Jane Oineza (left) and RK Bagatsing
While Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing, who have been dating for over three years now, are very open when it comes to their love for each other, the couple can be very secretive about whether or not they already have plans to settle down.
Jane is 27, while RK is 35. When reporters asked them about this during the premiere night of their erotic drama film “Swing,” Jane only said: “Right now, we’re trying to maximize the opportunities coming our way. I’m so proud of all of RK’s accomplishments and the projects that are being offered to him.”
RK, meanwhile, took more effort to explain their situation. “We are aware of each other’s journey as artists. We both know why we’re here in this industry. We worked hard to get to where we are now. Jane has so many shows that [getting married] has to take a bac seat first. Someday, we will talk about it. For now, I’m proud that she has so much going for her. But, yes, we both believe in marriage,” he told reporters.
Another thing that Jane said she and RK agree about is their disapproval of what is called an “open relationship,” in which both parties are allowed to have sexual relations with other people.
“We’re definitely not for it. Even so, we still get asked if in the future, we see this as a possibility. My answer would always be, ‘Hindi talaga!’ I think views like this should be shared by your partner. You have to set expectations early on in the relationship,” she pointed out.
“While we don’t agree to doing it, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist somewhere else. It may not work in our culture, but it works for others. We also get asked how we thought our characters should have approached the problem, and we always say that it’s all about communication. That’s what I think our characters lacked in the end. Kevin, my character, went in a different direction to figure out how to deal with what he feels,” RK added. “Swing” tells the struggles of a married couple (Kevin and Pam) that tries but fails to conceive a child. In an attempt to save their rocky relationship, they relocate to Switzerland and go on a “wild adventure,” which eventually leads them to try an “open relationship.”
Working together
The film’s story required Jane and RK to do quite a number of steamy bed scenes together, as well as with other actors. Jane said she agreed to do the film despite such demand because she would be working with RK. “I said that if I was going to do a project like this, I’d rather that it’s with him,” she stressed.
“When we got the script, we had to discuss it with Star Magic, with the director (RC delos Reyes), and with (the film’s producer) Mavx Productions. It was all about whether or not we could pull it off,” added RK. “Ultimately, we accepted the offer because we would be working together. This material is very challenging. We were willing to go through it but only if we were together.”
Jane said she has done love scenes in previous projects, “but I really went all out for this one.” Asked whether she feels comfortable watching RK do love scenes with other women, the actress replied: “Since I was able to read the script, I already knew what to expect. I prepared myself for what we were required to do.”
RK, who admitted to being more vocal about feeling jealous, added: “While watching her love scenes, I’d close my eyes sometimes, or just look through the bucket of popcorn in front of me. Seriously, I know that it’s just work. But we have to give life to these characters. I can’t say we don’t get affected by them, we’re only human, but because we’re both from the same field, we are able to share with each other what we personally go through as actors.”
Scene from “Swing”
For Jane, it was just a matter of figuring out how to best handle the situation she was in. “Personally, I had to first figure out whether I would really want to know the details of the scenes he would be doing for the film. I had to realize on my own what works better for me, both as his girlfriend and coactor,” she said.
RK then said the experience while watching the film could be different for each audience member. “Whatever you watch, that’s your journey. I can’t force you to like what I want. It will all depend on your interpretation—yours is not wrong in the same manner that the point of view of another audience member is not necessarily correct. It’s very subjective.”
Jane said that unlike the relationship of the couple in the film, what she has with RK is “more balanced,” despite the eight-year age gap. She explained: “We treat each other as equals. There’s give and take. We don’t count what the other does for the relationship. In Pam and Kevin’s relationship, the scales are tilted in favor of Kevin. For us, we try to achieve balance in everything.”
“Swing” is now screening in theaters nationwide. INQ