Paraiso stars undergo ‘sensuality’ workshop

MANILA, Philippines - Precious Hearts Romances Presents Paraiso lead stars Matteo Guidicelli, Jessy Mendiola and Jewel Mische all agreed that the newest Kapamilya Gold drama series, which is premiering today, is their most challenging project yet.

In a recent presscon, the stars revealed that they underwent so-called sensuality workshops. The term “sensuality” may connote “sexy,” but it’s not what you think, Jessy said.

She related that what happens during a sensuality workshop is that an actress and her love team partner are placed in one room, just the two of them, no touching involved, but “lots of staring into each other’s eyes” and just trying to find that connection.

“We went through a lot of workshops,” added Matteo, “just to get ourselves comfortable with each other” so that they can carry out intimate scenes more realistically.  

In terms of physical preparation, Jessy had “to lose weight for the role,” while Matteo was able to provide a buff and leaner look, thanks to his current passion, triathlon. 

All these helped as the project is “daring and it shows a lot of skin,” said Matteo.

“It was perfect timing,” Matteo further shared, referring to the project being given to him while he was engrossed in triathlon trainings. “It’s really a change, not just a change in character, but also a change in lifestyle.” The former competitive racer also represented the Philippines in a triathlon event in Maui late last month. 

For Jewel, she did more mental than physical preparation to be able to truly embrace her character. “Mostly, sa isip talaga, because this is the first time I’m doing this. I wouldn’t call this daring, but this is my most challenging role.”

In Paraiso, the three figure in a love triangle. According to the media release, Jessy is Yanie, a street-smart young woman whose charming attributes include her devotion to her family. Matteo is Brennan, a rich and very married guy, whose wife is Megan, played by Jewel. By some twist of fate, Brennan and Yanie are thrown into each other’s company in a deserted island and got stuck there for months after the boat they were traveling in got caught in a fire and capsized. Forced to rely on each other for survival, Yanie and Brennan also fall for each other, while wife Megan exhausts all means to find her husband.      

Jessy admitted that the theme of Paraiso as well as her role here are obviously a lot sexier compared to Sabel, her launching project in 2010. “In Sabel, it was about the awakening of a woman. Here, I play a mistress.”

When asked if this would signal more daring projects in the future, she said: “That’s why we are called actors so we can tackle different roles.”

For Matteo, on the other hand, taking on this role doesn’t necessarily mean his next project has to surpass Paraiso in terms of daring. “I would still like to do tweetum roles,” Matteo said, although he admitted that doing Paraiso has not been easy because “all my characters in the past are the ‘boy-next-door’ (type).”

As for Jewel, what convinced her to accept her role, was “because, I decided that I want to grow as an actress. And inevitably, included are such (sexy) scenes.”

She also weighed in on the infidelity theme of the series, saying that if she caught a loved one cheating and they aren’t married yet, she wouldn’t fight for their relationship. “It’s something that I won’t tolerate.”

Meanwhile, it’s hard to tell if rumors of a budding on-set romance between Jessy and Matteo are true, based on their answers.

Jessy smilingly entertained questions about rumored boyfriend JM de Guzman, while Matteo said that he’s not making time for a love life right now. “Hindi pa talaga. I’m concentrating on my projects — Paraiso and my triathlon. I just want to work, basically,” he said.

They were also gamely asked to choose that one thing that they’d like to keep them company should they get stranded in an island.

Matteo: “Goggles para swimming lang ng swimming.”

Jessy: “Sunblock, obviously (laughs)!”

Jewel: “It’s, with all honesty, my Bible. I read my Bible every day. That’s where I get my strength and wisdom and guidance from the Lord. In all honesty, yung Bible po talaga ang dadalhin ko.”

Meanwhile, the people behind the production said that they’re not trying to ride on what seems to be the popular theme nowadays on TV and especially in the movies — infidelity — as the story was conceptualized more than two years ago. As for message of the story, they said that while there are circumstances that are unforeseen and beyond one’s control, it’s still really about making choices when one finds himself/herself in any given situation, and that it’s up to him or her whether to make the wrong or right choice.

Matt Evans also plays an important role in the series as the childhood friend of Yanie and who is, at the same time, in love with her. Matt, who recently figured in a controversy involving his girlfriend, failed to appear during the presscon.

Also included in the cast of Precious Hearts Romances Presents Paraiso are Arron Villaflor, Bodjie Pascua, Juan Rodrigo, Ina Feleo, Dionne Monsanto, Angel Jacob, Jessica Conelly, Paco Evangelista, Marissa Sanchez, Gary Lim, Alex Castro, Justine Cuyugan, Wendy Tabusalla, Idda Yaneza, Guji Lorenzana, Kathleen Hermosa, Maliksi Morales, Pamu Pamorada, Evangeline Pascual and Ces Quesada. It is directed by Rechie del Carmen, Connie Macatuno and Nico Hernandez.