Donnie, ‘Mamang’ and the emotional farewells of ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’
THE star-studded cast of Donnie Pangilinan and Belle Mariano’s “Can’t Buy Me Love” could hardly contain their emotions at the finale press conference of the hit Kapamilya series as the actors talked about the deep connections they forged while taping the show over the past seven months.
Veteran actress Nova Villa — Pangilinan’s “Mamang” in the show — started the waterworks when she started to speak highly of her co-stars, particularly the handsome lead actor, who plays her adopted grandson Bingo.
“After spending all these months together, I realized that it’s possible to form such a strong bond and give your heart to someone even though you are not blood-related,” Villa remarked between tears.
“I treated him like my son; his pain was my pain. That’s how powerful love can be,” the veteran actress added.
Pangilinan, clearly touched by Villa’s heartfelt words, revealed it was, in fact, his idea for Bingo to call his grandmother “mamang” just as he did his late beloved great-grandmother.
“Growing up, I was very close to my greatgrandma. We did everything together. She would take me to tennis practice and school. She actually lived with us, and I treated her like my mother. And when I lost my great-grandmother, I think it was four years ago, no one had replaced her since. I called her ‘mamang.’ That’s why I requested to call [Villa] the same so I can draw [emotion] from that relationship.”
Pangilinan added he could not imagine anyone more perfect for the role of Bingo’s loving grandmother but Villa because of the incredible dedication she showed him and the rest of the cast and crew of “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
“She never said no [to anything] even though the scenes we had to do again were extremely difficult. You could see that she was struggling, but she still cracked jokes even during overtime.
“In fact, she would be the first to say, ‘Let’s do this, Direk. What can we do?’ I can handle this,” he added.
Close to tears himself, Pangilinan unabashedly paid tribute to the versatile actress, saying, “Tita Nova, thank you so much. I’ve never experienced this [bond] with anyone else but my grandmother. So thank you — from myself and the cast. We all feel the same way about you.”
“Can’t Buy Me Love” will air its last few episodes in May via the climactic “The Priceless Finale.”
Alongside Pangilinan, his leading lady Belle Mariano, and Villa, the series also stars noted actors Rowell Santiago, Agot Isidro and Ruffa Gutierrez and the day’s most in-demand young talents, including Kaila Estrada, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, Albie Casiño and Darren Espanto, among many others.
The series is directed by Mae Cruz Alviar and Ian Loreños.