‘Sweet-hate’ relationship adds color to ‘MarVen’ love team
Like a marriage without a ring.”That was how Marco Gallo described his love team with Heaven Peralejo. Since being paired in the hit romance drama series “The Rain in España” last year, the two actors have grown closer to each other so much so that they’re now comfortable just being their real selves whenever they’re together. “MarVen,” as they’re fondly called by fans, know they can be honest about their feelings. And one minute, it feels like they’re falling in love; the next one, they’re like cat and mouse.
“Working with Heaven is a ‘sweet-hate’ relationship and I just love it. We’re like the best of friends. Sometimes, you’re like falling in love and sometimes, you feel like you’re hating the person!” Marco said at a recent press conference for Viva Films’ upcoming film adaptation of the Stanley Chi novel “Men are from QC, Women are from Alabang.”
Comfortable
“We’re so comfortable with each other that we just can’t help being ourselves … Sometimes, things come out of our mouths that make us wonder if they’re the right thing to say. But we’re just trying to enjoy every single moment we have,” he added.
For Heaven, the occasional bickerings can actually do them good in the long run. “We still have a lot to learn about and from each other. We have this love-hate relationship that I think is good. It gives it color. And it actually helps you learn to be a better person afterward. You become more humble, you learn to lower your pride—things like that,” she said.
From director Gino Santos’ point of view, Heaven and Marco’s dynamics help make their scenes, especially the heavy ones, more convincing. “Heaven knows what can make Marco cry, and Marco knows what pisses off Heaven. And they can use those for their characters, or to motivate each other. That’s something I appreciate,” he said. But when they hit it off, Heaven and Marco can really be sweet to each other.
Marco loves Heaven’s thoughtfulness and willingness to help him get in the zone while shooting.
“She knows how to make people happy… She asks what food you want and she orders it. I’m thankful for that. She’s super sweet and makes sure that I’m ready for our scenes. She sits down with me and helps me, especially for the heavy ones,” Marco related.
‘Acts of service’
Heaven, on the other hand, appreciates Marco’s “acts of service.” “When it’s dirty on the set, he cleans up for me. One time, I was wearing slippers, so my feet got dirty. He made me sit down and wiped them. His love language is to serve … That’s one of the things I love about him,” she said.
“Men are from QC, Women are from Alabang,” which opens on May 1, follows Quezon City boy Tino (Marco) and Alabang girl (Aics). Despite the distance and the commuting woes they have to go through, the couple manage to stay together even through their college days. But once they enter the workforce—the “real world”—the distance becomes seemingly more pronounced, driving them apart. As they navigate the situation, Tino and Aics can’t help but wonder: Where’s the real halfway point between QC and Alabang? How do they find a middle ground.
“I relate a lot to my character, Aics, who’s goal-oriented and knows where her life is headed. The challenge is finding the means to get there. She’s a fighter and breadwinner. She believes that career, not love, should be the priority. But when she does fall in love, she gives it her all. And she expects the same from the other person,” Heaven said. “The difference is that I’m more easy going.”Communication Tino, on the other hand, is the opposite of Marco. “I’m stiff, you can say, in real life but in the movie, I’m overflowing with emotions. I go with the flow. So it was a challenge. But I can relate to him when it comes to the things he invests his emotions in.
Career is a priority for me, but it’s not the only one. There are other things like life, the people I meet, love and experience,” he added.
Do they believe that distance is a hindrance to a blossoming relationship?
For Marco, communication—in the absence of physical togetherness—is crucial. “If you’ve had a hard day, and you can’t see that person, just receiving a text and knowing there’s something you can fall back on can make you feel so much better,” he said.
For Heaven, love always finds a way. “It can work as long as you love the person. It doesn’t matter how far you are or what you’re going through. Sometimes, you can be in the same house but still feel distant,” she said.
“This movie also tackles the ambitions of two people, the kind of communication they expect from each other, and how to meet halfway,” Heaven added. INQ
