Piolo Pascual

They found love at a perfect place, but they have yet to find out if they are truly the perfect pair.

In the Philippine remake of the 2004 Koreanovela hit “Lovers In Paris,” Vivian Vizcarra and Carlo Aranaz, played respectively by KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual, continue to embark on a difficult journey towards proving themselves worthy of the love they found in one of the most romantic cities in the world. However, Martin Aranaz Barrameda, played by Zanjoe Marudo, also remains determined to prove them wrong.

Whose love will come out victorious? Who would have to let love go? The verdict is in, but the revelation is yet to unfold. After a three-month run, the program is set to air its final telecast this Friday, Dec. 11. Will it be a happy ending? If it is, whose happy ending will it be?

Ironically, for everyone involved in the hit series, no happy ending could wipe away the sadness looming in now that production is about to come to a close. “Parang kailan lang nung nag-uumpisa pa lang kaming kilalanin ang isa’t-isa,” recalls the show’s director, FM Reyes. “Ang bilis talaga tumakbo ng oras kapag masaya sa set,” he adds.

Piolo says he has nothing but fond memories to take with him from his “Lovers In Paris” stint, especially from the shoot they did in the City of Lights. This was the first time the actor truly enjoyed Paris, as he was given the chance to see it through the eyes of his very own leading lady. “Syempre lagi ko nang maaalala ‘yun tuwing mapupunta ako sa Paris,” Piolo admits.

KC, who finished her studies in the French capital, is also thankful for the opportunity to come back and make her own series in her previous home, and in the company of people she had come to love.

“Kung espesyal sa kanila yung time na yon, syempre mas espesyal yun sa akin,” confesses the young actress.

Even Zanjoe is unashamed to admit how sad he feels leaving this chapter in his career, which he fondly shared with some of the best actors among his contemporaries as well as a few established thespians in the industry like Christopher de Leon and Mark Gil. “Nakakalungkot talaga, lalo na kung naging close na kayong lahat sa isa’t-isa. Pero hindi ko makakalimutan lahat ng natutunan ko sa kanila,” Zanjoe shares.

“Lovers In Paris” is Zanjoe’s first dramatic vehicle in the Primetime Bida spot of ABS-CBN Channel 2 while it is KC’s first venture into the realm of television series and her first team-up with teleserye veteran Piolo Pascual.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232731/lovers-in-paris-airs-final-week

MANILA – For KC Concepcion, lead star of “Lovers in Paris,” filming a “nerve-wracking” kissing scene with leading man Piolo Pascual required a lot of preparations.

During the launching of CloseUp’s Halikmeter Challenge at Market! Market! in Taguig Thursday, KC shared that she made sure she was clean, smelled good and had fresh breath.

“I was very nervous… iba kasi ang TV at pelikula… Sobrang wholesome ang kiss,” KC told reporters.

The 24-year-old only daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and first husband Gabby Concepcion described Pascual, also her suitor, as a “very gentle” kisser.

“He’s very gentle and maalaga,” she said.

It was, KC said, her first time to kiss on television. On the big screen, her first smooch was with actor Richard Gutierrez for their Star Cinema film “For the First Time.”

When asked who was the better kisser, Gutierrez or Pascual, the actress declined to comment.

Pascual and KC’s kissing scene will be aired tonight (Thursday) on ABS-CBN.

KC is the second Concepcion to endorse toothpaste brand CloseUp. Her father used to be a CloseUp endorser in the 80s.

The young actress said it is for this reason that being its endorser is a “very, very special thing for me.”

B’day party

Meanwhile, Gabby marked his 46th birthday by spending time with daughters KC and Gabrielle Julia Marie. Gabrielle is Gabby’s daughter with Grace Ibuna.

