Got To Believe In KathNiel's Magic

With Kathryn and Daniel at the Color Fun Run Event
of "Got To Believe"

JULY 2013

It was mid-afternoon. The creative team of “Got To Believe” were invited to see the mansion where the Joaquin and Chichay first weeks scenes were taped. Alam niyo na, so we know kung anong mga eksenang pwede naming gawin at laruin. The series was yet to air at that moment, kaya medyo kalmado pa kami, at wala pang “for airing” na iniintindi. We just had fun touring around the house na napakaganda at napakabongga.

Then in a separate area, we saw Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, who were resting, and they gave us warm welcome as we approached them. Konting chikahan, kamustahan about the show and their experiences so far. I thought, in front of us now were transitioning Kathryn and Daniel. Slowly nagbabago at nagma-mature ng onti as they speak. Mas nagiging engaged and involved, in a very good way, sa creative process ng G2B. 

At G2B's pictorial.

After “Princess And I”’s game-changing success, the next challenge was to come up with a serye that would further solidify their status as Teen King and Queen. Mid-way pa lang ng PAI, nag-iisip na kami ng konsepto. We already knew there was something coming up for them – at silang dalawa na lang. Then an old concept was revisited: a young boy who grew up with a bullet in his head.

Look test and story conference for G2B

So for months, the team, led by the genius Mark Angos, created a story that were age-appropriate for KathNiel, but notches higher in terms of complexities and maturity. Hindi ko malilimutan how nervous we were presenting to the management. Mataas ang expectations nila because they were coming from a major hit. So imagine yung tuwa namin nang inapprove agad-agad ang concept, with Boss Freddie Garcia suggesting major arcs for the show, and assigning Cathy Garcia-Molina no less to direct. Para kaming three chair turner sa The Voice Kids 3.

For us, G2B proved to be a really challenging project. Doble dapat ang kilig, ang tension, ang emosyon. Hindi na prinsesa si Kathryn na may tatlong prince charming. Sila na lang nina Kathryn at Daniel ito. At kailangang kiligin hindi lang ang KathNiel fans kundi ang mga casual viewers. But Direk Cathy and Kuya Mark are such brilliant minds. And the whole team was all heart to this project.

2AM shot with Kath on the set of G2B. 

The characters Joaquin Manansala and Chichay Tampipi had become primetime favorites at that time. Nagkaroon uli ng interes ang mga tao sa mga old school peryahan. Who can forget the line “Sorry po” with matching Chichay’s curtsy? E ang mga Bears na sina Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Care Bear, Bunny Bear, at kung sinu-sino pa? Pati ang mga 80s hits ni Ate Manilyn Reynes, who played Kathryn’s mom, nabigyan ng bagong buhay. Even Kuya Benjie Paras, who was Kathryn’s dad, tinatawag nang “Papa Bear” everywhere he went to. And the show saw Ate Carmina Villarroel and Veneracion, playing Daniel’s parents, acting careers revitalized to this generation, that until now they remain hot properties on Kapamilya teleseryes.

G2B also paved the way to introduce some of our young stars today, like Yves Flores, Jon Lucas (of Hashtags), now YouTube sensation Kristel Fulgar and, of course, Liza Soberano, who would be introduced in her own phenomenal series months after G2B ended.

On a more personal note, the series changed my life ng bongga because dito ako na-discover sa paggawa ng hashtags for social media. Yung everyday gumagawa lang ako ng hashtags for G2B na related sa theme at story ng episode, at nagti-trend dahil sa suporta ng then growing phenomenally KathNiel supporters. For fun, at for pagiging fan lang. Later on, naging part na ito ng legit promo component ng serye. Since then, ako na ang nag-hashtag sa mga series ng Star Creatives. And all of the network’s series, gumagawa na ng hashtag for every episode, up to this day.

At Daniel's standby area in the mansion in Antipolo where
G2B was taped. 

Through G2B, nakita natin ang potensyal nina Kathryn at Daniel for meatier, more complex roles when the time is right. Especially si Daniel, who critics and naysayers would consider as “just a fad” then. Joaquin allowed him to show his more serious, deeper and “darker” side. As for Kathryn, the series continued proving her versatility. She managed to shift from light, cute-cute, charming girl to dramatic and highly emotional young woman in the waiting. It really helped that Direk Cathy was there from start to end to guide them. Actually, perfect fit ang title ng serye sa Kathniel – their loveteam is just magical. They are meant for this, and to be.

Though I didn’t see them often in the course of G2B, natuwa ako everytime I would hear feedbacks and comments on how they work hard on the set. Yung kahit umabot na kami sa almost everyday for airing, the passion and drive we saw in them since the story conference and look test for this. They wanted to make it work. Watching them nightly was more than enough for me to be proud as a co-worker, friend, and fan. G2B, and KathNiel loveteam made us believe in magic of love, people of all ages and classes ang naka-relate.

I consider G2B as a journey for Kathryn and Daniel. Journey of getting to know more of themselves and each other. Of realizing their passion for what they’re doing. Of growing to becoming more matured and sensitive actors and individuals. And most of all, of proving to the world that they rightfully deserve the Teen King and Queen titles crowned to them, not by name, but by worth.