Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards say ‘Hello, Love, Again’ is tribute to OFWs
Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards during the media launch of “Hello, Love, Again.” Image: Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter
For Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, the life and hardships of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will always be at the core of “Hello, Love, Goodbye” and its sequel “Hello, Love, Again.”
The 2019 film puts the spotlight on Joy (Bernardo), who’s determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse in Canada. While she falls in love with Ethan (Richards), her goal of seeking the Land of Maple never changes.
Five years later, “Hello, Love, Again” will show Ethan as an OFW navigating the uncertainty of finding Joy in Canada while dealing with his own hardships.
“The film is really about the sacrifice, hard work, and lahat ng pinagdadaanan [ng OFWs] just to give their families better lives. May gan’ung traits tayo as Filipinos. We always go out of our way at kinakalimutan ang sarili natin para sa mga mahal natin sa buhay,” Richards said at a press launch.
(The film is really about the sacrifice, hard work, and experiences of OFWs just to give their families better lives. We have those kinds of traits as Filipinos. We always go out of our way and we forget ourselves for our loved ones.)
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Before filming in Alberta, Canada, the production team made sure to reach out to Filipinos living in the area to conduct their research and hold interviews, in hopes of knowing more about their experiences. This, in turn, was essential in continuing Joy and Ethan’s story as individuals.
“Tatanungin din ng film if it’s (The film also asks if it’s) worth the sacrifice. Because it’s about the lives of people who are working away from their Philippines every day, and the things they experienced and set aside,” Richards said.
Bernardo, on the other hand, noted how working on the films helped them become more aware of how OFWs would define sacrifices. “These films were created to tell an OFW’s story, sacrifice, and everything that happened in their lives.”
“Working in Hong Kong and Canada taught us about that,” she continued. “Direk Cathy [Garcia-Sampana] and the team were very helpful because they went out of their way to research its themes.”
Upon relearning an OFW’s definition of sacrifice in the 2024 film, it sparked the actress’ awareness of how much Filipinos are willing to endure for their loved ones.
“Nakaka-amaze kung gaano tayo katatag mga Pilipino and gaano tayo nagta-try abroad. It’s physically tiring and emotionally challenging. Kaming isang buwan nahirapan. Paano pa silang mas matagal d’un. We have so much respect for them,” she said.
(It’s amazing how untiring Filipinos are, and how they’re willing to try abroad. It’s physically tiring and emotionally challenging. We only spent a month in Canada and we had a hard time. What more those who have been there longer? We have so much respect for them.)
“Hello, Love, Again” will also pick up from where Joy and Ethan’s romance left off, as it will also tell the story of how the pandemic and other factors caused their breakup.
The film also stars Joross Gamboa, Jennica Garcia, Valerie Concepcion, Ruby Rodriguez, Kevin Kreider, Jeffrey Tam and Jameson Blake.
Aside from its premiere in the Philippines, “Hello, Love, Again” will be screened in several theaters in Asia, North America and the Middle East in November. It will also be the closing film of the 10th Asian World Film Festival.
