‘Saranghe’ cast, crew off to South Korea to film final episodes

The main cast and crew of the Cebuanovela “Saranghe” flew to Seoul, South Korea yesterday to film scenes for the final episodes of the afternoon romantic comedy-drama over ABS-CBN Cebu.  

According to writer and co-director Jurey Mirafuentes, the most interesting of twists to the intertwining life stories of the lead characters played by Gryka Barrientos, Cueshe frontman Jay Justiniani and Korean import Choi Ji Wook, will be filmed in South Korea. They also plan on featuring some landmarks and locations that were made familiar if not famous through the past, widely-followed Koreanovelas that were shown in the country.

An unprecedented move by any regional program, this is the second international destination wherein scenes of a Cebuanovela were shot.

For last summer’s “Summer Sunshine,” they featured the former British colony of Hong Kong.

“Saranghe” is the first-ever Philippine TV series that significantly featured Korean culture in recognition of its sizeable presence in Cebu. According to Department of Tourism figures, Koreans topped Cebu’s tourism market for the first half of this year. Koreans, specifically the younger generation, come to Cebu initially as tourists, then later on to stay for some months to enroll in English proficiency in English-as-a-second-language (ESL) schools. “Saranghe” actor Choi Jin Wook himself came to Cebu to study English, but has extended his stay after being discovered and tapped to act in the series.

“Saranghe” airs daily from 3:45 – 4:15pm. – NMT