Kokoy’s scenes with Elijah bound to be talked about
KOKOY De Santos plays the bigger role in “Gameboys The
Movie” since the whole film is set in his house and the major complications in the plot concern mainly his problems with his nosey relatives. So how did it feel when he watched the full length movie in its press preview on KTX?
“It’s so satisfying na ang ganda lumabas ng pinaghirapan namin,” he says. “It’s very memorable kasi lock-in shoot ‘yun, unlike the online series na we’re in our own respective homes. This time, we’re all in one location and nag-bond kaming lahat ng cast and the rest of the staff. And I’m so happy na very positive and reception ng viewers at number one raw kami sa tickets sales in all streaming channels.”
In all fairness to him, he is really splendid in the film and stands out in several dramatic scenes, specially when he finally gets the courage to come out to his homophobic auntie that Elijah Canlas as Cairo is not just his friend but his boyfriend.
With his pair of very expressive eyes, he delivers all his lines in such a persuasive and sweet manner that will surely bring lots of kilig to the fans of the series: “Kahit magbigay ng flying kiss, bawal?” “May relasyon tayo, kaya imposibleng hindi kita isipin.” “Sobrang in love ako sa’yo, baby!”
His kissing scenes and bedscenes with Elijah are bound to be talked about as they’re both “give na give” in every encounter they have in the movie.
“Wala kaming hesitations sa love scenes kasi pareho kaming game lang sa ganyang eksena. Malaki ang tiwala ko kay Elijah kasi we’ve become really good friends sa online series pa lang. Alam na niya ang lahat about me. Also, pareho kaming may commitment sa characters namin and we’re both open with each other sa set man or even off the set. At sa script pa lang ni Ash Malanum, nakakakilig na habang binabasa pa lang namin yung mga eksena and we both felt we have to give it justice. Malaking tulong din si Direk Ivan Payawal sa amin kasi laging nandiyan siya to guide us.”
He’s really amazed at the huge success of the online series that was also shown on Netflix and on GMA. The company that produced them, Perci Intalan’s Ideafirst Company, has now partnered with three Japanese companies to help produce the show’s future seasons and market them abroad.
“When we started it, parang experimental lang ‘yung story ng gamers turned lovers na sina Gavreel and Cairo,” adds Kokoy. “But grabe ang naging response ng viewers, so salamat sa walang sawang sumuporta sa lahat ng nakagusto sa show. Nag-bond kaming lahat with the rest of the cast kasama sina Adrianna So as Pearl, Kyle Velino as Terrence and Miggy Jimenez as Wesley. To Elijah, maraming salamat sa pagiging mabuting kaibigan at katrabaho. We’re now so excited with the second season of the online series.”
Kokoy is fortunate that he is not typecast to just doing Boys Love projects. GMA-7 has already gotten him to play a straight role in the sitcom prequel “Pepito Manaloto, Ang Unang Kuwento”, where he plays Patrick, the best friend of Sef Cadayona who plays Pepito. You can say his career is really going places!
A four-star concert during the pandemic
VIVA is definitely the busiest entertainment company in this pandemic season. They have new movies being shown every week in their streaming channel, Vivamax, the latest being “Revirginized” starring Sharon Cuneta. They have new TV shows like “Encounter” and various ongoing game shows. They also continue to release new songs on Viva Records.
And now Viva Live mounts a four-star concert perfect for this era of the virus when people are feeling low or anxious. This is “FOUR HEARTS”, a digital concert topbilled by Sam Concepcion, Janine Teñoso, Katrina Velarde and Darryl Ong, four of the most talented music artists in the Pinoy pop music scene today together for the first time on the same stage.
“This is an unexpected blessing for me,” says Kat. “Dahil sa pandemic, nawala yung aking bread and butter, which is singing. Tapos nawalan din kami ng chance kumanta in public. So it’s good that Viva gave us ‘Four Hearts’, kahit na virtual concert siya.”
How is it working with Sam, Janine and Darryl? “I’ve worked with all of them before, but individually. Ngayon pa lang yung sama-sama kaming apat. Si Darryl parang kapatid ko na ‘yan, as we already do live streaming. But this is more challenging since apat nga kami sharing the same stage.”
What is the concert all about? “The focus is on love, it’s all about love, kung paano natin magagawang magmahal ngayon sa gitna ng pandemya, lalo na ngayon ECQ na naman uli. We will perform individually and also as a group. We’ll sing our original songs. Our musical arranger, Mon Faustino, made some special arrangements for our production numbers. I assure all of you that this will be a really, really nice show.”
She’s so glad that “Four Hearts” is directed by Paolo Valenciano. “I’m so at home with Direk Paolo kasi I’ve worked with his dad Gary V as back up singer here and abroad, several times. And he has also directed two of my gigs. Magaling siya kasi marami siyang naiisip sa ikagaganda ng concert na kami mismo, hindi namin naiisip. I am happy to get to work with Sam, Janine and Darryl kasi I admire their passion for music, which can really affect us in many ways, like it can inspire us and encourage lalo na ngayong we live in uncertain times.”
Kat banks on her faith to survive the pandemic. “Dapat talaga, kumapit lang tayo sa ating faith na babalik din ang lahat sa dati. Huwag tayong bibitaw at dagdagan lang natin ang dasal.”
Janine Tenoso feels privileged doing a concert with Kat, Sam and Darryl.
“I feel comfortable agad with all of them,” she says. “We have a good connection right away and I feel proud to be able to perform with all of them. I’m just new in the industry and fan nila ako.”
Janine is a discovery of “Born to be a Star” and the youngest among them at 22. She has released an extended play album and she’ll sing her songs there in “Four Hearts”.
“I feel grateful that the concert will give me the chance to sing all my original songs, specially the new ones in my extended play album,” she adds. “The show was shot in Teatrino Greenhills, but we didn’t use the usual stage but ibang venues, taping it as live. It’s really an honor to perform with Sam, Kat and Darryl. I admire their enthusiasm to share themselves with the audience through music. I look up to all these artists and I’m proud to do ‘Four Hearts’ with them.”
“Four Hearts” is part of Viva Live’s commitment to entertain the Pinoy audience here and abroad. Which is very much at the heart of why Viva Live continues to produce digitally streamed concerts like Sarah Geronimo’s “Tala” and the “Rico Blanco Songbook” streaming special. With “Four Hearts”, Viva Live is expanding the possibilities of what a “digital concert” can be. Foremost of which is gathering four lead acts, each capable to headline a show of their own, but are now collaborating to deliver what promises to be a dynamite show. This is a show among friends and it would be interesting how their rapport would translate and enhance their performances.
Don’t miss “Four Hearts” on August 28, 2021 at 8pm. The platform in which it can be viewed is on KTX for Philippine audiences and on the IWANTFC and TFC IPTV platforms for audiences on other territories. Ticket prices are Php 999 for KTX or USD 19.99 for IWANTTFC and TFC IPTV. For inquiries, call Viva Live at (+632) 8687-7236 or (+63908) 814-4601.
