Si Mikay

With Kathryn during the promo shoot for "Princess And I". 

MARCH 2012

“Princess France, this is it!!!”

These were Kathryn Bernardo’s words to me, filled with enthusiasm and excitement, during “Princess And I”’s promo shoot in March 2012. I hugged her tight, sabay sabing, “deserve mo yan Kath.”

Mahaba-haba rin ang paglalakbay namin bago kami nakarating sa “Princess And I” na napanood niyo four years ago. Immediately after “Mara Clara” ended, we became busy developing concepts for Kathryn. Basta ang malinaw sa amin, her character should be her age, and should highlight her acting prowess further. Marami kaming  nabuo, naisip. Muntik ngang isa uling Judy ann serye ang i-remake niya uli. But there was something lacking. The management, even us in creative team, was dissatisfied.

As an exercise, since ito ang first project ko sa ABS-CBN, pinagawa ako ng headwriter ko ng concept. Kahit ano lang. To see how I write stories. E ang ginawa ko noon, isang Thai prince na napunta sa Pilipinas at na-in love sa isang Pinay. Ang peg ko pa then, Mario Maurer at Sarah Geronimo. Taas ng pangarap e. Then our headwriter and creative manager (Jay Fernando and Henry King Quitain) thought, bakit hindi na lang gawing lost princess si Kathryn na may Prince Charming na makikilala. Parang Tangled pa ang peg.

So the team started working on what would be “You’re Always My Heart”, eventually re-titled “Princess And I” – the launching series of Kathryn.

One of "Princess And I" earliest tapings in Marikina.
We shot Mikay and Kiko's (Khalil Ramos) school scenes.  

Was able to visit Kathryn’s first few tapings for the series, under the direction of Dado Lumibao. In between takes, mag-uusap kami. Natatawa pa nga ako kasi naninibago ako sa bangs niya. She would tell me naninibago siya sa character niyang si Mikay dahil malayo sa last teleserye character niya. If si Mara seryoso, puro iyak, itong si Mikay very positive, cheerful, good vibes lang. Of course, the drama highlights and her signature iyak scenes were there. But I was explaining to her na, teen princess ang atake namin sa character. Nakakahiya nga, ang peg ko pa Lizzie MicGuire, mga ganun. E hindi naman panahon ni Kathryn yun. But I saw in Kathryn’s eyes na excited siya sa PAI. “Sana tumagal sa ere”, se wished then. Hopeful din ako.

Kathryn and I with Enrique Gil during "Princess And I"'s workshop.
Prior to the series, they were paired in the film "Way Back Home". 

Going back to the promo shoot, I was tasked to explain to the teen cast their characters since our headwriter and senior writers were locked in somewhere. At nandun na rin lang daw ako. During the discussion, I witnessed how Kathryn was so eager to get into character. To be Mikay Maghirang. She asked questions. She discussed possibilities na pupuntahan ng character niya, especially the transition to becoming a Yangdonese Princess. So I tried my best na iexplain ang alam ko, with the disclaimer na “hanggang dito pa lang ang makikwento ko”. You know how teleserye works, guys.

The next thing I knew, it was April 16, 2012. Princess And I debuted to high ratings and positive feedback. And just weeks later, it would hit 41% in ratings, making it the most watched primetime series then. And it went on until we went off the air on February 1, 2013. The series, considered the first teenserye in history, was a game changer. 

On the set with Kathryn, Daniel Padilla and guest Izzy Canillo.
By June 2012, "Princess and I"'s ratings had hit 40%, and
KathNiel had become the fastest rising loveteam on primetime. 

By the time PAI ended, Kathryn has earned for himself the Teen Queen title. But what amazed me was, kahit nagiging superstar na ang status niya sa kalakaran ng show, she has remained humble. Still the same girl I’ve known all these time. Pero siyempre, every time I visit her sa set then, I took it upon myself na nili-limit ko na ang pakikipag-chikahan sa kanya. I’d rather na mag-rest na lang siya in between takes or study her lines. 

“Princess And I” would forever remain dear in my heart. First serye ko. Naging part ako sa pagkakabuo ng konseptong ito. Tapos super hit pa. At dito nagkatotoo yung wish kong makatrabaho si Kathryn. Iba yung feeling looking back na… In your own little way, naging bahagi ka ng journey towards becoming a Teen Queen ni Kathryn. At hanggang sa ngayon, proven and tested, hindi nakakalimot si Kathryn sa mga tulad ko.

For a fan like me, malaking bagay na yung makasama ang paborito mo sa isang proyekto. But mid-way pa lang ng Princess And I, September 2012, ako’y sinorpresa ng susunod kong gagawin… Muli akong binigyan ng pagkakataon ng ABS-CBN na maging bahagi ng susunod na serye ni Kathryn (kasama si Daniel Padilla) - Got To Believe. 

Such a sweet girl, Kath surprised me with the jacket I'm
wearing on this pic on my birthday in July 2012.

This picture was taken by Daniel Padilla, no less, after they taped
their first dance scene in "Princess and I".