“Nagkita kami ni KC at Gabrielle sa Manila Yacht Club. Nag-celebrate kami with few friends from showbiz, ‘yong cast ng ‘Dahil May Isang Ikaw’ at ‘yong ibang kaibigan ko,” Gabby told “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

Aside from Gabrielle and KC, the “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” star has two more daughters — Cloie Helena (daughter of Jenny Syquia-Skarne) and Samantha Alexis (daughter of present wife Genevieve Yatco Gonzales).

“Happy dahil ngayon nga nabibigyan kami ng chance to be with each other. Nagkakaroon kami ng quality time and it’s a really good thing,” Gabby said.

Gabby said he is also happy that KC’s first television series, “Lovers in Paris,” is doing well in the ratings.

“Lovers in Paris” placed 3rd in TNS’ top 20 programs for November 11 after it garnered 28.9% audience share.

When asked, meantime, whether he approved of Pascual, Gabby said: “Okay naman. Buhay naman nila yon.”

Aside from “Dahil May Isang Ikaw,” Gabby is also filming his comeback movie under Star Cinema titled “I Love You, Goodbye,” with real-life sweethearts Derek Ramsay and Angelica Panganiban.

-Report by Trina Lagura, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - Hunk actor Piolo Pascual is set to release his sixth album called “Decades: Songs from 50s, 60s and 70s” under Star Records.

The “Lovers in Paris” actor said the album will be composed of classic love songs from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

“This is my 6th album. Kasi everyday mayroon akong kinakanta for that decade,” Pascual told “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon.”

When asked if he included in his CD a special song for KC (Kristina Cassandra) Concepcion, his leading lady in “Lovers in Paris,” Pascual replied: “Kay Kristina, hindi ko pa maisip kasi walang original songs dito (CD). So, if I will sing a song [for her], gusto ko siyempre original.”

Pascual is courting Concepcion, daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and first husband Gabby Concepcion.

Pascual, one of the hosts of musical variety show “ASAP ’09,” is also gearing for Star Magic’s concert that will be held at the Araneta Coliseum this coming November 30.

The concert will feature at least 70 Star Magic artists.

MANILA, Philippines—The local TV-film scene is humming merrily along, and the surge in production activity is providing our top male leads ample opportunities to strut their acting stuff and further boost their popularity. Who’s the current king of the hill?

In terms of TV-film clout, Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes are still the front-runners to beat, thanks to their past hits. But if they don’t beef up their act, they could soon be sideswiped by some younger upstarts just raring to show them who’s the real big cheese on our movie and TV screens.

Piolo aims to prove that he’s still got what it takes to top the TV ratings with his new teleserye, “Lovers in Paris.” His team-up with relative newcomer KC Concepcion is providing the fresh ingredient to interest viewers, and the series’ European setting is another come-on.

Trouble is, depending on how the show is developed, the “KC factor” could also turn out to be a liability, if Piolo finds himself having to “carry” the younger star to success. That’s the way it sometimes goes when an established leading man has to help boost the career of a relative newbie.

Of course, KC will do her darn best to make sure that she won’t end up as a liability—and, indeed, the new show is being sold as a co-starring vehicle for both leads.

In fact, the way their characters are initially being presented, KC’s is the story’s more volatile and therefore more interesting character, while Piolo plays it decidedly older and stuffier.

We expect, of course, that as the two lead characters impinge one and affect each other, Piolo’s characterization will perk up and their joint portrayals will be more evenly matched and blended than they currently are.

This co-star “problem” is similarly shared by Dingdong Dantes and Rhian Ramos in their new teleserye “Stairway to Heaven.” Even more clearly, Dingdong is “carrying” Rhian in her first lead vehicle—and, even more obviously, the effort is showing.

Despite her beauty and fresh appeal, Rhian is still having a hard time coming up with a vital and truly “lead” portrayal, because she pretty much goes the sweetly, lushly “romantic” route and doesn’t infuse her character with a more unique charisma.

Of course, the young actress can point out that she’s simply doing the best she can to portray a role that’s already been outlined by the Korean actress who topbilled the “borrowed” tale’s original production. Trouble is, local viewers still expect a “new” interpretation from Rhian—so what’s the confused actress to do?

