Caught off-guard in Palawan

CORON — From the hotels perched on the cliff of Santorini, KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez took a one-hour flight to Busuanga, Palawan and negotiated rough roads and waters to reach Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan. This is where KC and Richard shot some important scenes for their GMA Films and Regal Entertainment’s movie When I Met U.

The island resort, a breather from the hustle and bustle of city life, is the perfect backdrop for two persons who have found true love in an unlikely place and situation. The story shares that one’s fate in love is predestined.

In the movie, Richard is Benjie, a commercial pilot with a rich girlfriend in Iya Villania as Tracy. KC, on the other hand, plays Jenny who is always at the beck and call of her parents (Cherry Pie Picache and Tirso Cruz III). The middle-class character has to marry a well-off young man (Alfred Vargas as Albert) to make her family’s life comfortable.

When a plane accident and wedding (of Bubbles Paraiso) occur, KC and Richard eventually understand their feelings for each other.

The different locations in the resort and some places in nearby Dimakya Island are witness to that special attention Benjie and Jenny try to hide from each other the first time. Also in the cast is Bubbles’ real-life brother Paolo, who plays his sister’s friend in the movie.

Forty-five minutes away from Club Paradise is another island named Diatoy. Here, direk Joel Lamangan shot the life-altering plane crash scene of KC and Richard. According to direk Joel, KC and Richard are intelligent actors. They followed instructions and gave their personal take on each scene. KC’s actuations reminded Joel of her mom, Sharon Cuneta.

The two would-be lovers ride a seaplane bound for the place where Bubbles’ wedding is held. When Benjie learns it’s Jenny’s first time to take a small plane, he gets playful behind the steering “wheel” and the unexpected happens.

They find themselves in a place without modern amenities. Benjie and Jenny check out the island and find ways to survive. They make a makeshift shelter cum dressing room. The unlikely couple begins to hit it off.

Will their friends rescue them or will they be staying long in the island?

The resort’s Kamalig Restaurant provided sumptuous food for the wedding sequence. Kamalig serves Filipino, Asian and international cuisine, buffet style. It has cocktail drinks, wine and liquor. Alfred, Bubbles, Iya and Paolo took a sip from resort’s thirst quenchers when they shot a swimming pool sequence showing the girls’ and guys’ whistle-bait and well-chiseled bodies, respectively.

The wedding took place a few meters away from the pool and restaurant. The entourage were in white with touches of blue and pink. This time, Benjie and Jenny meet again and take a better look at each other. Meanwhile, their respective partners sense something else.

Capping the shoot in Palawan was the Calauit wildlife safari scene. Benjie and Jenny take a side trip to this wildlife sanctuary. It is teeming with animals like giraffe, zebra, birds, Calamian deer, bearcat and mouse deer.

More than the movie’s lead characters, Palawan fits the other side of KC and Richard. They love basking in the sun and engaging in water sports and activities. It’s not surprising if the two stars went to scuba diving (exploring sites like House Reef, Kyokuzan Maru (Wreck) and Apo Reef Natural Park before heading to Manila.

Those who will watch the movie starting Feb. 11 can find out for themselves how the picturesque Coron complements the love between Benjie and Jenny. They will also discover why love is lovelier the second time around for the KC-Richard tandem.