Lovi Poe, Joem Bascon, and Laura Lehmann share their thoughts on their upcoming movie: ‘The Annulment’

Laura Lehmann, Joem Bascon, Lovi Poe and Director McArthur C. Alejandre. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

‘The Annulment’ from Regal Entertainment, Inc. is a sexy-romance-drama that explores the facets of a serious relationship and why ultimately a legal separation or annulment could be the better option for a couple.

Lovi Poe, after taking a sabbatical from acting, has made her return via ‘The Annulment’ and she is paired with a veteran actor Joem Bascon who she knows well from their past work experience. Joining them in this movie are beauty queen turned actress Laura Lehmann, and popular young actress and singer Myrtle Sarrosa.

‘The Annulment’ promises to be a movie that will make you stop to think, reflect, and realize if the person you are married to or in love with is really the one meant for you. Indeed, being in love can be an emotional roller coaster ride and for some getting an annulment may be the only solution in saving themselves from the other when things turn bad and get ugly because their irreconcilable differences have become beyond reform, repair, and repentance.

‘The Annulment’ is going to be released nationwide in cinemas starting on November 13, 2019.

‘The Annulment’ is directed by McArthur C. Alejandre and produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc.

Now, here are my questions for Lovi Poe, Joem Bascon, and Laura Lehmann:

1. If you were to find yourself in a bad marriage, would you try to save it at all cost or would you quickly file for annulment, why?

Lovi Poe: I would definitely try to save it. Of course, I would do my best to save the relationship. I kept saying this earlier that when we enter a relationship and we commit ourselves to someone… no one really wants it to end badly. We actually want to works things out. So, hanggang kayang ipaglaban… ipaglalaban. Pero siyempre, there are things that you can’t fix and if you feel like it is more of a “No-Turning-Back Situation” then, I think ibang usapan na yun pag ganun.

Laura Lehmann, Joem Bascon, Lovi Poe and Director McArthur C. Alejandre. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Joem Bascon: Yan lagi naman pinag-uusapan ni Lovi yun during the shooting. Actually, during the shoot lagi namin pinag uusapan na habang may ginagawa kami na scenes na baka may ibang couples na dumadaan sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon sa buhay nila.

And my answer would be this: Siyempre, coming from a very conservative country like the Philippines… siyempre, ang sagot natin diyan parati ay ipaglalaban natin yan hanggang sa huli… kumbaga hanggang sa kamatayan. Pero siyempre, sa generation ngayon nag iiba na ang arguments, beliefs, and values ng mga tao. And I guess may mga things na hindi talaga kaya ma fix at the same time. Kung pilitin niyo pa baka mas lalo pa kayo masaktan at mawala ang respeto para sa isat-isa… so I guess pag umabot na sa ganun, wala ka na ibang choice kundi mag separate.

I think yan lang naman sinasabi namin tungkol sa movie na after the annulment na hindi pa tapos ang buhay nang dalawang tao na yun. I guess yan ang gusto naman ipakita na may hope pa rin as an individual. Na hindi lang tungkol lang sa iyo ang mundo, or relationship niyo. You really have to grow seperately para mag mature kayong dalawa, to fix yourself, or find yourself para maging okay kayo for each other in the future kung sakali magkita kayo ulit.

Laura Lehmann, Joem Bascon, Lovi Poe, and Director McArthur C. Alejandre. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Laura Lehmann: For me, this movie aside from entertaining you, aside from touching you, I think what it does also is it informs you. Cos prior to making this movie, I did not know the extent of having an annulment. We learned that to get an annulment you have to claim your spouse is mentally incapable, you have to claim your spouse has STD. So sobrang lalim po. Ang hirap talaga. You make all these accusations. So, it just reminds everyone that before you get married, dapat sure ka sa tao and you really have to realize that you are making a lifelong commitment and annulment should be the last resort.

2. Would you advise your loved ones, trapped in a bad marriage, to file for an annulment? Why?

Lovi Poe: I will probably do the same as “Trisha’s” character in the movie if I see that a relationship is destructive, let’s say abusive… As long as you see a really negative relationship, I would definitely give her a good talk about the pros and cons of keeping the relationship.

And, yes, it is hard to see your loved ones go through something terrible. So, it is unavoidable to not give your loved ones advice when what you see is no longer correct. So, as a friend, it is going to be possible to give them advice.

Lovi Poe and Director McArthur C. Alejandre. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Joem Bascon: Siyempre, magbibigay ka ng advice. For me, the advice I would give them is to seek professional help or professionals na makakatulong sayo pag sobrang bigat na pinag dadaanan at hindi na talaga nag w-work out ang relationship niyo. Siyempre, as friends or loved ones, siyempre c-comfort ko sila and sasamahan ko sila sa process na mangyayari sa kanila. For me, kasi may mga tao na mas alam ano ang gagawin kaya mas okay kung mag seek sila ng professional help.

Laura Lehmann: I would say annulment should be a last resort. I would advise my loved ones to talk it out first. Do whatever you can so that you do not get annulled. Because at the end of the day, you married each other for a reason. So, if you can go back to that reason and find whatever is left of it… so hopefully things will be okay and whether you live together or you will be separate… but getting an annulment should be the last resort.