MARCO GUMABAO romances reel and real life partner Cristine Reyes in TV5’s remake of the Viva hit “Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan” that starts airing this Tuesday at 4:40 PM.
He recreates the role of Rod originally played by Christopher de Leon in the 1983 movie.
Asked if it’s because of the series that he and Cristine got close, Marco says they’ve already been on even before they were assigned to do the show.
“Siempre, natuwa kami nang mabigyan ng chance na magkapareha dito sa ‘Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan’,” he says.
“First time kong makatrabaho si Cristine was in ‘Tubig at Langis’ sa ABS-CBN in 2016, seven years ago na.
"Magkapatid ang roles namin at noon pa, starstruck na ako sa kanya. Napakagaling niya kasing umarte.
"At ngayon dito sa series namin, magkapareha na kami at makikita nyo uli ang husay niya as Helen, who gets torn between me and Cesar Montano.”
He is the first boyfriend of Cristine in the show, but he goes abroad and breaks up with her, so she eventually falls for Cesar.
At the press preview of the show’s first week episodes, the audience was reacting more excitedly in Cristine’s scenes with Cesar and it cannot be denied that the “kilig” factor between them is more intense than between her and Marco.
How does Marco feel about this?
“Maski ako, kinikilig sa scenes nila,” he says. “This is ensemble acting and everyone is great.
"Yung character ko, maiinis talaga ang viewers sa akin sa umpisa kasi bigla kong iniwan si Cristine as Helen.’’
The press preview ended with a cliffhanger showing Marco as Rod suddenly returning trying to reconcile with Cristine and it shocked some viewers.
“Yes, nung biglang bumalik ang character kong si Rod, nagrereklamo yung mga nakapanood sa preview,” says Marco.
“O, bakit bumalik pa ito, e maligaya na si Helen sa piling ni Cesar as Cenon.
"Ang pakiusap ko, tumutok lang po kayo sa mga susunod na linggo para malaman nyo ang reasons why Rod did what he did.
"You’ll understand him better kapag napanood nyo ang side niya.”
In the early part of the series, there’s a scene where he kneeled and proposed to Cristine with an engagement ring.
Does he see himself doing this in real life?
Cristine butts in: “Ang aga pa.”
But Marco says: “Oo naman. Of course, ako, nakikita ko. Hindi naman ako magsasayang ng oras kung hindi ko nakikita sa kanya ang end game.
"Ilang taon na akong tinatanong ng press, bakit wala akong girlfriend. E, kasi nga, hindi ko pa nakikita ang right one.
"And now, I think and I feel that it’s Cristine.”
Well, how sweet! Here’s wishing all the best for their romantic relationship.
