In local showbiz, the public has witnessed how successful tandems brought millions to the box-office, propelled TV shows to the top of the ratings game and command a wide and loyal following.
Barely a year after they won in Star Circle Quest (SCQ) Batch One, Hero Angeles and Sandara Park have attained popularity perhaps in dizzying heights. Theirs is undoubtedly the most successful young love team in local showbiz today.
Naturally, romance is an angle that will be exploited to sustain the existence of the Hero-Sandara love team. Yet, even without a real-life relationship, Hero and Sandara have gained a growing legion of followers.
"From the time we worked together in SCQ, we became the best of friends and I guess that’s important," Hero says. "We’ve remained good friends. Sandy is someone I can turn to when I need someone to talk to. She’s always there and she’s ready to listen. I don’t see anything wrong if I fall in love with her, but we’re best friends and I don’t want to destroy that friendship."
Hero insists he does not believe there is a budding romance between Sandara and his good friend, Joseph Bitangcol, also an SCQ Batch One member. "They were the ones who told me that they don’t have any relationship," Hero says. "We’re all good friends. Magkakasama kami sa work."
Hero admires Sandara for her ability to remain tough in a business which can break one’s career instantly. "I know showbiz can be cruel, especially when they say or write negative things about you," Hero maintains. "But Sandy knows how to handle it. I know she cries sometimes, but she survives the intrigues."
Sandara, for her part, admits it’s not easy to sustain a showbiz career. The 20-year-old Korean gets hurt with the unfavorable write-ups about her and she also gets affected by the intrigues. Like any other aspiring female star, she became the victim of a nasty pregnancy rumor.
"I cry when the write-up is not true," Sandara says. "There are others who say na feeling sikat na ako at primadonna. I hate it when others say that. I love my work and I’m just giving my best in everything I do."
Personal criticism against her also makes Sandara shed tears. "One writer said I look like a plato (plate) if I don’t have any make-up," she grants. "But I look the same with or without make-up."
Sandara left for Korea last month to take a much-needed vacation. She will be away for five months, as she will also enroll in a few units to start her college education. She is set to take up Mass Communications.
Hero feels sad that their love team has to break up at this point. But he sees it as a bigger challenge to his steadily rising showbiz career.
"I’ll go solo when Sandy is not here. I’ll try to explore other fields in my career. Sabi nga nila, sa isang love team, may maiiwan. Actually, ‘di naman talaga mawawala ang love team namin. Temporary lang na mawawala si Sandy. Babalik din naman siya. Pero mami-miss ko ang pagiging krung-krung niya. She’s the only krung-krung that I’ve known. Kung may iba mang krung-krung, siya ang original."
Doesn’t krung-krung have a negative connotation? "I believe krung-krung means kikay or someone who’s unpredictable," Hero explains. "That’s Sandy."
After their first successful big screen team-up in the blockbuster trilogy, Bcuz of U, Hero and Sandara get their launching vehicle as a young love team in Jose Javier Reyes’ Can This Be Love. Star Cinema executives obviously felt it was ripe to give the popular pair their solo movie. Can This Be Love is set to be shown on April 27 and also stars Roxanne Guinoo, Joross Gamboa, Aaron Villaflor, Paw Diaz and Erika Clemente, with Tirso Cruz III, Roderick Paulate and Eugene "Simang" Domingo.
"Up to now, I still couldn’t believe that Sandy and I have a launching movie. Parang ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. But I’m really very thankful to Star Cinema dahil pinagkatiwalaan nila kami ng solo movie namin."
Hero is likewise that their friends, Joross and Roxanne, have agreed to play second fiddle to them in Can This Be Love. "Masaya naman ako that they are supporting us in this movie," Hero says. "We’re friends that’s why pumayag sila. Malaking bagay sa akin ‘yun. Gano’n naman ang magkakaibigan, nagtutulungan."
In the meantime, while Sandara is in Korea, she also plans to take up voice lessons. "I’m not a good singer," she admits. "I want to sing like Sarah Geronimo. I want to learn."
Sandara, however, will return to the country, albeit only briefly, in time for the premiere night of their movie on April 25.
Can This Be Love is a romantic story that revolves around an exchange student from Korea (Sandara) who falls in love with the Philippines. She meets a Filipino guy (Hero), a nursing student who wants to leave the country and work abroad.
"It’s a Romeo and Juliet story set in a situation called the university belt," describes direk Joey Reyes of the plot. "It also tackles the dilemma of Koreans in the Philippines. The film proves in the end that love is never meant to be an obligation. It’s a choice and privilege."