The highly anticipated adaptation of Binibining Mia’s hit Wattpad novel ‘I Love You Since 1892’ is finally set to stream on Viva One starting September 6, with Heaven Peralejo and Jerome Ponce leading the cast alongside Joseph Marco, under the direction of MacArthur Alejandre.
But even before its premiere, the series has sparked debate online. Many fans of the original novel had long imagined Janella Salvador and Marlo Mortel as Carmela and Juanito, since the author herself once used their likeness as inspiration for her characters. When Viva officially announced Peralejo and Ponce as leads, some readers expressed disappointment, saying they struggled to picture the two as their beloved characters.
Asked about the backlash during the show’s grand mediacon, Jerome Ponce admitted he was aware of the criticisms but chose to focus on the work.
“Well, let’s be honest. Maraming nagulat. Nagulat na in a way na, ‘Bakit ganito? Bakit ganyan?’ Pero wala naman kaming magagawa kundi gawin ang trabaho namin. Again, ito na yung nangyari sa amin. It keeps going and going,” he said.
He acknowledged the sadness that comes with such reactions: “Nakakalungkot kasi siyempre, ito na naman. Si Jerome na naman na hindi na naman napunta sa imagination ng mga tao, ng readers. But I’m at the point na baka siguro it’s an opportunity for me na mapu-prove ko na kaya ko pa. Pwede ko pang gawin ‘yung role na hindi para sa akin. I’m really open at kinakabahan sa magiging cravings sa akin na ite-take ko rin as learnings at stepping stone sa career ko.”
Heaven Peralejo, who plays Carmela Isabella and her historical counterpart Carmelita Montecarlos, shared that she also felt affected by the flood of online comments at first.
“Nu’ng una po talaga, actually, hindi naman masyadong nag-sink sa akin. But then, I think last night, unconsciously, nakikita, nababasa ko ang comments and, unconsciously, napo-project ko rin siya sa sarili ko,” she admitted.
But instead of letting it weigh her down, she leaned on her co-star and her production team.
“Nakakatuwa kasi ipinaalala nila sa akin, bakit nga ba ako nandito ulit? Ano bang core ko? Oo nga, aktres ako. Ito ‘yung job ko. Mahal ko ‘yung trabaho ko and I shouldn’t be contained with one character na ang ganda-ganda ng istorya. At alam ko sa sarili ko na ibinibigay ko yung one hundred percent so bakit ako nagkakaroon ng alinlangan? Du’n ko nakita na, unang-una, ako yung nagtitiwala sa sarili ko and, of course, nagtitiwala ako sa mga kasamahan ko, sa direktor ko.”
She added that the cast remains united in giving their all: “Alam naming lahat na ibinibigay namin yung one hundred percent para sa proyekto na ito. So, hindi tayo magpapatinag. Ito ay ginagawa ko bilang Carmela at Carmelita. Iniaalay ko ito, of course, sa Diyos, sa management, and sa mga taong nagmamahal. Du’n tayo dapat nagpo-focus. Dapat positive lang tayo.”
‘I Love You Since 1892’ follows Carmela Isabella (Peralejo), a modern young woman who finds herself transported back in time to 1892, inhabiting the body of Carmelita Montecarlos. There, she meets Juanito Alfonso (Ponce), a man whose love disrupts Carmela’s carefully laid plans.
Despite the early backlash, both Peralejo and Ponce remain determined to honor the story and prove themselves worthy of the roles. For Jerome, it’s a chance to stretch himself as an actor; for Heaven, it’s about dedicating her performance to her craft, her faith, and her supporters.
