Romnick Sarmenta & Cris Villanueva on the evolution of Pinoy loveteams
Now on its 11th week on Netflix, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s romantic comedy series “2 Good 2 Be True” continues to delight fans all while making them look forward to more exciting twists and funny confrontations.
“2 Good 2 Be True” marked KathNiel’s return to primetime television five years after they starred in 2017’s “La Luna Sangre.”
As the reel and real life tandem continues to woo fans with their roles as nurse Ali and car mechanic Eloy, veteran actor Romnick Sarmenta, who plays Eloy’s father Frederico Borja on the series, shared his thoughts on the differences between current on-screen couples and those during his heyday.
“Ang isa sa mga kaibahan ay mas mature ata yung characters na pino-portray kaysa sa amin noon,” said Sarmenta during a recent virtual conference with the regional press.
He pointed out how the story arcs of loveteams of the past were mere high school dilemmas while those tackled now are usually of heavier stuff.
“History ng mga pamilya ang kargakarga ngayon. Saka nagso-solve ng mga cybercrimes si Daniel sa ‘2 Good 2 Be True,” said Sarmenta.
What he appreciates the most of today’s showbiz tandems such as KathNiel is the care and support that they give each other.
“Kasi may mga loveteams noon na purely on screen lang, minsan magkaaway behind the scenes. It’s good to see that loveteams now are generally focused towards helping each other which is really great,” said Sarmenta.
He noted that what remains unchanging with the loveteam culture is the importance of building a fan base since supporters continue to play a big role in their longevity.
“Malaking factor yun dahil kailangan yung kakayahan niyo hindi lang sa pag-arte kundi yung pagdala rin ng storya, angkop din sa projects na binibigay sa’yo. Nakakatulong yun para ma-promote yung love team niyo,” said Sarmenta.
Cris Villanueva – who in the series plays Captain Rosales, a police officer who investigates a case involving Eloy – also gave his two cents about the evolution of Pinoy loveteams.
“Yung growth ng bawat loveteam ngayon…nakikita mo yung pag-flourish ng kanilang maturity,” he said.
For this generation’s loveteams, Villanueva advises them to prioritize their work. “Be professional. Yung feelings, dapat mas private yun. Kung meron kayong mga kailangan i-discuss regarding your personal relationship, mas magandang sa likod i-discuss than on social media,” said Villanueva.
He shared that what he admires most about KathNiel is their professionalism.
“Yung kanilang relationship hindi apektado ng whatever. Makikita mo, ang saya-saya tuloy nung mga portrayal. Alam mo yung hindi mo makikitaan na sinasali nila ang personal,” said Villanueva.
Aside from the teleserye having a great script, Villanueva believes it is KathNiel’s attitude on set that gave their characters a life of their own.
“She (Ali) is truly a wide character. Yung napaka-jolly niya kahit pinapagalitan siya ni Lolo Sir. Tuloy pa rin siya, walang kinikimkim na sama ng loob. Everything becomes positive kahit napaka-negative ang sinasabi about her. Si Eloy naman, ang kanyang pagiging semi-hustler and matulungin is also very much of what he is, and we see that in Daniel,” said Villanueva.
On what sets them apart from other on-screen couples, Sarmenta stated it would be their commitment to their craft, and compassion for those around them.
“Bilang tatay, naaaliw ako sa kanilang dalawa. Iniisip ko minsan, kung sino man sa kanila ang anak ko, matutuwa ako na sila ang magkasama dahil nagsusuportahan at nag-aalagaan sila,” he said.
“Whenever we are in our hotel, they do not choose with whom to socialize. In their eyes, we are a family. It is something very refreshing. In my previous shows, I have seen other artists who were distant from other cast members, but KathNiel is an exception.”
Villanueva lauded KathNiel’s portrayal of their characters and expresses his comfort working with them.
“I agree with Romnick’s observation. They look good together and complement one another. Their acting in the series is believable and it is not just the lines but how they portray it. We also see Eloy’s personality as a kind-hearted man in DJ. He will try to solve any of our problems. He will discuss it with you. We are comfortable working with them,” Cris shared.
Viewers can enjoy advance episodes of “2 Good 2 Be True” on Netflix. It also airs weeknights, 8:40 pm, on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, Jeepney TV, and Cinemo.