SIX years ago, Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez starred in the movie Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, a reworking of The Bodyguard. With the Bad Boy of Philippine Movies and Asia’s Songbird still at the top of their game, GMA Films and media powerhouse Viva Entertainment decided to re-team them in the movie Till I Met You.

Unlike their early pairing, Till I Met You “is no longer inspired by any other movie,” said producer Annette Gozon
Abrogar.In addition, “we made sure that the story is suited to their age.”

With Robin and Regine now in their thirties, Abrogar said, “People might find it corny if we make it appear na nagliligawan silang parang bata. In Till I Met You, we will see the maturity of Robin and Regine’s characters from start to finish. The moviegoers will really see that they are acting their age.”

Regine plays Luisa, a con-artist looking for a rich lover. She pretends to be a sophisticate, born in the U.S. “In reality, napakabaduy niya, she is a true female jologs,” Abrogar said. “When we offered the role to Regine, she admitted that some of the character’s personality quirks are very similar to hers. Yung from the grass roots, provinciana na nagpapanggap.”

Robin is Gabriel, an orphan who grew up under the care of Eddie Garcia, Regine’s elderly fiancée. From the outset, Robin is suspicious of Regine’s true intentions and vows to protect Eddie from her scheming ways. Of course, that’s when sparks start to fly. And Robin must wrestle with his conflicted feelings of loyalty to Eddie on one hand and the romantic pull of the woman betrothed to his stepdad on the other.

“Their screen chemistry surprised me,” Abrogar said. “There were scenes when they would adlib and the finished take even becomes better.” And are we to believe that it’s really not just marketing when the producer confided, “There is something talaga between them.” She added, “The attraction is obvious and you really see and feel it emanating from the two. I don’t have the exact words to coin it pero there is obviously love in it; parang may bawal na pag-ibig.”

Bad Boy turned Lover Boy

Robin plays a similar game, recalling his first team-up with Regine years ago. “When we were shooting our first movie, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, my mind was at a loss because during the days we were doing scenes that showed as a couple, I really had this feeling that she was already my girlfriend. As soon as (director) Bb. Joyce Bernal said ‘Cut!’ she was nowhere to be found. Yun pala, umuwi na ng Bulacan.”

In Robin’s case however, he does have a history of falling in love with his leading ladies. “To be honest, I really wanted to court her during that time,” he confessed. “Who would not want to have a serious relationship with her? The problem was I had three wives then and it was impossible to have and keep another one. Let us no longer reveal who they are for I have already divorced them. In the process of our shoot, I realized that ang maganda kasi sa kanya, walang acting. Everything comes naturally. She knows if I need to hold her hand, she holds back instantly. Lahat automatic, hindi na ako nangingilag.”

He credits their onscreen rapport to “the chemistry from my deep admiration for her.” Plus, harking back to his penchant for crossing the line between reel and real on his romances, he explained, “I fall in love with her every time we work together. I am no longer a young man or a teen-ager na pwedeng buyuin ng mga tao sa paligid ko na sige, ligawan mo yan. Whatever you see on film, I do not lie when I say to you that all my love scenes with her are done with so much love.”

Is he comfortable being a romantic lead?

“This feeling of comfort that you notice is dependent on the person I’m working with,” he said. “What I like about being with Regine in a movie is yung hindi niya ako pinababayaan. She really took good care of me. My hair was long prior to the shoot she had it trimmed. She chose my wardrobe. She even tells me how I should smile in some of the scenes. It is all because of her why I seem like a good romantic lead. We have so many happy moments in this movie. Bonus yung I get to kiss her lalo na nga’t her lips taste like Juicy Fruit. Akala ko nga kami na eh kaso she revealed that she has a boyfriend.”

What can he say about Regine’s disclosure about her mystery man?

“I think it will be ungentlemanly of me to say sana magkahiwalay sila,” he laughed. “I really want to meet him. Gusto kong makilala nang maimbestigahan kaagad. I hope he treats her right and hindi niya lolokohin kasi ako wala akong ginawang pangloloko diyan. Aside from treating her right, I hope he loves her like a queen. Because that is the only way that Regine should be treated and loved.”

The Song Bird talks about Love and Mr. Right

“My working relationship with Robin can be best described as closer. I feel much more comfortable with him,” Regine said of her co-star. “After every take, we talked a lot and we bonded very well. We were together for almost a month and I had a great time working with him again and I am happy to know him better.”

About the disappearing act she pulled during their first movie together, Regine explained, “He thought I was snobbish because after each shoot, I went home to Bulacan immediately. What he failed to realize was na-shy ako because of him being the Robin Padilla. Imagine! Robin Padilla is my screen partner.”

So were rumors true that Robin actually proposed to her during the filming?

“We were talking about so many topics and then unexpectedly, he asked me what I think of the Moslem culture of marrying several women. I answered him quite frankly that I will not be comfortable with such a set up because if I do get married, I want it na ako lang. He was taken aback by my answer so what he was planning to ask me that time, he didn’t muster enough courage to continue.”
She added, “I don’t think I can share my man with someone else. I am not trying to be a hypocrite about this. I do not want people to take it all wrong that I am judging people who are in situations wherein one partner has other partners. This is just my belief as a person, as a woman. I do not see myself going through one relationship after the other just for the heck of it. Parang nakakahinayang kasi. I do not believe doon sa collect and collect then select. It is as if you already gave yourself to so many men. You might say that it is only through previous relationships that you get to learn about love and life but for me, I would rather wait and be with that one right person. However, if I do have one chance of happiness and I know that I have that choice, it is better for me to just wait for him, I don’t mind waiting for as long as I’m sure he is the one.”

How would she know if it’s actually Mr. Right?

“Instinct, gut feel. You just know. All of us have that. I think it’s God’s gift to us. We should listen to our gut feel, to that inner voice in your heart, and you must admit that at all times, that voice or your gut is saying what is right. I will know if it is him. There is this weird vibe, yun parang ma-a-adik ka when you finally meet,’’ she ended with a laugh.

To end all the pesky talks of her being linked to this or that married man, Regine revealed her four-year old relationship with a “mystery man.” She has been giving clues about her “boyfriend,” she said, but the press apparently refuses to believe her.

“Seriously speaking, I am in a relationship and I’m very happy. I hope you understand why I cannot reveal him just yet. You all know my story. You know how public my life has become. And the very little privacy that I have, I want to treasure it and just keep it. What is important is that I am happy. I am in love. I am committed. Hindi na virgin ang lolah niyo. Matagal nah!” concludes Velasquez with a guffaw.

So how does this mystery man make her happy?

“As a human being, I’m very easy to please and I’m such a mababaw person. In my career, as a woman, daughter, and as a sister, I made sure that I was able to do what I must do. I am very grateful that I made most of my dreams into realities. In a way, I am already complete. When he arrived in my life, he did not complete me for I feel complete already. He was not my missing piece. He makes my life very colorful. We do not have a perfect relationship. We have our good days and bad days. I just feel really good that he is around to share my successes.”

She weighed in on life in the public eye and the responsibilities she took on. “I have to admit to myself that it is not easy to become an artista and I want to spare him from all the intrigues and all the relentless questioning and doubting. For the past 20 years, all I ever thought about were the people, my audience, and my fans. Do not get me wrong but I’m truly grateful to them. Kaya lang now, I think it’s just fair that I think of myself muna. I know that you guys understand and you know that one of these days, I will let him know all of you. Honestly, he wants to go public. However, I explained to him the reason why I want to keep him for myself muna for now.”•

Alwin M. Ignacio writes entertainment and lifestyle features for The Tribune.