Lovi and Tom work together for the first time

Lovi Poe and Tom Rodriguez star in GMA Network’s new teleserye, Someone to Watch Over Me. The series will be helmed by Maryo J. delos Reyes.

An original story tackling the early stages of the Alzheimer’s disease, Someone to Watch Over Me explores the neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. It usually starts slowly, occurs in the middle or old age and gets worse over time.

The new series tells the story of the couple TJ and Joanna. Tom portrays the role of TJ, a banking/finance professional and husband of Joanna, who is played by Lovi.

The couple will live happily, until TJ gradually forgets details about his wife. He eventually discovers that he has Alzheimer’s, and obliterated it in his memory of his wife.

Someone to Watch Over Me is the first television project that pairs Lovi and Tom together.

“I’m very excited since it’s my first time to work with Tom,” Lovi said in an interview. “We already started taping and it’s our first time to have intimate scenes. Napakahusay ni Tom kaya excited ako sa mga susunod pang eksena na darating. Nagulat ako kasi napakagaling niya. So, I’m really looking forward to sharing it with everybody. Viewers will learn many things about this condition which is not just a disease of old age.”

 The actress added, “Perhaps, it’s time that we actually show people this illness and make them aware about it. Usually, we have this thinking that when people get older, it is natural for them to become forgetful. But there is a certain disease that also occurs at a young age.” 

Tom is likewise excited and nervous in his new role as someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.

During a story conference, he said, “What my character goes through is like a rollercoaster ride. It excites and weakens me at the same time. Before this, I never in a million years would have thought that anything like this would be possible.”

He also said, “Maybe I have to say this now, that this is a disease that is degenerative. So, I don’t think there will be those moments sa show namin na bigla na lang akong gagaling. Kaya, mas na-e-excite ako na gusto ko makita kung saan pupunta ‘yung kuwento, kasi nga alam ko na ‘yung patient is hindi siya biglang milagrong gagaling. So, it’s exciting to see where it goes.”

Tom shared how important it is to have awareness in the Philippines about this kind of disease.

He also recalled  the time when he learned of each character in Someone To Watch Over Me, “Mga litrato pa lang, mga salita pa lang, may kurot na. Nakakaantig na. Paano pa kaya ‘pag ‘yung mismong produkto na,” he said.

Joining Tom and Lovi are Boy2 Quizon, Max Collins, Isay Alvarez, Ronnie Lazaro and Edu Manzano.

Someone To Watch Over Me is expected to air this month on GMA Primetime.

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