We trust that Rhian and her handlers will eventually do a better job at figuring out the difference between emulation, imitation and interpretation, so that her potentially star-making turn in her new soap will do the stellar trick for her.

Piolo Pascual did not know what to say when asked about the real score between him and Lovers in Paris leading lady KC Concepcion during the show’s press conference last night, September 17, at the Dolphy Theater of the ABS-CBN building.

It took him a few seconds before he actually answered the question. While looking at KC, who was seated beside him, he said: “Ah, paano ko ba sasagutin ‘to? Kasi po, ang nangyari kasi, during the course of time… Isa sa mga separate interviews namin, siyempre given na kapag prepared ka, sabihin na ganito, ‘What’s the real score?’ We just decided na siguro mag-focus na muna kami dito sa show. Because whatever we say, it will be cliché already, e. Parang magka-partner kayo, sabihin na kayo, aminin ninyong kayo, ‘tapos pagkatapos ng show, wala na.”

He explained further that it would be better if they answer the question after the one-season only Pinoy version of the Koreanovela Lovers in Paris.

The multi-awarded actor told the media, “Just to be fair to the show, parang gusto po namin na mag-focus muna ang mga tao doon sa character namin, kung sino si Vivian [KC] at sino si Carlo [Piolo]. Then, kung ano po ang mangyayari after the show, siguro it’s better for us to answer that question. You know, just answer that after the show.

“Parang for us, to be fair also, nagkakasakitan din po kahit papaano because of judgment from other people, sa mga quotes namin, sa mga sagot namin. Para maprotektahan din naman po ang relationship namin, ang friendship namin, I think it’s better na sabihin namin na chill muna.”

When the question was directed to KC, she smiled and veered away from it by saying, “Ay naku, mas naunang na-in love si Carlo kay Vivian dito.  Hindi niya alam in love na siya, hindi niya alam.”

Several months ago, both of them were frequently asked about their relationship. It can be recalled that Piolo admitted on The Buzz that he is courting KC Concepcion and he treats her as someone special to him.

However, on the same episode, KC was asked if Piolo has a chance to have a romantic relationship with her. She replied, “We’ll see, we’ll see na lang. Wala namang negative kay PJ [Piolo's nickname] na nakikita ko. Ang pinakaimportante kung ano lang yung nakikita mo sa tao pag kayong dalawa na lang. Kami yung laging magkasama. Marunong siyang ipa-smile ako.” (Click here to read related article)

FIRST TEAM UP. Both Piolo and KC shared the excitement they felt when they found out that they would be working with each other in the romance-serye Lovers in Paris.

Since this is her first teleserye, KC was glad that she would be doing the project with her celebrity crush.

“Isa ako sa mga humahanga kay Piolo, hindi lang sa Pilipinas as a girl pero sa amin na ring mga Kapamilya, ang dami ring I know na gustong makatrabaho siya. So, it’s really a big, big blessing for me na sa kanya pa ako na-pair this time. And I’m really happy.”

Piolo, on the other hand, feels blessed to be able to work with the daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and former heartthrob Gabby Concepcion.

He stated, “Siyempre naman ang mabigyan ka ng ganitong opportunity, masasabi mo na ibang klaseng istorya naman. Very nervous [ako], but I’m very excited kasi makikita na naman tayo sa TV every night. Beyond that. I’m very excited because I’m paired with KC, that is a dream project for me. When it was offered to me, ang sabi ko talaga, ‘With KC Concepcion, it’s a blessing.’”

Although they’ve both decided not to talk about their personal relationship in public, Piolo expressed that he wanted to know more about her leading lady in this soap opera.

“It’s a blessing that we got a chance to work together and mas maging close pa kami. Magkaroon pa ng magandang blessing na magkasama sa trabaho and mabigyan ng chance na to become closer not just professionally, but also personally,” said Piolo.