Viva Films opens 2018 with ‘Mr. And Mrs. Cruz’

JC Santos and Ryza Cenon

Viva Films and The IdeaFirst Company’s first offering for 2018, “Mr. And Mrs. Cruz,” hits theaters tomorrow nationwide. The film is written and directed by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, who gave us the highest-grossing “Kita Kita” last year.

This time, Bernardo presents a story about the thing that comes with love, but no one wants to really talk about: Commitment. “Mr. And Mrs. Cruz” is about Raffy and Gela who went on vacation in Palawan, wherein their unconventional love story begins and flourishes.

“Mr. And Mrs. Cruz” boasts of a stellar cast led by JC Santos and Ryza Cenon. Though it is the first time for them to be paired on screen, the chemistry between the two is palpable.

JC played the role of Fidel in the 2017 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino top-grossing film, “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” opposite Bela Padilla. His role as Ali on ABS-CBN’s Primetime teleserye “Til I Met You” made him TV’s newest sensation.

Ryza is a versatile actress whose acting career blossomed in 2017 via the romance-horror film, “Ang Manananggal Sa Unit 23B.” Her portrayal of Georgia on GMA-7’s teleserye “Ika-6 Na Utos” is considered to be her breakthrough role, earning for her a Best Supporting Actress nomination in the 2017 EdukCircle Awards.

“Mr. And Mrs. Cruz,” shot entirely in the picturesque and breathtaking island of El Nido, Palawan will take viewers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Shooting the film was a challenge. “Literal na buwis buhay” as Sigrid described it.

In one of their shoots, the team was almost stranded on an exclusive beach where they filmed some of the scenes for the movie.

“Sobrang chill lang kami. Nagkakantahan pa in between shots, not knowing na super high tide na pala sa labas ng exclusive beach kung saan kami nagshu-shoot. Bago ka kasi makarating doon sa exclusive beach, kailangan mo munang pumasok sa isang cave. Sinabihan na lang kami ng guide namin na kailangan na naming lumabas dahil malakas na ang ulan at mataas na ang tubig sa labas,” she said. “So, lumalabas pa lang kami ng cave ramdam na namin na mataas na talaga ’yung tubig. As in, kailangan mong sumisid para makalabas ka.”

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Finally found each other

Kim Domingo

Marian Rivera and Kim Domingo play long-lost sisters on the GMA series “Super Ma’am.” They are reunited but their grandmother (portrayed by Helen Gamboa-Sotto) has doubts that Mabelle/Avenir (Kim) is who she claims to be so the family requested for DNA testing.

Though her identity was verified, what the family did not know was that she is also Avenir who is under the control of Jackie Lou Blanco, head of “Super Ma’am’s” enemies, the Tamawos.

The series airs weeknights after “24 Oras” on GMA Telebabad.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 23, go to Justice Manuel Lazaro, Pinky Marquez, Kim Atienza, Dondon Monteverde, Weena Sy, Venny Yalong, Dr. Toto Salgado, Prof. Wilhelmina Antonio, Marilyn Alterejos, Nini Jorge, Ligaya Fernandez, Janet Relos, Neil Gaylor, Armando Bernabé, Purita Dagang and Shirley Pizarro and son Alfonso… Jan. 24: Zebedee Zuniga, Minnie Seneres, Pacita de Guzman, Bernie Buenaseda, Monica Galima, Dr. Nellie Acosta, Lourna Kalaw Tirol, Rachelle Arnaldo, Maries Soliman, Rey Marfil, Danny Boy Martinez of New York, and Chona Sevilla…