MIGUEL Tanfelix and Bianca Umali in “Wish I May”
Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali, the fledgling talents who make up the “BiGuel” love team on GMA 7, couldn’t help it if their fans have begun suspecting—and perhaps hoping—that their friendship has finally grown into something deeper.
The screen couple has always had a good working relationship. The two said they got even closer after vacationing in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, and Vigan, Ilocos Sur, with their families earlier this month. But still, they insisted that they are, as the show biz cliché goes, just friends.
“Our closeness is different—and fans see that…The trip was nice because we experienced new things together,” Bianca told a group of reporters at a recent press conference for “Wish I May,” the upcoming afternoon TV series she will be headlining with her 17-year-old leading man.
“We got to know and discover new things about each other,” added Miguel, who skirted around questions about the possibility of being a romantic couple with Bianca, by pointing out that her costar is only 15. “I’ll be turning 18 this year. But she’s not!” he quipped.
Bianca, on the other hand, played it safe: “We’ll see in the future. We haven’t really thought about it.”
At the very least, they said they aren’t seeing other people.
They would rather focus on their respective careers. “We’ll continue to work hard, do our best, and not let pressure get the better of us. We also want to enjoy what we’re doing,” said Miguel, who also works with Bianca in the sitcom, “Ismol Family.” “Our goal is to entertain and make the fans happy.”
Do they see themselves as GMA 7’s answer to the young love tandems of rival networks? “I don’t want to claim anything,” Bianca said. “We’ll just do our own thing.”
Miguel and Bianca promised to keep in their hearts all the lessons and advice the late German Moreno used to tell them. “He stressed the importance of professionalism and friendliness,” recalled Miguel, who described Kuya Germs as a “generous” person.
“We were shocked by his passing. We just saw him early this month, during our New Year countdown,” Bianca said. “But we feel extremely lucky that we were able to know him.”
Directed by Neal del Rosario and Mark Sicat de la Cruz, “Wish I May” airs Monday to Friday and also stars Camille Prats, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Alessandra de Rossi, Glydel Mercado and Mark Herras.
E-mail apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph