KathNiel Is Back On Netflix: What To Expect From ‘2 Good 2 Be True’


Asia’s Superstar and the Supreme Idol sound off on their comeback teleserye.


You heard that right! Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (KathNiel) are finally back after four long years.

As far as Kapamilya shows go, 2 Good 2 Be True is a trailblazer. It’s the first Filipino teleserye to debut on Netflix. Current episodes will also premiere in advance on the streaming platform.

READ Moira Dela Torre Wrote ‘Kumpas’ For KathNiel On The 10th Anniversary Of Their Tandem

Gelli de Belen, Gloria Diaz, Irma Adlawan, and Ronaldo Valdez play pivotal roles on this show. Some of KathNiel’s peers, like Pamu Pamorada and Yves Flores, round out the cast.

Here’s what KathNiel and some members of the production staff have to say about the show.


Hi, KathNiel! How does it feel to be back?


KATHRYN BERNARDO: Naghahalo-halo emosyon namin. Siguro pinaka-nararamdaman ko ngayon yung saya. Despite everything that’s happening, nakagawa kami ng bagay para mapasaya ang mga tao. Actually, patuloy na gumagawa kasi may taping pa rin kami. I hope with this project we can give people a reason to smile and inspire them every time they watch it. Gusto ko din magpasalamat sa ABS-CBN for pushing through with this project. Ang daming nangyari but here we are. Finally, eere na siya.

DANIEL PADILLA: Yeah, after four years! Salamat at binigyan kami ng pagkakataon na magkasama ulit ni Kathryn. Pati ng cast na ito at ang pinakamamahal naming direktor na si Direk Mae.


What is this show about?


MAE CRUZ-ALVIAR (DIRECTOR): 2 Good 2 Be True is the story of Ali, a nurse who dreams of becoming a doctor. Compassionate and palaban siya. She witnesses a “crime” kung saan kasangkot si Eloy, yung character ni Daniel. Eloy is a mechanic who dreams of becoming a lawyer. Their love story will develop because of certain circumstances and those around them.

KATHRYN: Ako dito si Alison Fajardo. Isa siyang madiskarteng nurse na kaya gawin ang lahat to support her family. Naging witness siya sa mga heartbreak ng nanay niya, kaya may trust issues siya sa boys. If you’ve seen the trailer, pigil na pigil kami sa paggawa nun. Madami kasing hindi pwedeng i-spoil para hindi masira yung experience ng audience. Gist pa lang yung nasa trailer. Hindi lang kasi love story ito, may family angle pa siya. But hanggang diyan na lang muna ang sasabihin ko. (Laughs)

DANIEL: Ako dito si Eloy Borja, nangangarap maging abogado. Yung erpat (father) niya na nakakulong, gusto niya bigyan ng hustisya.

JAJA AMARILLO (WRITER): Bawat Pinoy nagtatrabaho para sa pamilya nila. Ganun si Ali. Halos ‘di na nga siya nakakatulog. Very relatable din si Eloy dahil sa determination niya to move forward. Hindi niya iniiwanan yung mga pangarap niya sa buhay.


Why did it take so long for KathNiel to make a comeback?


DANIEL: After namin gawin yung The House Arrest of Us, tumaas ulit yung bilang ng COVID-19 cases. Kung anu-anong variant ang dumating kaya nahinto ang shooting. Tapos nung nilatagan kami ng stories para sa teleserye, kinilatis at pinakiramdaman namin. Five stories yun. Pagkalatag nung isang kwento na kasama si Ronaldo Valdez, sabi namin, “This sounds good.”

Pinagisipan din namin yung tono ng serye na gusto naming gawin.  Galing na kami sa isang fantaserye, yung La Luna Sangre. Inisip namin, ano ba ang gusto mapanood ng tao sa amin? Saan ba nila kami minamahal? It’s been four years. Kung babalik kami, ano ba ang dapat namin gawin? Ito na yun.

