Enchong and Erich: Meant for each other

MANILA, Philippines - The paths of Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales were destined to cross and they couldn’t do otherwise, very much like the characters they’re playing in I Do, the latest feel-good romance-drama from Star Cinema, The Home of Wholesome Family-Oriented Entertainment.

Enchong never dreamed of becoming an actor, not even if his older brother, AJ Dee, was already striving to make a name for himself in the intrigue-laden showbiz.

A champion swimmer, Enchong revealed that all he dreamed is to be an Olympian. But fate had something else in store for him.

The Dees moved to Naga City where his father was assigned as a salesman for United Laboratories. The brothers, including Ice, were excellent in sports and that’s how they got scholarships — AJ in Ateneo de Naga, Enchong at La Salle Greenhills and Ice at La Salle St. Benilde.

Said the Dee matriarch, Tess Dee, “We were not rich and we couldn’t possibly afford to send our children to those expensive schools. But thanks to sports, they became scholars.”

Representing La Salle in swimming events, Enchong soon made a name for himself. In 2005, he won a silver medal in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games held in Manila. He and AJ guested on the ABS-CBN show Boy & Kris and then Enchong appeared in wet jeans in a pictorial for The Philippine STAR with the swimming teams of La Salle and Ateneo. That’s how talent manager Keren Pascual discovered him for showbiz in 2006.

Like Enchong, Erich aspired for something away from showbiz but destiny led her to showbiz, too. Erich joined and won the ABS-CBN talent-search show Star Circle Quest and her world was never the same again.

Soon, the paths of Enchong and Erich would meet.

The two were cast in the early evening soap Katorse, inspired by the 1980s Regal flick starring Dina Bonnevie, Albert Martinez and the late Alfie Anido, and their team-up got a nod from televiewers as well as that of the ABS-CBN management. Due to popular demand, the two were paired again in another soap, Tanging Yaman, followed by the current top-rated classy soap Magkaribal.

After their first big-screen team-up in the indie film Paano Ko Sasabihin (in which they play deaf-mute lovers), Enchong and Erich are back on the big screen in I Do. Directed by Veronica Velasco from her own screenplay (in collaboration with Jinky Laurel), I Do is the story of two young people who find great love in each other despite their contrasting backgrounds. Their beautiful plan to exchange “I do’s” is hampered by obstacles, including Erich’s character’s unexpected pregnancy and the objection of Enchong character’s family to the relationship.

The kind of romance-drama with which lovers of all ages can identify, I Do also stars Dennis Padilla, Janus del Prado and Nash Aguas. Pokwang is featured in a special participation while Pinoy Big Brother graduate Melai Cantiveros is being introduced. Also starring are Ricardo Cepeda, Isay Alvarez, Jun Urbano, Eliza Pineda, Alwyn Uytingco, Jane Oneiza, Allyson Lualhati, Che Ramos and Joyce So.