Newcomer Eisel Serrano finds a ‘best friend’ in Carlo Aquino after filming Love You Long time

MANILA, Philippines — The Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entry Love You Long Time lead stars Carlo Aquino and Eisel Serrano have developed a close friendship while filming their first movie together in Baguio and Benguet.

Showing until April 18 in theaters nationwide, the romantic-drama under Studio Three Sixty tells the story of a young romance screenwriter, Ikay (Eisel), who suffers her biggest heartbreak, causing her writer’s block until she meets and falls in love with a mysterious guy, Uly (Carlo), through an old push-to-talk phone.

Since it was the first time that Carlo and Eisel collaborated in a project, the latter admitted she was initially intimidated to be working with an experienced actor like Carlo.

“To be honest, at first I was surprised because I was expecting that I would be paired up with someone who’s on the same level, same age or same batch as me. Of course, I was intimidated and I felt nervous kasi siyempre Carlo Aquino yan,” said the newbie actress in a recent press conference at the Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City.

“But then, when we were shooting the movie, hindi naman po niya pinakita sa akin yun eh. He was very nice and he didn’t make me feel that I’m new in the industry and that he is a veteran… I found it easy working with him on set and naging maganda ang pagsasama namin sa pelikula,” continued Eisel who, as some press members have noticed, shares a resemblance to Kapamilya actresses Jane de Leon and Janine Gutierrez.

The young actress likewise “didn’t expect” that she and Carlo would become “best friends.” “We talked over chat and natatawagan ko rin,” she said about the extent of their closeness.

She also revealed that the Kapamilya actor has been her crush since she was young. “I already saw him (on screen) even when I was a kid. I first saw him in Kokey… I already knew Carlo Aquino (through the movies I watched). I admire him (even before I got to work with him).”

When they met for the first time, Eisel was star-struck and she further described Carlo as “very friendly” and “very sweet” as a co-actor.

When asked if there was a point during filming that she fell in love with her co-actor, she simply replied, “Of course, as Ikay, I needed to fall in love with Uly as Carlo.”

“As we all know, Carlo is a very sweet person. So hindi po talaga mahirap mahalin ang isang Carlo Aquino. But of course, I treasure the friendship that we have. Siyempre kapag napasukan na yan ng ibang pagmamahal, pwede naman po yun masira at mawala ang pagsasama niyo. So sometimes, we need to control our feelings for the sake of the person we love,” maintained Eisel.

Both were also queried if they ever made the conscious effort not to fall in love with their onscreen partners when doing a movie or series.

Showing until April 18 in theaters nationwide, the romantic-drama under Studio Three Sixty tells the story of a young romance screenwriter, Ikay (Eisel), who suffers her biggest heartbreak, causing her writer’s block, until she meets a mysterious guy, Uly (Carlo), through an old push-to-talk phone.

“It is so necessary to love the person that I am teamed up with (but) it’s not always in a romantic way naman. It’s not always that there’s a romantic (feeling) involved. Pero minahal ko po ang pagkatao ni Carlo because he is important (to me). Of course, this is my first film so I made an effort to really know him,” shared Eisel.

For his part, Carlo said, “Maybe (it’s) not as a leading lady, it’s more of love the person. Yung buong pagkatao ng isang tao and not necessarily as leading lady… Because I don’t usually open up before. But along the way, in this life, (I learned) it’s better if you give love to anyone.”

“It’s a good feeling. When you see that person again, yun yung maalala ng isang tao sayo — that you showed love to that person,” he added.

Being in the showbiz industry for almost 30 years, the former child star shared that he also learned how to be “professional and genuine at the same time” in dealing with his leading ladies.

Asked if he is the type who would love a girl for a long time, just like the movie title suggests, he said yes.

“I’m the type who is into long-term relationships. Matagal talaga ako makipagrelasyon. Maybe at some point, I feel that yung pagmamahal nawawala…

“Kaya mo ba siyang mahalin bilang kaibigan? Mahalin bilang partner? Nakikita mo ba siya na kaya mong (kasama) hindi lang sa saya? Kaya mo ba siyang kasama kahit mahirap na?... That’s what I believe on how relationship is going to last long,” he offered.

On personal realizations about love, it’s about “valuing your past” for Carlo. “Value your ability to go through (hard times), to cherish (and) to love. Value your past because yun yung mga gagamitin mong bala para ipaglaban yung ngayon at kung paano mo haharapin yung hinaharap,” he simply stated.