“IT’S A BLESSING and at the same time a curse,” said Bea Alonzo of the popularity of Popoy and Basha, the iconic characters of the 2007 hit movie, “One More Chance.”
Bea and John Lloyd were at the Inquirer office recently to promote “A Second Chance,” the sequel to the Cathy Garcia-Molina romantic comedy that will hit cinemas nationwide on Nov. 25.
The two actors said they were aware of the high expectations for their follow-up project, so they would like to “remind the audience that this is the story that the creators of Popoy and Basha came up with. Just remember that this is what they (scriptwriters Carmi Raymundo and Vanessa Valdez) want to say,” said John Lloyd.
Bea said that they were glad that the movie had sparked online debates. “It’s a blessing because people are really interested, but it’s a curse because those of us who are working on the film don’t know where to position ourselves—the fans have so many suggestions!”
John Lloyd added: “We like the idea that people discuss the film when they leave the cinema. I prefer that it becomes a subject of discourse because this means it has value. We don’t want them to feel that they’ve wasted two hours of their time on something insignificant—that’s actually our fear.”
Set seven years later, Popoy and Basha are now faced with the challenges of married life. Popoy is struggling to keep his business afloat and his self-esteem intact. Basha, on the other hand, assumes the role of a docile wife.
“It’s true that marriage can be ugly and boring. We showed all of that in the film,” said Bea. “With what you know, the question now is whether or not you will still choose to be with the one you love.”
Excerpts from the Inquirer’s hour-long chat with the two actors.
What’s the difference when you did your first few films together and now that you’re the top actors of your generation?
J (John Lloyd): When the teamup was so much younger, at the time of our first break on TV, “Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay,” we would always talk about sincerity. We never pretended that there was something going on between us.
B (Bea): At the time people preferred to see real-life couples working together.
J: Yes, that was during the time when Jericho (Rosales) and Kristine (Hermosa) were very popular.
And you resisted that?
B: We just tried to be real.
J: I had a girlfriend then, and Bea was still so young. I was being paired with Rica Peralejo and Dimples Romana. Management then couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with the teamup. That’s when it started.
B: I guess the only change now is that we’re more familiar with each other. We have already developed a certain level of trust. I’m more open to doing certain scenes with him than with other actors.
Everybody considers you very good actors, separately, not only as a love team, but it’s interesting to know how different your processes are.
B: We respect each other’s process. I remember we talked about it in this film. I tried to copy his process, but it was too tiring for me.
J: I can’t do what she does, either. She easily goes on and off character.
Your love team is iconic. Why do you think you were never in a romantic relationship?
J: If you think of it, that’s actually scary. I really can’t work with someone I am involved with romantically.
B: Me, too.
J: That’s the only thing that’s real in my life.
B: People will just have to choose—maging kami, (to be a couple) but not see us in a project together anymore [or just to be a reel couple].
Was it difficult to play the characters again after eight years? How did you manage?
B: We were given a questionnaire to answer.
J: This was so we can fill in the gap from when Part 1 ended in 2008 up to the present.
B: The book also helped speed up the process.
Can you give examples of the questions asked?
J: They were very detailed questions…
B: As in how many kids do Popoy and Basha want to have?
J: Or what did you do during your honeymoon? Or what sexual positions do you prefer? The questions were really intimate because the two characters are already married.
B: We also had to justify our answers, parang thesis.
J: We talked about everything, down to the very core of the characters.
B: While we were answering the questionnaire, I noticed that there were a lot of things that we disagreed on…
J: Which I appreciated because Bea and I are different.
B: What was good was that we learned to compromise. I enjoyed the discussion.
Are you better people because of the characters you play?
J: I am. That’s actually the bonus of the kind of work we have.
B: There’s a part of me in every character I play, and at the same time, a character also leaves a part of her in me. Take the movie “A Love Affair,” for example. There is this scene wherein my character wants to run after Richard Gomez’s. I argued with the writer—I told her no woman can be that stupid. I later realized that I’ve already experienced it—not the exact incident—but the feeling. The characters I play actually help me as a person.
Weren’t you intimidated by Lloydie when you began working together?
B: Oh yeah! I was just about to turn 15 then and he just won best actor for “Tabing Ilog.” He was always so quiet. I felt like he didn’t want to talk to me at all!
J: ’Di naman tayo nandoon para magkuwentuhan ano?! (We were not there to just talk to each other.) (Laughs.)
B: You could have at least been more welcoming!
J: Trabaho ng staff ’yon. ’Di ko trabaho ’yon. (That’s the work of the staff, not mine.)
B: (Ignores John Lloyd) He was snobbish then. Seriously, I would not have been this passionate about my craft if it wasn’t John Lloyd whom I first worked with.
J: (Sticks out his tongue)
Direk Cathy says she is nervous because people are expecting so much from the sequel. Do you feel the same way?
B: I understand why the directors and writers are feeling the pressure. I appreciate Direk Cathy, Ate Vannessa (Valdez) and Ate Carmi (Raymundo) more now. I see the hard work they’ve put in on this one.
