Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu during a mall show for “My Love Will Make You Disappear.” Image: Instagram/@starcinema
Having worked together on three projects, Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu didn’t expect they would grow closer although they have long been aware of each other’s presence in showbiz.
Chiu said during the media con of their film “My Love Will Make You Disappear” that she didn’t expect to work with Avelino, to which the latter said he had been watching the Filipino-Chinese actress since he was in high school.
“Pinapanood kita sa ‘Starstruck.’ Sumasayaw ka pa… actually, bumoto ako (I used to watch you in ‘Starstruck.’ You were dancing back then. I actually voted),” the actress said in response, hinting that she voted for her leading man back then.
The actress was the Big Winner of “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 1” in 2006, while Avelino was a contestant in season four of the rival “Starstruck” in 2007, although he ended up getting eliminated. As the actor entered showbiz, he said in the now-defunct talk show “Entertainment Live” in 2011 that he wanted to work with Chiu.
Years later, they were paired up in the dramas “Linlang” and “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim,” and their upcoming rom-com film.
When asked if they expected that they would grow close, Avelino said he didn’t expect to have a closer relationship with his leading lady due to their difference in genres back then.
“I would say yes after a few projects… hindi ko nga [inexpect] na makakatrabaho ko si Kim. I wanted to work with her. I never expected it kasi naging iba na rin ang tahak ng mga gusto kong gawin. Hindi ko alam na kay Kim pala ang bagsak ko,” he said.
(I would say yes after a few projects. I never expected that I would work with Kim. I wanted to work with her. I never expected it because I had different plans for what I wanted to do. I didn’t know that I would end up with Kim.)
Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu during the “My Love Will Make You Disappear” media con. Image: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.net
Chiu, for her part, said she initially didn’t approach Avelino due to his quiet personality. She is nonetheless happy that she got to know more about her leading man after working together.
“Hindi ko alam kasi hindi ko naman siya kinakausap dati… tatlong projects na rin pinagsamahan namin. Na-experience na rin namin ang iba’t ibang klase ng intensity ng pag-arte. Diba sa pag-arte, kailangan mong kilalanin ang tao? Nagiging close kayo kapag nagkakasama kayo together,” she said.
“Pero masaya [ako], hindi ko inaasahan na magiging kaclose ko ang isang Paulo Avelino. Hindi siya nagsasalita. Nakatayo lang siya actually at titignan ka lang niya,” she further explained.
(I didn’t know either because I never talked to him before. But we worked together on three projects since then. We experienced different kinds of intensity in acting. You have to know your co-actor in acting, right? So we became close after being together. But I’m happy. I didn’t expect that I would be close to Paulo Avelino. He has always been silent. He will always be standing somewhere and looking at you.)
On what they want to disappear
Asked what they wanted to disappear, a play on their new project’s title, Chiu and Avelino said they wanted that people’s pain would go away someday.
“Siyempre, lahat ng sadness, lahat ng pain, gusto kong maalis na ‘yun para happy na lang (Of course, all the sadness and pain. I wanted it to go away so we can just be happy),” Chiu said.
Echoing his onscreen partner’s remarks, the actor said: “‘Yung mga pain na nararamdaman ng mga tao at mga paghihirap nila. Kung pwedeng mawala at tanggalin (If only we can make the people’s pain and hardships disappear).”
Avelino was then asked to give his two cents in dealing with heartbreak, noting how Chiu’s character in the film is dealing with a broken heart. “It’s not the end of the world.”
“Minsan, iniisip natin na katapusan na ng lahat,” he continued. “But habang pinagpapatuloy natin ang buhay, mas nakakahanap tayo ng mas mabuti at mas magandang mga bagay. There’s always something to look forward to.”
(It’s not the end of the world. Sometimes, we feel that the world is ending. But as we live through life, you will find better things. There’s always something to look forward to.)
“My Love Will Make You Disappear,” which hits theaters on March 26, also stars Wilma Doesnt, Karina Bautista, Lovely Abella, Benj Manalo, and Nico Antonio. It is directed by Prime Cruz.