Around GMA

Cebu welcomes Christmas Day peacefully
Britain’s King Charles lauds unity in diversity in his Christmas message
New season of 'The Boyfriend' airs in January 2026

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

After Captain Barbell, Richard takes on a passionate role that could seal his future as one of the country’s leading dramatic actors.
After shedding his million-peso Captain Barbell suit, Richard Gutierrez is out for more challenge. This time, he takes on a passionate role that could seal his future as one of the country’s leading dramatic actors. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. The Promise is one of those projects that I’ve been dreaming of, because it’s one of those scripts that lands on you, and you can’t look for those kinds of scripts; it’s rare. ‘Yung mga ganitong klaseng pelikula bihira na gawin ngayon ng movie industry,” says Richard Gutierrez when we visited him on the set of his much-awaited film. He adds, “It’s a great feeling (to switch) from Captain Barbell to this, it’s different eh, TV for me is different. I take Film more as an art; TV is more of entertaining an audience everyday, it’s light, so it’s a different level of performance.” In GMA Films’ Valentine’s offering, Richard plays Daniel, the adopted son of Gustin (Joel Torre), who works as a caretaker. Daniel and Andrea (Angel Locsin), Gustin’s only daughter, develop a strong bond between them and eventually realize that they have fallen in love. But the circumstances that they are in prevent them from being together, and this is where the real story begins. “’Yung pelikula, it’s a very deep love story...Two friends, lumaki nang sabay, at ‘yung lalaki, ayaw na niyang mahiwalay doon sa babae, pero ‘yung babae, may mga ibang pangarap. Pero the whole movie revolves around love and how love will conquer everything,” says Richard. The Promise is actually a second local adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (1939). Director Mike Tuviera (Text (2006), Atlantika(2006-2007)) notes that the first Philippine adaptation was Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit (1991), a Carlito Siguion-Reyna movie. “Although we do share the same writer, si Ms. Racquel Villavicencio, we made a conscious effort to make a totally different version. Our version of Wuthering Heights is younger, theirs is a little older and a lot more explicit. Ours is a lot more...Since it’s younger, it’s more passionate, more romantic, mas akma doon sa age and generation of the actors,” he says. Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit (1991) elevated Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta’s acting careers in the ‘90s, a potential effect of The Promise for Richard and Angel. But Richard doesn’t want people to compare the 1991 film to The Promise, because it’s really a different generation altogether. “Ayoko kasing ma-compare din kami, kasi ibang generation ‘yun, ibang generation din kami, and it’s a totally different movie. Pero sana, kung maiko-compare kami, it would be an honor for us to be compared to them.” Reel to Real Love Team? This is actually Richard and Angel’s sixth team-up, their first one being the hit telefantasya Mulawin (2004) and Mulawin The Movie (2005). They were also together in Sigaw (2004), Let the Love Begin (2005), I Will Always Love You (2006), and Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di (2006). “They’re extremely easy to work with,” says direk Mike. “One of the reasons why I was so happy to get the project was that I had worked with them already this past year. Angel was my leading lady (in) my first movie Text (which was shown) last year. And Richard was the lead of Mars Ravelo’s Captain Barbell, which was my very first show for GMA.” It doesn’t take an expert to see Richard and Angel’s chemistry both on and off-screen. Their closeness is apparent every time they are interviewed; Richard places his arm around Angel’s shoulders, and the actress obliges by leaning on her leading man. That’s why we couldn’t help but ask the question that everyone has been dying to ask: Is it possible for the love team to transcend to real life? “Hindi natin masasabi ‘yun, eh. But we’re not closing any doors. As of now, we have a great working relationship, and para sa akin, very special ‘yun, ‘yung working relationship with Angel,” answers Richard. But with a sweet smile and a fond look at his six-time leading lady, he says, “Sinong hindi mai-in love kay Angel?” “Woo! Bolero!” Angel replies with a playful nudge. The “working relationship” that Richard mentioned was a crucial element in what they had to do for The Promise: their very first love scene. “Kasi kami ni Chard, hindi namin pinag-uusapan talaga,” Angel explains when asked about how they psyched themselves for the intimate scene. “Pag tahimik na kami, alam na naming kinakabahan na kami pareho. ‘Okay ka lang?’ ‘Hmm-mm.’ Basta kung ano lang sinabi sa amin, gagawin namin.” Richard adds, “At saka pag nagkakaroon ng medyo awkward moment, someone will make sure na maging light ulit ‘yung conversation.” As for the kissing scenes, here’s good news: expect a lot of them in the movie! The two have had a lot of kissing scenes in their past team-ups, so we asked them if the onscreen kisses ever got close to the real thing. “Well, para sa akin, real lahat ‘yun!” Richard jokes. “Ewan ko...The kiss had to be real, you know? We had to feel the scene, we had to feel the characters. So I can say na yes, definitely, the kiss was real – all the kisses were real.” As well as the love scene? “Ummm....!” Then they both burst into laughter. Love and Passion Angel and Richard’s move to portray more mature roles is rooted in their need to grow as actors and to present something different to the public. “Well, aside from the title ‘TV cutie characters,’ Richard says with a laugh, “it’s the perfect time nga siguro in our career to be something different. Saka as an artist, kailangan mo ng growth eh, kailangan mag-explore ka rin kung hanggang saan mo kaya. Dito, na-test namin kung hanggang saan namin kaya.” Direk Mike confirms “(These are) the most mature, most mature, most difficult, most complex roles that Angel and Richard have ever done. They do their first love scene, and they don’t do one, they do two! And they’re very, very effective, they’re very sensual. “The way they love each other is not even pure love, it’s just pure passion...And when they get mad, it’s rage. (These are) very, very complex emotions,” he adds. So, why is the movie called “The Promise?” Direk Mike explains, “The actual promise that they made was when they were kids. They promised never to separate, never to part ways. And it means a lot of things as the story unfolds. I’ll leave it up to the audience to see!” In line with the title of their most awaited movie together, we asked Chard and Angel to share their promises to one another. Richard obliges and says, “Ako, promise ko, maski anong mangyari, nandito lang ako for you.” To which Angel replies, “’Yun din ‘yung sa akin, kasi kami ni Chard, mula Click (1999), magkasama na kami, sabay kaming pumasok, tapos kung ano man narating namin ngayon, magkasama kami, so hangga’t nandito ako, nandito siya, aalagaan namin ang isa’t-isa.” “The Promise…is the perfect Valentine’s movie, and I assure you, it will be totally worth the ticket price. You will laugh, you will cry, but most of all, you will fall in love,” says Direk Mike. Fall in love all over again and renew your promise to someone dear to you. Don’t miss GMA Films’ The Promise, now showing in theatres nationwide!