Popoy and Basha, 7 years after

CEBU, Philippines – When boy and girl finally ride off into the sunset and the end credits roll, viewers are left to imagine how the protagonists’ happily-ever-after will play out.

But as seen in the Hollywood musical film “Into the Woods” where a disenchanted Cinderella is cheated on by her Prince, happily-ever-afters aren’t always so happy after all.

It’s a similar jolting reality that confronts the characters of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo as Popoy and Basha, respectively, in Star Cinema’s romantic-drama “A Second Chance,” which premieres nationwide today.

The anticipated sequel to the 2007 box office hit “One More Chance” (featuring lingering lines such as “Sana ako pa rin. Ako na lang. Ako na lang ulit,” and “She had me at my worst. You had me at my best…and you chose to break my heart”), this second installment sees Popoy and Basha seven years after their reconciliation. Things aren’t as peachy as die-hard fans hoped it be, as the once-blissful couple is plagued by that dreaded seven-year itch.

In a press conference held Monday at Michaelangelo Pizzeria in Banilad, John Lloyd said they are banking on the possibility that audiences who identified with the complexities of a breakup as seen in “One More Chance” have since tied the knot, and can thus very well relate to the marital issues tackled in “A Second Chance.”

“The issues that we deal with as a couple and as individuals here are based on research and interviews on real-life couples conducted by the film’s creative team,” John Lloyd said. “If the first one was an anatomy of a breakup based on a guy’s point of view, this sequel is much more balanced.”

John Lloyd’s Popoy is on a rough patch, struggling to keep his business afloat and his self-esteem intact. Basha assumes the role of a docile wife who has given up so much to keep her marriage together.

On the chance of a third installment, Bea said that doing this sequel “made me realize that a lot can still happen, that there are countless possibilities.”

The actress added that she hopes the films will achieve the same success and iconic status as the American romantic dramas “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight” starred in by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

After dealing with the intricacies of marriage in “A Second Chance,” what will they be cautious about once they get hitched in real life?

“Doing this movie made me realize that once you get married, that’s a different kind of commitment that you will face,” offered Bea, who has been in a relationship with actor Zanjoe Marudo.

“There are bigger promises to uphold. There’s no turning back. If there’s something I learned, it’s that when you make a promise to someone, when you marry someone, there’s no certainty that he’ll be the same person in the future. You just have to accept the fact that he is a changing person.”

John Lloyd though sees it differently, saying he believes nothing can prepare a person for something like marriage. “Feeling ko mabubura lahat. Maybe I’ll watch this film again when I get married, tingnan ko kung meron akong makukuha,” said the actor with a laugh.

In terms of their dynamic as co-stars, Bea said a lot has changed between her and John Lloyd since “One More Chance.”

“We’re a lot closer now. I think we’re more mature. Kung dati nagkakapikunan…siguro mas lumalim yung pagsasamahan namin,” the prized ABS-CBN star pointed out.

Bea also surmised that one factor why she and John Lloyd click on-screen is this mindset they both share: “More than being celebrities, we concentrate more on being actors and enriching our craft. I think that’s what we have in common,” she said.