Pure Love Pilot Week Review

Last Monday, ABS-CBN finally aired its adaptation of 2011's top-rated Koreanovela "Pure Love" with Alex Gonzaga and Yen Santos as the leads (refer to my Pre-Pure Love Experience post for more information about Pure Love. :D). It received favorable ratings comparing to its rival show from other networks and its episodes, hashtags and characters also entered the Trending Topics on the micro-blogging site Twitter. But what is really with Pure Love's pilot week?

Anyway, in the pilot week, all major characters have been introduced. The story centers around Dianne Santos, a rich lady who has everything - fortune, beauty, loving parents, loyal bestfriends, a sweet and handsome fiancee and a golden heart. She was surprised by her friends Jackie and Kayla in her birthday, but she got more surprised when her boyfriend Raymond proposed to her. We also met Ysabel Espiritu, a depressed lady who wants to die and feels like she doesn't need to live anymore. One day, as Ysabel tries to commit suicide, she created a chaos in the streets and a big road accident happened, which unfortunately included Dianne. After Dianne's car bumped with a truck, she was thrown out of the car but sees her body inside, unconscious and hurt. She finds out, through a man called Scheduler, that she's not yet dead. And for her to be able to return to her body, she needs to find three pure tears from three people that truly loves her in 40 Days, and as a help, she can use the body of Ysabel who works at night and sleeps during the day. And there she will learn more about the people around her and their secrets, and most especially about herself as well.

So far, I love the character of Dianne (to the point that I imitate her actions - but because we have actually almost the same personality! Lol.) because of her quirkiness, at the same time her desperation for her to go back to her body. Plus let's add the fact that Alex Gonzaga's portrayal is also good, though I can sometimes see the Alex in Dianne. :) But the biggest surprise of all is Yen Santos as Dianne. She really portrays the role very well and she can also differentiate her nuances and actions from that of Ysabel and Dianne. But I am excited to know the twists in Ysabel's character.

Joseph Marco is really an eye candy. He registers well in the camera and his portrayal as the guy who, as Dianne said, has a life-sucks attitude. Despite his character's kasungitan, he still looks so handsome. Let's also commend the chemistry he has with both actresses Alex and Yen! I am excited for his character's secrets to unveil, and for his topless scenes as well. :) Arjo Atayde also works out his charm as Raymond. His flashbacks scenes with Alex Gonzaga makes me kilig! I actually did not expect it but they have the chemistry as well! And I am also excited once the twist in his character unveils - example is Friday's episode. As for the other cast members, they also did well, despite that most of them are newbies.

As for the show itself, its visuals are very lovely to the eyes. You will never get tired of your eyes being glued on the screen because of that. The shots are very refreshing, and the effects do not look cheap. Rather, the show has the Koreanovela feel, affirmed by the cute graphics shown whenever Scheduler and Dianne will discuss their rules and countdowns, and the musical scoring as well. It is definitely a light drama because of Dianne's funny actions. And the best fact is that they do not try to be comic, but it is really innate in the story that it is light and the humor is not trying hard just for the show to be funny. The pacing is also past that you will never get bored with the story.

I am pretty sure that Pure Love will maintain its treatment and story. And I hope the ratings will. :)

Continue watching Pure Love, weekdays at 5:45 PM before TV Patrol! Chummy chummy! :)

The Pre-'Pure Love' Experience

Finally, at 5:45 PM today, one of the most exciting and much-awaited teleseryes of ABS-CBN will start airing! And that is - PURE LOVE!

The new teleserye stars Alex Gonzaga and Yen Santos as Dianne and Ysabel, with Joseph Marco, Arjo Atayde, Matt Evans, Yam Concepcion, Arron Villaflor and new actress Anna Luna. The story is about Dianne who meets an accident and gets in a comatose state. For her to get back to her body, she must find 3 pure tears. She then uses Ysabel's body to find out who truly loves her. And secrets will be revealed.