Why do you think so?
J: This is the actual process of the director. This is her most daring so far, in terms of how she fought for what she really wanted.
Do you personally feel that a Part 2 is needed, given the iconic status of the film?
B: We used to think it was no longer needed.
J: We resisted. “One More Chance” is iconic, so we didn’t want to touch it anymore. Now we see that we owe it to the audience—there is clamor for a sequel.
B: The eight-year gap made it difficult.
Do you think the problems that the characters go through will help you when you eventually decide to take the plunge?
BEA AND John Lloyd think their onscreen tandem wouldn’t work if they were a real-life couple. Eloisa Lopez
J: I guess they will influence me, but not in my decision to get married or not. It opened my eyes to what a real married couple actually goes through. I like it that when you’re finally living together, your wife prepares your food and clothes. I think that’s sweet! I’ve never experienced this before—I’ve never lived in with a girl or gotten married.
B: What I appreciated most about Popoy is that he really loves Basha and that he will do anything to fulfill her dreams to make her happy. I realized how hard it is for the men in our lives to carry the burden of raising a family on their shoulders, while we girls ask and expect too much from them.
How much of Popoy and Basha are actually in you?
J: That’s a tough question. These characters came from us. We gave birth to them, with the help of the writers and the director. I don’t know how much, but I’m sure there’s a part of Popoy in me.
B: Basha and I are the same when it comes to our willingness to sacrifice for the sake of love.
J: Talk about Heath Ledger, who was not able to let go of the character he portrayed. It cost him his life.
B: Every character has both a dark side and a happy side. Just choose to magnify the happy side.
Is it easy for you to disconnect from your character after taping or shooting?
J: I remember when I was doing “Maging Sino Ka Man,” my character was so emotionally and physically draining to portray. Sino nga ba ang girlfriend ko noon? (Who was my girlfriend then?)
B: Si Liz (Uy)!
J: My girlfriend at the time, while we’re fighting, once told me, “Sino ba ang kausap ko ngayon?” (Who am I talking to right now?) She said it’s like she’s talking to another person. It takes a while before you get detached from your character. You bring it home—you’re just probably not conscious about it.
B: I’m fascinated by people, by human interaction and emotion.
Are you aware of the effect of Popoy and Basha on a whole generation of teens who first saw it in 2007?
J: I guess the director and the creative team are [the ones] more conscious of this. Ours is just a small contribution to the whole thing.
But it’s you who shaped these characters.
B: Yes, but with the guidance of the director.
J: When we did “One More Chance,” we didn’t know that this particular generation would react the way they did.
Is it very difficult for stars to have a normal relationship?
J: My approach has always been not to take life too seriously.
B: Our work is not so different from that of other people. I guess artists are just more exposed…
J: And that their every move is magnified.
What is it about stardom that you resist or resent?
SCENE from “A Second Chance”
J: I always struggle in keeping my private life private. For me, there are two kinds of artists—celebrities and actors. I always strive to achieve balance. I know that my work begins the moment I step out of the house.
B: I sometimes struggle with how to marry being a businesswoman and being an artist. You compromise, sometimes. You just have to make it work.
J: It’s all a matter of perspective. Counting one’s blessings is sometimes overrated. I feel angry because the T-shirt that I want to wear on a particular day is still in the laundry bin. It’s the little problems that make us real people.
Just a casual observation—John Lloyd is more cynical and Bea is more optimistic.
B: That’s not what I wanted to say! I think I’m just more idealistic and he’s more realistic. He’s not cynical and I’m not optimistic all the time.
J: Cynical lang ako ’pag Mondays.
Considering all the love teams today—JaDine, KathNiel, AlDub and LizQuen, what can you advise them in terms of longevity?
B: Love your craft—it should start from that. I hope they prioritize that over anything else—not fame or stardom, or how people perceive them.
J: Since Day 1, we’ve offered nothing but our sincerity. We never tried to fool people into believing that we’re together para lang kiligin sila.
What do you do when you can’t stand each other any longer?
J: Ang dami naming gan’on! We finished one TV series, “Betty La Fea,” and we didn’t speak to each other at all!
B: We worked on it for almost eight months.
“One More Chance” spawned quotable quotes. Do you have favorites?
B: “Ayaw ko na ng ‘what ifs.’ Gusto ko na ng ‘what is.’”
J: “You had me at my best…”
JOHN Lloyd and Bea at the Inquirer office. ELOISA LOPEZ
Let’s tackle social issues this time. Are you willing to use your influence to promote or endorse a political candidate or support an advocacy?
J: If I really believe in something or someone, I’d gladly help.
B: To influence your followers to vote for the person you’re endorsing is a big responsibility. You have to be 100-percent sure that the candidate deserves it.
What can you say about the recently concluded Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit)?
J: I hope that with the P10-billion fund, we can safely say that we’ve been good hosts. I guess we have yet to see and appreciate its benefits—because those will come later on.