Steal a last look!

An unlikely combination of Lupin's cast members -- Rhian Ramos (Avril), Polo Ravales (Josh), Boy 2 Quizon (Castor), and Bearwin Meily (Danggoy) - who would otherwise be foes onscreen, hung out on one rainy afternoon in between takes to reminisce about their experiences on this hit show. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Connie M. Tungul. More heists! At this point in the plot, Lupin already knows that Cecilia (Lani Mercado) is his mother, but Sister Anna Nicole (Ara Mina) ruins it for them by putting Cecilia in a coma. Meanwhile, Master Moon Raven's sanity (Ricky Davao) is teetering on the edge and Inspector Clavio (Janno Gibbs) thinks he's backed up by Brigitte (Ehra Madrigal), whose betrayal to Team Lupin was discovered by Ashley (Katrina Halili). Also, Josh finally realized that Avril can never love him, and he plans to take his revenge on Cedric (Richard Gutierrez), whom he discovered to be an impostor. Lastly, Lupin (also played by Richard) is not yet done with his plans, and a big, and maybe final heist is underway. (Click here for last week's episode!) "Basically, (there will be) more heists - I think 'yun 'yung isang bagay na lagi kaming natutuwa pag ginagawa namin, because we find it so real; at the same time, it's the main concept of Lupin," says Boy 2. "Every time we do heists, you could really see kung bakit nagwo-work 'yung show. I'm looking forward to that." Polo and Bearwin agree that everyone should watch out for the action to escalate. "Syempre kahit sa pelikula naman, kung ito na 'yung last hurrah noong movie, dito na binibigay lahat. Maraming action and revelations!" says Bearwin. Most difficult scenes What are the toughest scenes they encountered? "('Yung scene ko) sa building; toughest 'yun - 'tough' of the roof!" jokes the ever-comedic Bearwin, who never fails to inject light moments in the series. For Boy 2, his most difficult heist was the one on top of the Semicon building. "Yeah, 'cos we were rapelling e. It was mga 50 feet. We shot it at 5 a.m., medyo mahirap, kasi komplicado talaga. Ipinakita pa sa amin kung paano papagawa - 'yung mga stuntman na magpapakita sa amin, they couldn't even do it properly. Pero 'yun, we did it! The second one (was also on top of a building), where binaligtad nila ako, and literally it was a hundred feet! (Then) the cameras were downstairs, ang dami, paikot-ikot." (To view Castor's first appearance in the series, click here!) Rhian regards her character's confrontation with Cedric and Josh as a big challenge. "It's fun to be the kontrabida, but I hate the parts when I'm emotionally hurting Polo. 'Cos I really hate that, like after the scene, I apologize to him: 'Sorry, Polo!'" "Pero nasampal ko sya dito, ha!" says Polo jokingly, referring to the aforementioned sequence. "That was tough! Because that was my first 'open mouth' kissing scene!" shares Rhian. In the story, Josh (Polo) catches Avril (Rhian) and Cedric (Richard) kissing and attempts to kill both of them because of Avril's betrayal. (Why did Rhian kiss Cedric? Click here to find out!) "I was so happy to get that slap, 'cos I feel like I deserved it! Because when I do the scenes, I really feel guilty - I don't like the emotional - you know, hurting people. I don't mind punching and slapping people around - I don't mind that. That's why I liked the scene where me and tita Alice (Alicia Alonzo, who plays Avril's tita Nelia) fought. We were really slapping each other around. That was fun!" Polo adds, "Masarap na din 'yung feeling na 'yung role ko, hindi na siya martir! Lumalaban na siya!" "While we were doing (the sequence), I was so amazed at Polo, that was like a really deep scene - that was a tough emotion to achieve. I was so proud of him! And I was trying so much to help him, so even behind the scenes, when he'd look at me, I wouldn't mind him, when he would talk to me, when he slaps me, he would be, 'Sorry,' I'd say, 'No, stop it!' Because I want him to hate me, and I want it to come out in the scene!" "Pero after that, when I knew na good take na, that's when I could be nice (already)!" Rhian says with a laugh. What they'll miss "Sa bilis ng mga soap ngayon, kung kailan mas nagiging close (''yung cast), (saka) patapos na. So bitin talaga 'yung span of time na pagsasama namin (sa) taping," imparts Bearwin, who'll be focusing on his Q Channel 11 show after Lupin ends. Polo, who's going to be part of an all-boy group, Boyz.com, agrees with Bearwin and says that the last few weeks of taping are actually the only times the entire cast gets the chance to see everyone else. "We're still enjoying it up to now, e," adds Boy 2. "Ito na 'yung pinaka latter part, so ngayon 'yung lahat ng characters, dito pa lang magkikita. 'Cos we have two units (for the taping). Para sa akin, (I'll miss the) bonding, (at) syempre 'yung hirap ng trabaho namin dito -- (sometimes we tape) from 7 a.m., to 10 a.m. the next day! Iba pa rin kung paano namin ginagawang light 'yung trabaho naming -- being real to your friends, and at the same time, setting up a bond." Rhian and Boy 2 both want to take a break after Lupin -- at least from primetime, so that they'd be able to catch up on things that they've missed out on. Rhian clarifies, "(A break) from primetime lang, not from TV. I'll do out of town shows; I'll work on myself. I'll find my center." Direk Mike Tuviera says that it'll definitely take some adjustments after Lupin ends, because they've all been so used to being around each other. "Especially when you're doing a show - it's a totally different animal; a totally different process than a movie, or commercial. (In) a movie, you're together, if you're lucky -- twice, once a week for a month. (In a) commercial, you're together one day in a year. (But in a) soap you're together three to four times a week, every week! Dumaan na 'yung mga birthday niyo, dumaan na mga birthday ng kapamilya niyo -- everyone! All these big events that come and go, and you guys are still together! So iba 'yung bonding. Just the bonding you create with the cast, staff, crew, and you're really literally like a family. Literally, I spend more time with these guys than with my own family!" Helen Sese, Lupin's Executive Producer, gives her bet on why Lupin became a hit: "(It's a) group effort. All -- from the post-production team, to the creatives, to the artists, to the production staff. We made a good team!" Don't miss the last few weeks of this action-packed series every weeknight after Mga Mata ni Anghelita! Do you have a "theory" on how Lupin will end? Talk about it in the iGMA Forum! Text RHIAN or POLO to 4627 to Feel the Fun with Fanatxt! (PhP2.50 for Globe, Smart, and Talk 'n Text; PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers) More features: Polo heats up Thoughts on being Castor Magic and mayhem Goodbye, Miss nice Girl!