On December 3, ‘Family of Two’ screenwriter Mel Del Rosario recounted how Asia’s Multimedia Star and Kapuso actor Alden Richards won her over.
At the media conference for ‘Family of Two,’ which LionhearTV covered, Del Rosario first narrated how they cast Mega Star Sharon Cuneta and then Richards himself.
“Sharon, kasi suntok sa buwan, ganon. Makukuha ba natin, pero nag-match na ‘yung schedule, ‘yung open na ‘yung schedule niya and then we thought, sino ang ipa-partner? Hindi mo naman pwedeng partner ay puchu-puchu kasi Sharon, so nag-shortlist na kami na top of the list si Alden.”
Del Rosario admitted that she ‘hated’ Richards at first.
“Nasabi ko noon, it was our first day–ganon nega ako noon. Ang hirap kasi mga artista, hindi available, ‘yung available, pero hulog talaga ng langit, pero hate ko pa siya noon.
“Di ba hate pa kita noon?”
She then noted how she told Richards directly about disliking the Kapuso actor.
“Ano ‘yun eh, workshop, tapos siyempre, galing ka ng ABS, sabi ko, ayaw ko ‘yan si Alden, ayaw ko talaga siya, hate ko siya. Sabi ko, ‘Ayaw ko siya, ayaw ko siya.’ Pag punta ko ng work, sabi ko hindi ko siya gugustuhin. Eh hate ko pa rin siya, tapos pagpasok niya, ‘Hi po.’ ‘Yung parang ang bait, so siyempre ang hirap awayin ‘yung mabait.
“Pero sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘Ayaw ko sayo.’ Sabi niya, ‘Bakit po?’ Walang reason, ayaw ko lang sayo.”
However, through persistent kindness, Richards won her over.
“Tapos sabi niya, ‘Sisikapin ko po gustuhin ninyo ko.’ Sabi ko, ‘Yung pa nga lang na hindi kita ma-hate, ‘yun lang ma-achieve mo pwede na.’ Pero you know, after workshop, siyempre you share, you discuss the characters, I realized na kaya pala marami tong fans, kasi ang bait niya. Kahit binubully ko siya, ang bait niya talaga, naiinis ako, kasi hindi siya pumapatol. Kaya ‘yun.”
She remarked Richards was difficult not to love.
“Tapos noong end ng meeting, tinatanong niya ko, ‘yung sa shoot na, ‘Tita, mahal ninyo na po ba ko?’ Sabi ko, ‘Medium, wag ka lang pushy. Di ka pa nakakarating.’ He’s difficult not to love.”
As for their upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 movie, ‘Family of Two’ stars Alden Richards and Sharon Cuneta with Miles Ocampo, Jackie Lou Blanco, Tonton Gutierrez, and Pepe Herrera.
Under the direction of Nuel Naval and the screenplay of Mel Del Rosario, ‘Family of Two’ opens in cinemas on December 25 during the MMFF 2023.
