‘Christmas is a season of love’

MANILA, Philippines – For director Antoinette Jadaone, Christmas is a good time as any to talk about love and where it brought her.

In the near distant past, Jadaone loved films so much she was a regular habitué of her favorite theaters cheering her movie idols. “Love for films helped me get a good idea as to what our audiences want. I was once part of that audience. So I know the kind of stories close to my heart and the kind moviegoers are likely to patronize. I know their pulse and my pen is always on the look-out for what will touch them.”

For Star Cinema’s entry in the coming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), she has come up with a story called All You Need Is Pag-ibig starring Kris Aquino and Derek Ramsey with three other partners defining love in the present and previous generations.

All You Need Is Pag-ibig director Antoinette Jadaone: ‘Christmas is a good time as any to count our blessings’

Kim Chiu and Xian Lim figure in one story, Pokwang is a loving aunt taking care of two nieces played by the Concio sisters, there is the much-awaited tandem of Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion whose roles in Pangako Sa ‘Yo made them rebound as a love team in their early midlife.

Another unlikely love team unfolds in the appearance of Nova Villa and Ronaldo Valdez in a scene that looks like a sequence from Where Love Has Gone.

Jadaone said that her latest film isn’t just on the romantic side although it is the film’s main attraction. “Christmas is a good time to remind us that love goes beyond romantic involvements. We can show love within the circle of your family, your brothers, your sisters, your nephews and nieces. It just happens that the romantic part is the most talked about and the most used in the movies.”

The setting of her last film is Coron in Palawan.

She admitted the place is very inspiring because of its natural beauty. “In a place like Coron, you feel the presence of God. Its exterior façade and notably its seascapes are breath-taking. The view underneath the sea is even more enchanting. In this setting, my story — on how love makes the world go round — takes place.

“The three love teams in my cast are different levels on which love can be viewed for what it is. It is an easy narrative to weave but I have to be careful not to swell on clichés about love. Whatever views on love that me and my co-writer express should be there without reminding the audience that they have seen that episodes before. I always strive for freshness in approach and in the weaving of the story.”

Meanwhile, the members of the cast all agreed that love can inspire and make many things possible.

Without being cued, Kim delivered a very telling line about her status, “All I need is Xian Lim” and quickly begged off from elaborating.

Pokwang showed off what looked like a brand-new ring (newly retrieved from a pawnshop, she joked) and then spoke in riddles. Yes, love is in the air, specially this Christmas and everyone in the crowd knew what she was hinting at. It is the American in her household and yes, she’s blowing hot and cold and yes, it’s red-hot summer for her in December.

But she qualified: “Love need not mean romance all the time. You can find love in your family and my kind of romance is tenable only if I am not made to choose between my boyfriend and children. The two have to be compatible to make it work. Love has taught me not to fall for someone at the expense of another. I prefer that the loves of my life co-exist peacefully.”

Nova said that she is not a veteran of love but she knows what it takes to sustain one. “It is nice to fall in love. It is also wise if you know when it’s all over. You were happy when it happened but you should learn to be equally happy soon after it’s gone. Love and what it gave you is a sure faster way to become a better person.”

Ian (Gov. Buenavista in Pangako Sa ‘Yo) admitted he is in the dark as to how he became a part of a love team called Jodi-An (opposite Jodi) when he’s decades past his teenybopper days. “I am honored to be part of a love team even when I am way past my prime. I have three children ages 17, 15 and nine, and of course, I was a child star before I grew into adulthood. I would frequent Manay Ethel’s (Ramos) office when I was young and I turned to her when I had my solo exhibits when I was actively into painting.”

He added, “But if I will be asked how this love team came about, I would say it was because of a good rapport between us. If we can project love and romance at our age, that means we have a lot more to offer our followers. If our love looks real on television, that means we are succeeding in our craft. We are just too old to be promoted as a hot love team.”

Jodi said she is comfortable with the label good partnership (someone in the audience quipped it sounded like a business partnership). “When our TV viewers are carried away by our romance on TV, that means we look real and credible in the medium.”

As she spoke, she looked and sounded like Amor Powers in the top-rating teleserye.

On her part, Jadaone said she found a way to rewrite a love story that will involve several love teams and with special focus on a family finding love on Christmas day.

Many in the cast further agreed Christmas is just the right time to focus on the positive.

“Sadness and pain are transitory and indeed, they should be set aside on Christmas day,” added Jodi.

 “Happiness is complete when you learn to accept your happy fate along with the sad ones,” added Nova.

As for Jadaone, she can accept love for what it is.

The Concio sisters, Talia and Julia: First team-up with Bimby Yap

Her parting line: “Kahit masaktan ka man, pagka-nagmahal ka wala kang talo pagka-umibig ka. (You are a winner when you learn to love even if you get hurt along the way.)” 

The Concio sisters along with Kris’ son, Bimby, provide the children appeal in the movie.              

Julia Concio obliged with a song that summarized the plus and minus of love as she intoned in a voice that entranced media men —

Somewhere over the rainbow/Way up high/And the dreams that you dreamed of/Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow/Blue birds fly/And the dreams that you dreamed of/Dreams really do come true ooh oh

All You Need Is Pag-ibig opens on Christmas Day.