Ronnie Alonte’s performance in the Kapamilya series Love in 40 Days got the attention of the Network’s management, according to the show’s directors.
The improvement got observed months after one of the country’s most famous talent managers expressed disappointment at his acting skills.
In a press conference for the teleserye’s finale on October 12, director Manny Palo announced that he recently received a text message “from the management” congratulating Alonte for his improved performance.
“Isa sa mga nagpapasaya sa akin as a director is that when our actors are being congratulated for being able to deliver like this one. A week ago, nakatanggap ako ng text from the management na ang husay raw ni Ronnie Alonte,” he said.
“Sana in the next project, they’ll never forget the lessons they learned in this project.”
At the same time, Palo disclosed that Alonte got scolded several times due to his poor acting.
“Madalas kaming magtuos nitong si Ronnie Alonte. Lalo na kapag may mabigat na eksena. Pero ang maganda naman e hindi s’ya napipikon, he doesn’t take it personally,” he said.
Speaking at the same press briefing, Alonte admitted that he was having a hard time acting naturally, particularly in romantic or ‘kilig’ scenes with his reel-and-real-life partner Loisa Andalio.
“Ang hirap. Sobrang comfortable namin sa isa’t-isa. Isa yun sa mga nagpapahirap — kung papaano ba ‘yung magiging mata ko sa kaniya. Lalo na binabalikan [sa istorya] kung paano kami nagkakilala dati,” Alonte shared.
“Minsan ang hirap, sa madaling salita, mahirap po talaga — nahirapan ako,” he confessed, referring to his acting. “Ilang beses na akong ‘inano’ ni Direk Manny d’yan, sa mga eksena namin, sa mga ‘kilig’ scenes.”
But the struggle didn’t last long, thanks to directors Palo and Jojo Saguin who helped him overcome what Andalio described as ‘awkward’ moments.
Palo, meanwhile, explained that the awkwardness was only observed during the early parts of the story — when the two had yet to familiarize their characters.
“Siguro ang sinasabi ni Ronnie e ‘yung simula ng kuwento. Kasi sa simula ng kuwento, ‘di dapat sila magkakilala,” the mentor said. “Pero nung naging sila na, naging napakadali na.”
Andalio, for her part, said it was hard for her to see her partner struggling in the ‘kilig’ scenes. Still, the Kapamilya actress managed to give his boyfriend some tips during tapings.
“Alam mo ‘yung ‘pag awkward siya, ang ending ikaw din ang ma-o-awkward. So kailangan tulungan talaga,” she said. “Ayoko naman mag-coach sa kaniya kasi ‘di ako acting coach. Kung ano lang ‘yung kaya kong i-share.”
“Bago mag-start, natulungan niya ako na maging focused sa script na kailangan basahin ng lahat,” Alonte said, recognizing Andalio’s assistance.
“‘Yun ang tulong niya sa akin na nakatulong sa akin dun sa buong show. Binasa ko talaga ‘yung script tatlong beses buo.”
Alonte, meanwhile, acknowledged Palo and Saguin’s efforts to make him a better actor.
“Laking pasasalamat ko po talaga kay Direk Manny, syempre kay Direk Jojo rin. Tiniyaga nila ako na talagang hangga’t di ko nakukuha, ‘di ko naayos — cut,” he said. “Lalo na si Direk Manny, kapag may mali kang emosyon, may mali kang nabanggit na linya, talagang kina-cut n’ya.”
To recall, comedian and talent manager Ogie Diaz in June gave negative comments on Alonte’s acting performance in the series.
He noted that Alonte has been in the industry for eight years now but he still couldn’t “master” a basic acting routine.
“Hinahanap ko yung sincerity ng character sa mga mata, hindi ko naramdaman. At halatang kabisado lang ang mga linya. Walang puso ang bitaw,” Diaz said at the time. “Parang nasa acting workshop stage pa rin siya.”
Alonte started his showbiz career when he became a member of It’s Showtime’s Hashtags group in 2015.
He played a lead role in the films Seklusyon (2016), Vince and Kath and James (2016), and its sequel James and Pat and Dave (2020).
Dreamscape Entertainement’s Love In 40 Days first aired on May 30, 2022, and is now in its final weeks.
