MANILA, Philippines — The ABS-CBN Saturday evening sitcom Home Sweetie Home (HSH) begins its new chapter with a couple of changes that fairly justifies the new title Home Sweetie Home Extra Sweet. Resident stars Toni Gonzaga, Miles Ocampo, Clarence Delgado and Jordan Lim are joined by new co-stars namely, Luis Manzano, Bayani Agbayani, Vhong Navarro, Rio Locsin, Alex Gonzaga, Pinoy Big Brother Otso housemates Fumiya Sankai and Yamyam Gucong. Bobot Mortiz is also given a role apart from being the show’s director.
During the grand launch held at the Dolphy Theater, Toni revealed that she had already expected that Home Sweetie Home, which began airing in 2014, was nearing its end after undergoing many transformations when John Lloyd Cruz took an indefinite leave from showbiz. It can be recalled that John Lloyd portrayed Romeo, the husband of Toni’s Julie.
“It’s part of my system to go on taping every Tuesday for Home Sweetie Home and there was a time for a year when we were taping one episode at a time; we were taping per week and we couldn’t avoid this feeling that it would probably be our last taping (day).
“I was prepared for it because I’m not new in the industry. I know that shows come and go but I’m very thankful and I feel blessed that our Kapamilya continue to support us until this time that we have a new chapter.”
Toni said most of the new cast members are close to her. However, she stressed that she was not involved in choosing them. She, too, was not aware on the inclusion of her sister Alex. In fact, she was the last to know. “Honestly, I didn’t know that everything was planned a month ago. I was only told about the new look of the show lately. I remember asking, ‘Are you sure Alex will be there?’ And they said she was approved and that’s it.”
The Kapamilya star never denied having mixed feelings over the sitcom’s new chapter. She’s happy to be part of the new episodes yet sad for her old HSH family. “But life has to go on. It’s how we are in this industry. Even if we’re sad, we have to continue doing shows for the audience. You’re a worker, you’re an employee who is given a task, and that is to perform.”
She continued, “I am grateful for this new family. Every taping day is exciting. We look forward to it because everything is new again.”
While she remains clueless as to what will happen if and when John Lloyd makes a comeback, Toni is certain that her co-star Piolo Pascual, who played the role PJ, is not returning on the show anytime soon since the actor just recently flew to Italy to study.
With or without John Lloyd and Piolo, televiewers can expect loads of fun and laughter from Vhong, Luis, Bayani and Alex. The new chapter begins with Toni’s Julie, Rence (Clarence) and Gigi (Miles) moving in to Brgy. Islang Bato to start a new life in Tita Oya’s (Rio) house after a fire razed their own in Brgy. Puruntong. They meet Mikee (Alex) and gain new set of friends in the persons of Pip (Luis), Ferdie (Vhong), Edwin (Bayani) and other people in the barangay including Kapitan Frank (Bobot), Hiro (Fumiya) and Bogs (Yamyam).
Despite some changes, direk Bobot said that Home Sweetie Home continues to highlight episode per episode the three valued Filipino traits: Optimism, humor and positivity.
Vhong, Bayani and Rio also expressed the importance of showing respect to elders by saying po and opo, pressing one’s forehead on their offered hand or “mano po”, and giving the older members of the family a kiss. Toni and Alex, on the other hand, shared the positive effect of maintaining a harmonious family relationship while Clarence saw the value of hard work to achieve one’s goal in life.
(Home Sweetie Home airs every Saturday, 6:45 p.m. after TV Patrol Weekend.)