nervous, Jodi says, but excited. “It’s a fairy-tale wedding for Maya [but it’s] actually like a real one. Kulang na lang papel! (All we need is a certificate!)”

Her input

Asked if she gave her input to the wedding scene, Jodi quips,  “Pakialamera ako! I suggested the theme, the total look.”

JODI knows Maya is excited about the “fairy-tale” wedding. arnold almacen

Her gown was designed by Avel Bacudio. It reflects Maya’s positive attitude and simplicity,” she says, “but it’s very classy.”

With her busy schedule, there wasn’t much she could do to prepare for this day, except lose a little weight. “I need to get in that gown, with all the zippers… zipped!”

The 11th kiss
She’s looking forward to the exchange of vows, Jodi says. What about the kiss? “I’m sure the viewers will be. They keep tabs on the number of times Ser Chief and Maya have kissed—10 so far. The wedding kiss will be our 11th.”

Also in the house today are Aiza Seguerra (Kute), Vandolph, (Lino), Paul Jake Castillo (Simon) and Sylvia Sanchez (Teresita).

Tradition!

Aiza Seguerra amd Sylvia Sanchez photo by ARNOLD ALMACEN

The production is observing a traditional practice: The groom shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony.

Ser Chief is seeing to his own preparations in a hotel a few minutes away. He’s staying with his parents Don Roberto (Noel Trinidad), Doña Esmeralda (Marissa Delgado) and his kids Luke (Jerome Ponce), Nik-Nik (Janella Salvador) and Abby (Mutya  Orquia).

The 46-year-old actor has also been watching his food intake. He even tried  an all-juice diet. “But I couldn’t stick to it,” Richard says.

Too real

He sees the wedding as the culmination of the lovebirds’ dreams. “I’m eager to see Maya marching down the aisle. It really looks like the real thing; I might get charged with bigamy!” he says, laughing.

In the whirlwind, Richard is reminded of his own wedding to wife Melody, whom he fondly calls “Mama Chien” (from Papa Chien, the role he played in “My Binondo Girl”).

Asked what the fans should watch for, Richard cracks, “’Yung honeymoon. Matindi ’yun!”

Months of planning

“Be Careful” business unit head Ginny Ocampo says the creative team started brainstorming on the wedding as early as January. Even the invitations, giveaways and cake—which may

STARS Janella Salvador, Marissa Delgado, Mutya Orquia and Maricar Reyes get dolled up. RYAN RAMOS

not even make it to the screen—were discussed with a wedding planner.

“The fans know the characters inside and out, and have expectations that we need to fulfill,” Ginny explains. “The giveaways will be plane-shaped bag tags; the cake will also be inspired by travel.” A priest briefed the team about the ceremony. Maya and Ser Chief also had a prenuptial pictorial and went to marriage counseling, the TV exec adds.

Scouting for a church began in April. The team initially picked Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte but, due to logistical challenges, settled for the Taal Basilica in Batangas. The reception is set at Villa Escudero in Quezon province.

Honeymoon

The couple will fly to Japan for their honeymoon, to give Maya her dream winter experience. They leave tomorrow and return on the 20th for the after-wedding party, which will be aired as a Sunday special.

VANDOLPH photo by ARNOLD ALMACEN

In the director’s tent, Jeffrey Jeturian tells the Inquirer that they will shoot the wedding rites without cuts, using at least seven cameras.

“The show has become so much a part of many viewers’ lives, that this is real for them. That’s how we want to do it,” the director says.

(The wedding scene was shot on Wednesday and airs today. Taping date was not announced; still, fans flocked to the set.)

While weddings usually signal the end of a teleserye, Maya and Ser Chief’s will merely usher in a new chapter. “We’ll see the characters living under one roof, and so the dynamics of their relationship will be different. We’ll see how they’ll keep the fire burning,” Jodi says.

Meanwhile, Richard imagines  Maya and Ser Chief’s life after marriage, thus: “The Misadventures of Mr. and Mrs. Lim!”

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