Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing. Image: X/@RegalFilms
Celebrity couple Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing experienced a “15-day free trial” to parenthood in the Cinemalaya 2024 entry “Love Child,” which tells the story of parents trying to raise their child with special needs.
Directed by Jonathan Jurilla, “Love Child” revolves around college sweethearts Ayla (Jane Oineza) and Paolo (RK Bagatsing) who had a child out of wedlock after a whirlwind romance. The couple eventually welcomes their child but are devastated after finding out their child is diagnosed with special needs four years later.
Oineza and Bagatsing said working on the film was a glimpse into the hardships of parenthood, in an ambush interview with reporters on the sidelines of the film festival’s press conference in Manila, which made a mark on them.
“Tumatak sa akin. Para kami naka-15-day free trial having a kid… free trial before lifetime subscription. Magpe-prepare muna kami for the lifetime subscription,” said Oineza.
“It is hard to raise a child as it is. Tapos marami ka pa isipin, added gastos, and everything, especially, [our child in the film] has special needs,” she further added.
(It made a mark on me. It’s like we had a 15-day free trial for having a kid, a free trial before a lifetime subscription. We’ll prepare first before the lifetime subscription. It is hard to raise a child as it is. Then you have to think about the additional expenses and everything, especially our child in the film has special needs.)
Bagatsing said the film also talks about how far “unconditional love” can go when a couple becomes parents.
“Naku, ang hirap pala, Ako na lang muna ang baby,” Bagatsing said in jest. “Ang pinakamensahe ng pelikula is paano maging magulang and paano darating ang unconditional love na sinasabi,” he added.
(It’s really hard. I will be the baby for now. The message of the film is what it means to be a parent and how unconditional love plays a role in this.)
Pressure, at first
“Love Child” is not the first time Oineza and Bagatsing worked together on a project. When asked if they still feel pressure acting side-by-side, Oineza admitted she initially felt nervous, but they eventually became comfortable with each other as co-workers.
“Hindi, actually sa simula, may gan’un kasi kinakabahan ka kung anong iisipin. But the more we worked together, [we became] comfortable and mas nakikilala mo ‘yung nakakatrabaho mo. Kapag may breakup scene kami, it feels like [we’re really] breaking up. So mas natatamaan ka talaga sa core mo,” she said.
(No, actually I was, at first. I was nervous because I was worried about what he would think. We became more comfortable the more we worked together. I learned more about him. When we have a breakup scene, it feels like we’re really breaking up. So it hits me to my core.)
Meanwhile, Bagatsing said it’s the job of an actor to not be nervous around your co-star, which eventually led to them gaining confidence in each other’s work style.
“Malaking parte ng pagiging artista kung paano kang hindi mahihiya sa kasama mo, or sa bagong set and bagong director,” he said. “Kapag magkasama kami, alam na namin ang ugali ng isa’t isa and kung paano kami makakatrabaho. So mas nakaka-focus kami sa material.”
(A huge part of being an actor is how you wouldn’t be nervous around your co-star, a new set, or a new director. When we’re together, we know each other’s attitudes and capabilities. So we’re more focused on the material.)
The couple, who first met on the set of “Araw Gabi” in 2018, confirmed they’re in a relationship in 2021.
Aside from “Love Child” and “Araw Gabi,” Oineza and Bagatsing worked together in the films “Us Again,” “Shake Rattle and Roll Xtreme,” and “Swing.”