MANILA, Philippines – Coming from different tandems and working together for the first time, how did Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards develop onscreen chemistry in Hello, Love, Goodbye, a film directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina?

At a press conference for the movie on Tuesday, July 9, the two stars shared that their onscreen chemistry “was not forced”and just came naturally. Alden said that he met Kathryn a couple of times in some events but they never really got to work together.

“Si Kat very warm po ever since. Pero nung nakasama ko po siya during storycon, there’s more to that pala. She’s very nice, very sweet. Tapos sobrang parang hindi po ako nahirapan na mapalagay ‘yung loob ko sa kanya. Parang hinayaan niya ako to be nice to her,” he said.

(Kat has always been warm ever since. But when we met at the storycon, there more to her. She’s very nice, very sweet. I didn’t have a hard time warming up to her. She let me be nice to her.)

The actor believed that the organic approach helped them develop their onscreen chemistry.

“I think iyon ‘yung naging secret po nung working relationship and friendship po namin ni Kat. Walang pilitan. Wala pong pinilit sa aming dalawa, wala pong nagsabi na ganito kayo off cam para lumabas ang chemistry on cam. Pinabayaan lang ho kami ng lahat ng tao, especially po si direk Cathy,” he said.

(I think that’s the secret behind the working relationship and friendship Kat and I have. It wasn’t forced. No one forced the two of us, no one said we should be like this off cam so the chemistry onscreen comes out. The people around us just let us be in building our friendship, most especially direk Cathy.)

“There were no special instructions for us off cam para magmaterialize (so it will materialize) on screen,” he added.

Living the OFW life

In Hello, Love, Goodbye, Alden and Kathryn play Filipino migrant workers Ethan and Joy. Prior to filming, both of them immersed themselves in OFW life in preparation for their roles. 

“Nag-immerse po kami ni Alden. So prior to going to Hong Kong, si Alden nag-bartending lessons siya. Kami naman Cantonese lessons, ‘yung mga basic. Tapos pagpunta doon, sa first night namin, pinapasok nila talaga kami as waitress and as bartender sa isang bar,” Kathryn said.

(Alden and I had an immersion. So prior to going to Hong Kong, Alden attended bartending lessons. As for the rest of us, we took basic Cantonese lessons. When we got there, on our first night, we went to a bar and worked as a waitress and as a bartender.)

Kathryn said the bar was managed by a Filipino who helped them warm up for their scenes. Part of her preparation for the film was to work as a domestic helper for a real employer but she was unable to do it due to her tight schedule.

Kathryn said they learned so many things about OFWs.

“Siguro lalo ko naappreciate ‘yung mga OFWs. Nakita ko kung gaano kahirap [‘yung] ginagawa po nila…. After the movie, etong pelikula pong ito, talagang binuo ako. Kasi mas na-open ako sa mga bagay, sa mga nangyayari…at grabe ‘yung growth and appreciation kung ano meron ka ngayon. Kaya okay na experience ko iyon…. Saludo ako sa mga OFWs natin,” she said.

(I guess I’ve learned to appreciate the hard work of the OFWs. I saw their hard work…. After doing this movie, this movie really completed me. I became more open to things around me, everything that’s happening…and the growth and appreciation for what I have. So it was a great experienced…. I salute our OFWs.)

Alden, for his part, got to talk with some of the bartenders which helped him see  their world. He said that some of the workers shared that they had missed so many special moments with their families and kids.

“Yung immersion nakatulong po sa akin kasi mas mabibigyan po namin ni Kat ng justice ‘yung pagiging OFW na hindi po kami magmumukhang na inaarte po lang namin yung pagiging OFW (The immersion really helped us because Kat and I were able to give justice to the roles of OFWs to the point that we didn’t look as if we’re only acting),” he said.

“With this movie, the audience will see the struggles and ‘yung kaligayahan (happiness), the good side of being an OFW and kung gaano na sila nag-evolve doon sa kinagisnan nating OFW na puro pamilya ‘yung iniisip (and how they’e evolved from the OFWs we knew that all they thought was their families),” he added.

Hello, Love, Goodbye opens in cinemas on July 31. – Rappler.com