PJ Valerio unafraid of Robin Padila
BY MARIO BAUTISTA
Honest look at young love
GMA Network features a touching tale that captures the euphoria, magic and bittersweet pangs of falling in love for the "First Time."
Fast-rising Kapuso stars Barbie Forteza, Joshua Dionisio and Jhake Vargas, also known as the young Jodi, Cholo and Tristan in the top-rating Pinoy adaptation of the Koreanovela "Stairway to Heaven," get their biggest break yet as they star in their very own primetime series which premieres this February 8 on GMA.
"First Time" follows the story of Cyndi (Barbie) and Lukas (Joshua), a couple of teenagers who meet one summer at the beach. Their newfound friendship is immediately put to the test after Lukas’ mother dies from a mysterious accident, which results in Jaime’s (Eric Quizon), a famous balladeer and Lukas’ father, decision to live abroad. And just like that, Cyndi and Lukas, albeit unwillingly, say their goodbyes.
Two years later, Lukas returns to the Philippines and enrolls in the same school as Cyndi’s. For a while, the two try to rekindle their friendship only for Cyndi to find out that the Lukas from that memorable summer is no longer there. Lukas, once a cheerful and fun-loving boy, has grown to become so quiet, and detached from everyone including Cyndi.
In the long run, with the help of Cyndi and her bestfriend Baste (Jhake), Lukas eventually comes to terms with the tragedies in his life. All three of them become inseparable – even Lukas and Baste, who have little in common besides sharing a love for Cyndi – spending most of their time at Baste’s, whose lowly family finds happiness in music.
Also in the cast are former "Starstruck Kids" Bea Binene as Natalie, the school’s liberated Queen Bee, "Stairway to Heaven’s" young Eunice Jhoana Marie Tan as Sara, the over-achieving teacher’s pet, Mark Castillo as Daniel, the homophobic school jock, and Lucho Ayala as Jimbo, the domineering campus heartthrob.
Equally important are the roles of the more experienced actors and actresses in the cast including Eric Quizon, Ian Veneracion, Manilyn Reynes, Romnick Sarmienta, Ana Capri, Bayani Agbayani, Cris Villanueva, Angel Jacob, and Sheila Marie Rodriguez who will portray mother/father roles in the story, while Alicia Mayer, Joross Gamboa, Michelle Madrigal, Roxanne Barcelo, Ricci Chan, and Mel Kimura, on the other side, will play as teachers.
Directed by Andoy Ranay and written by Kit Langit, "First Time" provides an open and honest exploration of what really goes on within and beyond the four walls of the classroom, and treats them with openness, honesty and depth.