RICHARD-CARLA chemistry to be tested in Makapiling KANG MULI

Matinee idol Richard Gutierrez started the year with a declaration that he wanted to veer away from the fantasy genre. No more superhero suits and magical powers for him; he’s hungry for an acting vehicle after such stints in Sugo, Kamandag, Zorro and two editions of Captain Barbell. For his next TV series, he urged the creative minds of GMA7 to test his dramatic chops.

Was this request to challenge the actor in him fulfilled in his newest soap starrer Makapiling Kang Muli? “Yes, I can say that the writers did a very good job so far. Everything is going well and I am very challenged. Over the years, I’ve grown a lot. I know myself better now and I’ve learned from my past shows, so I think I can tap into my emotions easier than

before. I want to congratulate the writers of GMA for putting up a great story. I know they worked hard for this,” answered the half-cebuano star.

Richard led the cast of Makapiling Kang Muli during a Cebu press huddle, which also included his leading lady Carla Abellana, young actor Dominic Roco, and seasoned thespians Mark Gil, Philip Salvador and Rio Locsin. The group then hurried off to two Kapuso mall shows at Gaisano Grand Mall in Mactan and Gaisano Fiesta Mall in Tabunok last May

27.

As he was mostly focused with hosting chores for “Survivor Philippines” and News and Public Affairs documentaries the past year, Richard had to readjust to the grueling grind of shooting day in and day out. But he is happy to be back. He’s been looking for something “new and exciting” after all, and a traditional soap opera without fantastical elements was precisely to his liking.

This project also marks his first team-up with the lovely Carla. Rewind three years back, Carla was supposed to play an introductory role as one among Richard’s posse of love interests in “Zorro,” but network executives saw bigger potential for the newbie to topbill her own soap “Rosalinda.” Their professional paths finally cross this time around, and Richard couldn’t have been more generous with his praise for the actress.

“She’s great! She’s such a pro,” Richard gushed.

“Kanina nga

on the way here, kinumusta din ng mom ko. Kamusta daw yung namin.

chemistry I told her, from the start, I already felt our chemistry. I can tell that she’s very serious about her craft. On the set,

kasi ang gaan ang sarap ng feeling

niyang katrabaho.”

Makapiling Kang Muli is set on the sweeping acres of a rustic ranch fictionally called “Rancho Paradiso,” but which in reality is a huge hacienda in Calatagan, Batangas owned by the prominent Zobel clan. The polo horses we see on the small screen are owned by the Zobels and are very welltrained. Richard explained the production’s choice of location, “Our story revolves around supposedly one of the biggest ranches in the Philippines. And I guess this baluarte of the Zobels is one of the biggest haciendas we have, so it’s a perfect match.”

This romance- drama will follow the entangled lives of the four main characters: Martin Caballero (Richard), Leilani Angeles ( Carla), Louie Valencia ( Mark Anthony

Fernandez) and Graciela Montes (Sarah Lahbati).

Richard is a ranch hand working for the character of Mark Anthony, while the main haciendera and major thorn to our protagonists’ lives is portrayed by Gloria Romero. Carla and Richard play childhood friends. Eventually, they fall in love, but their romance meets an obstacle when she blames him for the death of her parents.

Carla, who had to undergo horseback- riding lessons along with castmates, further shed light on the plot and direction of her role. “Over-all, it’s really Tita Gloria Romero who is the main villain and under her is Tito Mark Gil and Mark Anthony. They are one family. They own the

sila yung ranch, and makakabanggaan ko.

TJ Trinidad will also come in. He plays a doctor who I will meet along the way when I pursue my Law studies.

Magkakagusto siya sa akin kaagad,

but I play hard- to- get because I’m focused on my goal of becoming a lawyer, so that I can seek justice for the death of my father. Later on,

magkakahulugan ng loob, so he will form part of the love triangle that includes me and Richard.”

She added that Leilani’s personality was a far cry from her own. It made it more difficult for her to flesh out the persona of a woman who fights back and snaps in anger when wronged, because those aren’t knee- jerk reactions for her in real life.

The 25-year-old said, “Hindi ako sumisigaw at nagagalit sa totoong buhay.

That’s why there are many times in this soap where I find it hard to act

Si convincingly. Leilani dito, galit na galit. Hirap akong sumigaw, magwala at manampal.

These are things I don’t do, as I’m always calm, poised and composed.”

Nevertheless, Carla strives to deliver because with the veteran support “hindi actors in the roster, pwedeng hindi mo gagalingan,”

according to

her.

The pilot episode of Makapiling Kang Muli aired June 4th, replacing Legacy of GMA7’s primetime block.