THE team-up of real-life couple Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana returns to the small screen via the Kapuso Network's latest comedy-romantic offering "I Heart Davao", which will start airing on June 26 on GMA primetime bloc.
This, after the success of their team-up in the compelling drama series My Husband's Lover. The two, this time will be joined by Kapuso heartthrob Benjamin Alves.
The series will surely excite Dabawenyos as it is mostly set in the city of Davao, particularly at one of Davao's pride, the Malagos Farm, which produces one of the world's best chocolates. Just recently, the Malagos unsweetened chocolate took home its fifth silver award for the plain hot chocolate category at the coveted Academy of Chocolate Awards 2017.
The lead cast of this new Kapuso offering are also getting excited as they tried to capture the city's local flavor, including the dialect, and the sights and sounds of the area. Almost 80 percent of the series was shot in Davao.
Carla said having Davao as the setting of the story is a good opportunity to show what the place still has to offer. "Napakadaming pwede i-highlight sa Davao and we are grateful that we can feature them through this show," she said.
Tom said the series will further inspire Filipinos to appreciate better the rest of the country.
"It will allow not only those from Davao but the whole Visayas and Mindanao to take pride and ownership in this project," he said.
"We highlight the things that are great in Davao," added Ben, who only has good things to say about Dabawenyos.
"The people in Davao are very warm," said the Kapuso actor who has never been to Davao before doing the series. "Sobrang bait po nila sa amin sa set. Natutuwa kami na they accepted us warmly," he said.
I Heart Davao revolves around the story of Hope (Carla), a heart transplant recipient whose world will be turned upside-down when she goes to Davao to save her family’s chocolate business. Here, she serendipitously and unknowingly meets Ponce (Tom), the proud, brooding, and mysterious ex-boyfriend of her heart donor.
Ponce also happens to be the son of the chocolate haciendero whom Hope eyes to partner with to save her family’s struggling venture. Ponce's "Dabawenyo Dude" pragmatism will constantly offend Hope's "Manila Girl" sensibilities.
Will they continue opposing each other or will their constant bickering eventually lead to something sweeter than the chocolates Ponce's farm produce?
As Hope's new life unravels in Davao, she feels a tug from her old self through the constant wooing of her childhood friend Paul (Ben), a brilliant young business executive. All his life, Paul has been in love with Hope that he is willing to temporarily leave his life in Manila to join her in Davao.
"This is a reunion project of the TomCar love team after three years and we are very grateful that we are given a chance to work together,” shared Carla, adding that she hope their fans would appreciate their newest offering. "Handog po namin ito sa mga TomCar fans."
Joining Carla, Tom, and Ben are Betong Sumaya, Maey Bautista, Ricardo Cepeda, Glenda Garcia, Racquel Villavicencio, Joel Saracho, Geraldine Villamil, Natileigh Sitoy, Kevin Sagra, Philip Lazaro, and Catherine Rem as Aileen—Hope’s heart donor.
I Heart Davao is also proud to feature the talented members of Davao theatre group Cine Madayaw, providing more authenticity to the series’ characters.
This latest Kapuso offering is created by GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Neil Gumban.
I Heart Davao is penned by award-winning film screenwriter and director Chris Martinez, with Lee Briones-Meily as director of photography.
At the helm of this series is highly-acclaimed director Marlon N. Rivera, who is also known for GMA Public Affairs’ political rom-com series Naku, Boss Ko and the award-winning film Babae sa Septic Tank.
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