KATHRYN: Parang na-delay siya for the better. Ayaw namin gumawa ng project na hilaw. Nung lumuwag na yung restrictions in the last quarter of 2021, nag-look test na kami at lahat. So at the end of the day, everything happened in God’s perfect time. Kung pinilit namin siya gawin two years ago, hindi namin mabibigay yung 100 percent namin. Now, sobrang proud ako dito kasi malaki ang matututunan ng mga tao sa bawat character. It’s a beautiful project.


How has KathNiel changed over the years?


MEL MENDOZA-DEL ROSARIO (CREATIVE PRODUCER): It’s been four years since their last teleserye. May sabik factor. This project is very refreshing. Matutuwa kayo when you see how Kathryn gave life to the character of Ali. Same with Daniel and Eloy. 

DIREK MAE: This is KathNiel’s tenth year together. They’re known for bringing us memorable love stories. Nag-mature na sila since the last time I worked with them. When we saw each other again at our look test, parang kinakapa ko sila ulit. Because even if we’re friends, people evolve. After our last project together, sunud-sunod yung big projects nila. I wanted to know where they’re at.

Their maturity shows in how KathNiel attacks scenes now. Ramdam ko na yung binibigay nila galing na sa experience. They’ve become thinking actors. They don’t have to try too hard. By the way, when we say maturity, it doesn’t always have to do with skin. In their case, it’s depth and wisdom.

KATHRYN: I agree with Direk Mae. Maturity doesn’t have to mean sensuality, it doesn’t mean you have to be sexy. Pwede syang ipakita sa ibang paraan. Challenging yun kasi ang dami na naming ginawa, so we tried to make this different from our previous work. So ngayon we stick to the characters of Ali and Eloy, not Kath and DJ.


What was it like to work on this show during the pandemic?


DENISE O’HARA (HEAD WRITER): Kathryn is one of the best actresses of her generation. So is Daniel. Pero may challenges pa rin kaming na-encounter. Siyempre nasa pandemic pa rin tayo, so may mga limitations that we had to adjust to.

DIREK MAE: Due to the pandemic, maraming challenges ngayon when it comes to taping. We’re doing a series of lock-ins. Kailangan prepared ka kasi ang dami niyong shinu-shoot na sabay-sabay.

PACO STA MARIA (SECOND UNIT DIRECTOR): You have to do your homework. Nagiging empowered and mas professional tuloy ang mga tao.

DANIEL: Ang masaya sa lock-in tuluy-tuloy ang taping. Hindi nawawala yung momentum. Mas nagiging close kayo ng co-actors mo kaya natural kayo tingnan sa camera. Masaya kami sa set kasi hindi ito yung first time na katrabaho namin si Direk Mae. Na-excite kami nung pumayag siya kasi alam namin na gagabayan niya talaga kami.

KATHRYN: Sobrang hirap ng lock-in rules kasi nga limited yung resources at time mo. Pero the good thing is nasa zone ka talaga kasi walang uwian, so mas mabilis to get into character. Gusto ko lang din sabihin na si Kuya Paco, nakita niya ako lumaki. Hindi pa siya direktor nun, assistant pa lang siya. Kaya wala na kaming mahihingi pa na best na makakasama namin dito.


Who among your co-stars were you most excited to work with?


DANIEL: Tita Glo (Gloria Diaz) and Tito Ron (Ronaldo Valdez). Sobrang thankful kami nung nalaman namin na sila ay pumayag. Siyempre hindi naman madali mapapayag ang mga aktor na yun lalo na sa panahon ngayon. Nung unang pag kita-kita nasa Zoom, eh iba pa rin yung sa personal. Kaya nung una medyo kinakabahan kasi iniidolo natin yang mga aktor na yan.


Will you be doing a comeback movie soon?


DANIEL: May mga pinaguusapan, pero let’s take it easy. Enjoy muna natin itong teleserye na ito.

Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar, 2 Good 2 Be True is also available on iWantTFC. Starting today, May 16, it will be broadcast on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and TV5. Cinemo, Jeepney TV, Kapamilya Online Live, and TFC IPTV will carry it as well.

Featured Image Macky Arquilla

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