Team Jolly makes another career first with primetime series

First quarter of last year saw the launch of Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay as among the five Sparkle Sweethearts. Kyline Alcantara and Mavy Legaspi; Althea Ablan and Bruce Roeland, Shayne Sava and Abdul Raman; and Zonia Mejia and Jamir Zabarte formed the four other loveteams that have graced the GMA 7 small screen.

In the following month, Sofia and Allen, named by their talent management, Sparkle GMA Artist Center, as Team Jolly, shared a piece of good news that their first TV project as Sparkle Sweethearts was via the weekend mini-series, Raya Sirena. It was a continuation of their collaboration, as talents Sofia and Allen and not yet as Team Jolly, in a Regal Studio Presents episode of the same title.

After that, Sofia and Allen’s natural onscreen chemistry and acting talent will be seen again in   LUV Is: Caught in His Arms, which premieres on Jan. 16. They are making a career milestone since it is their first-ever GMA Telebabad primetime series. The project is a welcome development in their promising careers, which started from the Afternoon Prime series Prima Donnas and drama anthology Regal Studio Presents. All this has prepared the GMA homegrown artists to take up the challenge of playing their roles Florence and Nero in LUV Is: Caught in His Arms, described as a kilig series and project between GMA 7 and Wattpad Webtoon Studios. It will be followed up by the GMA Public Affairs show, In My Dreams.

Sofia and Allen’s interview with the Kapuso Insider revealed their initial reaction upon learning the new acting assignment.

“Unang-una nagulat po talaga ako (First and foremost, I was really surprised),” said Sofia in the network-produced chat and showed her excitement of being part of the first collaboration between the Kapuso network and Wattpad. When she read the book, Caught in His Arms, and made sense of her character Florence, Sofia had this question in mind, “Sure na ba?... Nagulat po ako kasi super matured compared sa kung ano ako ngayon (Is everything in place? I was surprised because the character is very mature as compared to me).” But the acting trouper in her just said yes to it.

As for Allen, he was looking forward to the role. “I’m very excited because for the first time, gagawa po ako ng ibang role sa mga nagawa ko na dati (I’m doing something different from what I have already done before). Usually, ang ginagawa ko talaga mga probinsyano (I would play someone who lives in the province),” he said.

That’s true since his Nero comes from a wealthy family. “Iba na ‘to kasi masungit ako dito, hindi na yung jolly talaga na nakilala ng mga tao (my character is quiet and grumpy, which is a contrast to the jolly ones that people have gotten to watch),” he added.

Based on the trailer, LUV Is: Caught in His Arms revolves around the premise of someone who is experiencing firsts in life such as “first dreams, first tears, first struggles and first love.”

Sofia’s Florence aspires to finish college and secure a stable job. As implied, her family is about to face a problem that will see Florence put to good use her cooking skills. She will meet Nero, who is described as “the fiercest, astig but mysterious,” among the Ferell brothers. Team Jolly will also be joined by Sparkada boys Raheel Bhyria, Sean Lucas, Vince Maristela and Michael Sager.

Having scored another first in their acting career, it’s safe to say that Team Jolly feels honored just like when Sofia and Allen announced their project Raya Sirena.

“We’re really proud and honored, that’s why we give our best,” said Sofia in a previous STAR interview and added that they were very happy “to be given such chance to show what we can do and we can prove that we are Team Jolly.”

Aside from the fact that they look good together, they are also comfortable with each other, another strength of them as a tandem. “She’s easy to work with at napaka-gaan,” Allen said in the same interview.

Following how their talent management envisions them to be, Sofia and Allen are in to brighten up the small screen through their jovial personalities, and, if I may add, touch the heart through their endearing and interesting characters.