Loving Again in the Land Down Under

Another Piolo Pascual-Angel Locsin team-up is set to charm Filipino audiences as Star Cinema offers its latest movie, Love Me Again (Land Down Under) this January 15, 2009.

From the successful Noah-Laika team-up in the ABS-CBN TV series, "Lobo," Piolo and Angel bring their tandem to a higher level via Direk Rory Quintos' comeback movie.

“Love Me Again” talks about Migo (Piolo) and Arah (Angel). The love they shared was challenged by economic and financial problems. When Arah's father had an accident, she was forced to leave for Australia to seek better opportunities. This decision breaks the heart of Migo and thus, the two parted ways with unresolved issues.

Arah had adjusted quite well in Australia and has even caught the attention of Brian (Ricky Davao). Migo was left in Bukidnon, striving to keep their ranch alive but things didn't go well. So, he flies to Australia—to where Arah went for her dreams. The proximity forced the two to confront their past, with feelings for each other starting to resurface.

"Sobrang daming maka-relate sa storyline ng movie. Tayong mga Pilipino, lahat gagawin para sa pamilya kahit na masakripisyo ang sarili at love life. Maganda talaga 'yung movie," Angel Locsin said in a press conference held on January 13 at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

Piolo Pascual couldn't agree more. "Hindi dahil kami ang bida dito pero basta Star Cinema, maganda talaga. Pinaghandaan lahat. We went through the process of creative meetings and brainstorming. 'Yung mga locations, Australia at Bukidnon, eye-candy sila talaga."

'In character'

In the movie, Angel sees herself in Arah's character. "Willing siya mag-sacrifice para sa pamilya niya. Ganon din ako, kaya pumasok ako ng showbiz para makatulong sa pamilya ko," said Angel, who admitted that she's the family breadwinner.

Piolo, on the other hand, likened Migo's character with his love for the outdoors. "I love the outdoors, because it makes me closer to nature. Yung nasa sa Bukidnon kami, I enjoyed the nature there. Pati nung pagsakay sa kabayo, gusto ko. At tsaka, tulad ni Migo, persistent din ako."

Angel added, "Everyday nga kami nagkakarera sa kabayo ni PJ tapos 'pag sunset na, umaakyat kami sa hilltop para tingnan lang ang yon. Maganda talaga dun."

'Physically demanding'

The two major locations in the movie were Malaybalay City, Bukidnon and Darwin, Australia. Shooting the scenes and spending two months away from the comforts of home, Angel and Piolo agreed that making the film was physically demanding.

Angel initially thought she wouldn't survive the project what with the difficult scenes they had to shoot. She enumerated the challenges, "Humahabol ka ng mga baka na gusto kang kainin, yung weather na hindi namin ma-tantsa kung uulan o iinit ba, at yung mga scenes na kasama ang mga hayop kasi naman hindi mo sila pwede pagalitan o sabihan na makinig."

"'Yung sa Australia, mas mahirap. Walang tao dun, puro kangaroos lang. Kami-kami lahat. Tatlo lang crew namin so kami naglalaba ng costumes namin, nag-se-set, at nagbu-buhat ng equipment. Kanya-kanyang trabaho talaga," Angel continued.

Piolo added that the experience was all worth it. "Nag-training pa kami sa horseback riding. Puno kami ng mga poops ng hayop. Going to Darwin would take seven hours of travel from the city. Napakainit dun pero it was a good thing kasi we were able to bond. We had the time na magkwento-kwento. I can say it was a labor of love."

 Add to that was the interesting love scene in the movie. The two confirmed that the love scene had to be shortened for good taste and to be fitting to the audience.

"Direk Rory got so frustrated kasi na-picture na niya ang mga scenes. Matagal din naming ginawa ang love scene. Hindi naman siya bastos. All shots were artistically done. Kailangan lang ding i-filter para mas bumagay sa lahat," Piolo said.

Moreover, as seen in the trailer, Angel gave Piolo a stinging slap—a scene that required six takes.

"Ako lang naman ay sumusunod sa utos ni Direk Rory. Sabi kasi niya lakasan ko daw. So ayon na, handa na si PJ (Piolo's nickname), pag-sampal ko, nagulat ako kasi hindi ko inakala na ganon kalakas ang sampal ko. Hiyang-hiya nga ako kasi seryoso na si PJ," Angel said.

'More trivias'

The movie was originally titled Land Down Under, referring to Australia, where the movie was also shot, but it was later changed to Love Me Again because the final title was more apt with the story.

Moreover, the movie was first scheduled to open in Philippine theaters last November but was postponed to January to give way to the Metro Manila Film Festival 2008. The rescheduling also gave the production team more time to prepare and promote the movie.

Why it was first shown in the United States was because Star Cinema had already committed to premier the film abroad even before the postponement. 

Other cast members of the movie are Chanda Romero, Ricky Davao, Ronnie Lazaro, Dominic Ochoa, Dimples Romana, Erich Gonzales, Nash Aguas, John Manalo and AJ Dee.

Love Me Again (Land Down Under) opens in theaters nationwide today, January 15.