It would have been the first teleserye of Marco Gumabao in GMA.
Marco Gumabao confirms that GMA Network and VIVA Television’s collaboration for a teleserye is currently in hold. Gumabao is one of the main leads of the series “Saan Nagtatago Ang Pag-ibig?” His co-stars were VIVA artist Yassi Pressman and GMA homegrown actor Ken Chan.
“Saan Nagtatago Ang Pag-ibig?” is a remake of the 1987 movie headlined by Vilma Santos, Tonton Gutierrez, and Ricky Davao. Pressman will assume Santos’ role, Chan will play the role of Gutierrez, and Gumabao will play Davao’s character.
The project was supposed to commence in the first quarter of 2023. GMA Network even posted a teaser about Pressman’s comeback to the network. However, this did not push through.
When FreebieMNL and other reporters caught up with Gumabao on Tuesday, March 7, he confirms that the project has yet to move forward. He says, “I’m not so sure. Parang ano yata, hold back po yata muna.”
In fact, Gumabao and the rest of the cast already had their workshops and were ready to tape. “Sayang, kasi we were so ready, ready na kaming lahat. Nag-workshop na kami pero there were problems beyond our control. So, I think, mas made-delay a bit or I’m not really sure.”
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Marco Gumabao on working with Ken Chan
Gumabao admits feeling sad that the project had to be halted for the meantime, especially since he and co-star Ken Chan already had rapport, making them even more ready to tape.
Gumabao narrates, “Oo naman, sobra. Kasi sa totoo lang, we were so ready. Nag-workshop kami, I think, three times na. Tatlong araw, sunud-sunod. The first, kami ni Ken Chan. We did workshops together and na-form agad namin ni Ken yung friendship namin, yung dynamics namin as magkapatid. And [then], we had workshops with Yassi and workshops with the rest of the cast, sila Miss Candy Pangilinan. I must say, grabe yung workshop. Sobrang intense, we did the scenes na mahihirap, we did all the drama scenes and we were all so ready. So, medyo—of course—nakakalungkot na medyo nahinto muna yung ‘Saan Nagtatago…’ and I hope, sana down the line, [matuloy].”
Aside from GMA Network, VIVA also partners with other TV networks, including TV5. In fact, Gumabao and Pressman are headlining a show titled “Kurdapya.”
While Gumabao is fine if ever VIVA explores the possibility of airing it to another TV network, he still wishes that he’ll be able to work with the same cast, including Chan, who is an exclusive artist of GMA Network.
He tells FreebieMNL, “Ako, regardless kung saan siya i-air, basta sana po, same cast, same everything. Kasi, wala, nakapag-start na kami. Alam mo yung feeling na ready to go ka na tapos ‘oops, sige, wait lang.‘ So, nakakalungkot, and at the same time, of course, excited na excited kami. First teleserye ko po sana with GMA, so I was really looking forward to it. Pero okay lang, sana matuloy.”
Right now, Gumabao is busy promoting his movie with Kylie Verzosa, “Baby Boy, Baby Girl,” which premieres in cinemas on March 22, 2023.
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