WilBea’s ‘Pee Mak’ puts Pinoy spin on beloved Thai hit

CEBU, Philippines — What makes a loveteam successful isn’t just strong chemistry or good looks, but also the team behind them that keeps the momentum going.

This is why Wilbert Ross and Bea Binene give props to the the crew behind their Viva One shows “Golden Scenery of Tomorrow” (GSOT) and “Love U Lots” for the success of their WilBea tandem, which has now led them to star in their first movie together, “Pee Mak,” scheduled to hit theaters tomorrow, October 14.

“I want to give credit not just to the two of us but to the whole team behind our projects. It all started with GSOT,” Binene said during an October 11 press conference at SM Seaside City Cebu.

Cebuano filmmaker Victor Villanueva directed both Viva One shows and their upcoming movie, with the loveteam noting that working together on these projects over the past year strengthened their working relationship and made them more comfortable sharing ideas.
 
Ross was flabbergasted by the success of their tandem, which drew fans from across the country to gather across the three levels of the mall’s City Wing Atrium for their mall show. Describing their connection as “an unexplainable chemistry,” he said, “You can’t just manufacture chemistry between two people.”
 
Their first film together carries added weight as it is a remake of the beloved 2013 Thai comedy-horror movie starring Mario Maurer and Davika Hoorne, with Ross and Binene portraying the titular roles, respectively.
 
The film follows Mak (Ross), who returns home from war with his four comrades to reunite with his wife, Pee (Binene), whom he left behind while she was pregnant. Mak’s companions soon realize that Pee is now a ghost, a fact that Mak remains unaware of.

The cast also includes Vandolph as Teryo, Jairus Aquino as Ayong, TJ Valderrama as Poknat, and Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino, who makes his acting debut as Bunak.
 
Because the Thai original draws on the famous ghost story of Mae Nak Phra Khanong, questions arise about how the Filipino adaptation incorporates these cultural elements into a Pinoy setting.
 
“There were some elements in our version that stayed faithful to the original because people expected them to be retained, and the Thai producers noticed that,” Villanueva told The FREEMAN. He was unable to join his lead stars at the press conference as he was putting the finishing touches on the film ahead of its release.
 
He added, “But we also infused our version with our own beliefs, such as that the soul remains in the body for 40 days, as well as elements like the tikbalang and the tiyanak.”
 
Binene said viewers can also expect scenes featuring Pinoy Henyo and the traditional Filipino courtship practice of harana. “That’s what makes our film very Filipino,” she said.
 
The film's humor reflects the different comedic styles of the cast. Ross shared, “We have Vandolph with his classic comedy, TJ Valderrama who is a stand-up comedian, Jairus, who is funny in real life, and Gian, who has that Gen Z humor.”
 
Binene commended their co-stars, noting that their different types of humor helped shape the film’s comedic style and give their version a distinctly local flavor.
 
Villanueva said he allowed his actors to ad-lib, as he typically does when directing a comedy. “Thankfully, they delivered,” he said. “We have Gen Z and Gen X humor, and it’s interesting to see how they collide and complement each other.”
 
While Binene is no stranger to comedy or horror, playing Pee required her to maintain a cold and terrifying demeanor, making it difficult not to burst into laughter while filming.
 
“I had to adjust to blending horror, comedy, and romance properly so I could convey emotions that viewers could feel. As a ghost, I had to be nonchalant and serious. But when you’re surrounded by actors who are good at making you laugh, you can’t help but get caught off guard,” she said.
 
Villanueva shared that filming “Pee Mak” on a tight schedule presented logistical challenges, as most of the film takes place outdoors and the production had no contingency plans in case heavy rain disrupted a day’s shoot. Despite these challenges, he and his crew remained committed to ensuring the film would meet its targeted release date.
 
“A lot of people watch movies in October, and there aren’t many available dates when we can screen our film without facing heavy competition from other local studios and Hollywood productions. So we devised a strategy. We asked the post-production team to prepare in advance while we carefully planned our shooting schedule and how we would carry it out. We had to be strategic in our approach,” he said.
 
Binene admitted that there was some pressure to bring the movie to theaters, noting the weak box-office performance of local films in the post-pandemic era.
 
“The Thai and Indonesian versions were very well-loved in their respective countries, so I hope people here will give the Filipino version of ‘Pee Mak’ a chance. Rest assured, the whole team worked hard to make this a good film,” Binene said.
 
Binene and Ross expressed gratitude to their agency, Viva, for trusting them to lead the Filipino version of “Pee Mak.”
 
“It means a lot to us that they gave us so much responsibility. It shows that they believed in us, and we’re grateful for that,” she said.

Staying grounded

Ross and Binene shared that despite their newfound success after signing with Viva, they want to remain grounded.
 
After competing in “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 2016 and becoming a member of the boy group Hashtags, Ross left ABS-CBN’s Star Magic in 2020 to join Viva Artists Agency. Meanwhile, Binene, who was known as part of the “Tween Hearts” group alongside Barbie Forteza, Jake Vargas, and Louise delos Reyes, left Sparkle GMA Artist Center in 2021 and joined Viva the following year.
 
Ross makes it a habit to return to his hometown of Davao, where he visits the home he lived in before entering showbiz.
 
“There are photographs and little reminders of my life there — places where I met certain people, where I used to sing and where I used to sleep. Those things mean so much to me,” he said.
 
He also reconnects with his high school friends, explaining, “They keep me grounded because they’ve known me from the very beginning. When life gets overwhelming, they remind me where I came from.”
 
As he celebrated his 10th anniversary in the industry, which also included a concert tour with a Cebu stop on November 14 at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Ross said, “I always remind myself to remain grateful and never take any of this for granted. I should never waste the opportunities I’ve been given because I know how difficult the journey was to get here.”
 
Binene, who entered showbiz as a child star earlier than Ross, joked that paying the bills keeps her in check before explaining how her fans and family also help her stay humble.
 
“I know there are a lot of people who look up to me and see me as an inspiration. We’re not perfect, and we all make mistakes, but I want to be a good influence as much as possible. That’s what keeps me grounded. My fans and family have become a huge part of who I am today,” she said.
 
Recalling her early days as an aspiring young performer on “StarStruck Kids” in 2004, Binene reflected on the talent search’s motto “Dream, Believe, Survive” and what it means to her now after 22 years.
 
“If you believe in yourself, hold on to your dream and do everything you can to achieve it, you will eventually survive,” she said. — (FREEMAN)