Luck has got to do with it

It’s funny that in the promo for Luck At First Sight (showing nationwide starting on Wednesday, May 3), what’s being played up in the media is Neil Arce’s alleged romance with Angel Locsin after he broke up with Bela Padilla who co-wrote the story with him. Maybe unwittingly, Bela and leading man Jericho Rosales are relegated to the background and mentioned only occasionally, with Bela quoted as saying that she’s happy for Angel and Neil (also a co-producer of the movie) with whom she has remained friends.

A Joyce Bernal production for Viva Films and N2, Luck At First Sight was directed by Dan Villegas (who also directed Jericho in the sleeper hit Walang Forever with Jennylyn  Mercado). Jericho as Joma Labayen believes that a “life charm” will help him win money to pay for his debts. He accidentally meets Diane Dela Cruz (Bela) who gives him luck but only when they are near each other. Diane doesn’t believe this at first but, left with no choice, she eventually gets along with Joma. Everything goes well until they discover that the luck will stop if one of them falls in love with the other.

Conversations did separate interviews with Jericho and Bela.

Jericho

Your character is an incurable gambler. Have you ever gambled?

“Yeah, I gambled many times when I was a teenager...card games like pusoy dos and pusoy. I would sometimes get my baon from playing billiards and pool, also like sa basketball nagpataya na din ako ng ‘ending’ dati ng PBA. So madaming beses na. But that was in my early teens. I am a new person now.”

In the movie your father dies. In real life, halfway through the shoot your real father died. How did you feel about the coincidence?

“It was a very sad day for me. That’s all I can say.” (During the movie’s presscon, Jericho confessed that he found an old photo of his dad on a bicycle taken at the San Juanico Bridge that connects Leyte and Samar provinces. As part of the grieving process, Jericho took to the road on a bike and had his picture taken on the same spot where his dad’s photo was taken. “And there,” recalled Jericho, “I cried my heart out. I returned to Manila a better and stronger person.”)

Was there anything that you could have told your own father but you never got the chance to? How close were you to your dad and also how close are you to your own love son (now a fine young man)?

“You know, my father and I were close, and I am also close to my son. You know, I never forget to say…I never miss the chance to say ‘I love you’ and ‘Thank you.’ I do it every day, not just to my dad but to everyone I love. I always say, ‘I love you’ and ‘Thank you.’ I always say, ‘I remember you.’ I always pray for the people that I love. So it’s like a daily thing that I do. Really, as in daily.”

You and Kim Jones have been married for a few years. How come you have no child yet? Are you into family planning?

“Family planning, yes. Planning is a big part of our life. We plan everything. We are just busy now and we are really focusing on our goals and dreams and careers. You know, there’s a lot of great things happening now and we want to wait for that time na ready kami for a baby. Before, we actually tried magbuo ng family. But, of course, you know, it’s not something we don’t want; it’s just that, you know, we’ve been asked a million times already but it’s still, you know, it’s not late pa naman. Actually, we are aware of the time and it’s just that we wanted to prioritize traveling and working at the moment.”

Your movie with Jennylyn was a romance-drama and you were both good at it. Is there any difference in your approach to a role in any genre such as a heavy-drama role in Alagwa? One style in rom-com and another style in drama?

“I don’t really stick to a particular style for drama or particular style for comedy. I develop the character I’m playing and wherever the story brings my character, yon yung process ko. I work with the director all the time, I work with the scriptwriter all the time, I work with my co-stars all the time. That’s just my process. I study and I learn about how I can enrich each and every character so it’s just fun to do a rom-com or comedy. I’m just as comfortable doing drama. But comedy is really more fun because you are just basically having fun on the set. Working on a drama material gives me a different kind of having fun.”

What could you consider the biggest  luck that happened to you so far?

“You know, I don’t really believe in luck; I believe in being prepared for all opportunities. I also believe in grace…in God’s grace. I pray for things to happen. Prayer works. I prepare myself for the things that I want to happen in my life. Every break that I get is a blessing. Pangako Sa’yo gave me a big break kasi dun ako nakilala sa Asia. Alagwa gave me a chance to meet producers and directors from the international scene. Actually, I got offers to work on films abroad. I am currently working on one.”

Bela

(Bela is the cover girl of the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, beautifully photographed by Paolo Pineda. In the story by Gaby Ignacio, Bela confessed, “I was really shy. When we were growing up, we would be asked to dance, perform, entertain the titas, and I would always be the kid at the back begging not to be picked…” Discovered at age 17, the shy girl from the famous showbiz Padilla clan has metamorphosed into one of the industry’s truly talented actresses, telling Gaby, “I’m a different person when I’m in front of the camera. But I try to inject a bit of Bela into my performances…” Further confession: “I don’t see myself acting forever, because the turnover for actors is so fast. I’m trying to position myself in a way that I can write as a career if people stop casting me. If people would have me, of course I’d want to act for as long as I can.” For the full interview, get a copy of Cosmopolitan.)

Your character Diane doesn’t believe in luck. What about you?

“No, I don’t. Like Diane, I believe in hard work.”

Are you close to your dad and what lessons/reminders have you learned from him (especially where men are concerned)?

“Yes, I talk to him about everything. It’s funny because I grew up with my mom, but my dad and I really have a different bond. And the lessons I get from him are more of the things he says every day. What I especially love about my dad is that he trusts my decisions, he doesn’t tell me what to do outright, but he gives me guidance. He waits for me to ask for help (which I do a lot), hahahaha!”

You have just broken up with your boyfriend and have remained friends with him. Is there any chance for a “second time around” between the two of you?

“Can’t really say as of now.”

You are proving to be so good in rom-com (such as what Luck At First Sight is, and in other films like Camp Sawi). Who are your role models in this genre? You and your “ex” Neil co-authored the movie’s story. How much did you draw, if you did, from real life (from your own experience)?

“I personally love the movie Mood Indigo. As far as magic realism is concerned, I think they really pushed the envelope on that film. I didn’t use real experiences for this film because I came up with the concept in the car when I heard the word ‘luck’ on the radio. Neil did put in some real experiences for the gamble scenes. His background as a professional poker player helped us a lot.”

What would you consider the biggest luck that happened to you (so far)?

 “Again, I don’t believe in luck. But if for other people, the way my work speaks for me can be considered lucky, then I’d have to say that is what makes me a lucky girl.”

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