If you can remember, Pure Love is actually an adaptation of the Koreanovela aired in the Philippines in 2011 in ABS-CBN's Primetime. (Pure Love 2011 aired July 11 and served as ABS-CBN's birthday offering for me hahaha LOL. And Pure Love 2014 is airing on July 7. Count the days and you'll notice that the pilot episodes aired for the same week. Just  made a big deal out of it. Hahaha.)

A day after it was officially announced that it will be aired, My best guy friend Mart and I were able to meet one of the writers - Miss Bing Castro (remember Paraiso, she was the headwriter! :D Check previous episodes of Jimpy TV!) and interview the show's Associate Producer (and a former Paulinian as well!) Miss Rina Parza for our school paper. :) I was able to talk to them about Pure Love. And we really have to tune in to the twists and turns of the story, plus the production value of the show. Talagang pinaghandaan!

Miss Rina Parza - Pure Love's Associate Producer.

She's really excited for the show and she's sure that the audience can relate to the story.

Watch out for my article in The Paulinian about her! :)

Miss Bing Castro - one of Pure Love's senior writers.

She says there are some changes in the Philippine adaptation like the 49 Days is now changed to 40 days. But they are keeping same elements, except that they made it more Filipino.

It was an honor for me to be able to meet these people (including the show's Executive Producer Miss Row Tan). But the best of all was meeting some of the cast - ALEX GONZAGA, MATT EVANS and my long-time crush JOSEPH MARCO. :)))

And on that Thursday, Mart and I were able to attend the press conference of the show (thanks to again Miss Bing! and Miss Rina!) and saw the rest of the cast and meet the rest of the creative and production team. Most of all, I was able to achieve one of my dreams. Just check out the photos. :)

The young cast of Pure Love. :)

Arron Villaflor as Ronald - Ysabel's secret protector

Arjo Atayde as Raymond - Dianne's Fiance

Matt Evans as Scheduler - Dianne's guide to the pure tears

Yen Santos as Ysabel

Director Veronica Velasco

Alex Gonzaga as Dianne

Joseph Marco as Dave - Raymond's Best Man and Dianne's friend who secretly likes her

Yam Concepcion as Kayla - Dianne's Bestfriend

Anna Luna as Jackie - Dianne's Loyal Friend

Pure Love's production team - Miss Angela Verutiao, Miss Jerry Perez (whom I've met in Annaliza :D), 

Miss Karina Parza and Miss Shiela Tiglao. :)

The creative and production team of Pure Love!

Pure Love's director Direk Veronica Velasco. 

I was able to meet her as well during the Pure Love Day Saturday. :) 

She also directed the films I Do and Tuhog - which are really good movies!

This her first teleserye.

With Anna Luna as Jackie. :)

She is an indie actress and this is her first teleserye.

She's actually familiar to me until Mart realized that she was one of the leads in the indie film we've watched - Bendor with Miss Vivian Velez as the lead. :)

And my ultimate dream - to meet one of my inspirations in the industry.

Miss Ginny Monteagudo-Ocampo - Pure Love's Business Unit Head.

She also helmed the shows Mundo Man Ay Magunaw, Magkaribal (my ultimate favorite), Reputasyon, Dugong Buhay, Galema and the very successful Be Careful With My Heart who is now celebrating its Second Year on air!

Pure Love is her unit's first primetime teleserye. :)

During the press con, a behind-the-scenes or the making was presented to the press. It is really seen that it is a big-budgeted soap, and that the audience won't be just enticed of the story but its visuals as well. You should check out the show's full trailer so you can get a glimpse of the story.

Thanks to the owner of the video. :) You should really tune in at 5:45 PM later as this new teleserye starts. I am now ready to stage my Pure Love premiere viewing party with my friends later! :) <3 p="">
Anyway, here are our other pics during the presscon. :)

Photobooth with the creative team and Arron Villaflor!

Courtesy of Sparklingtots.

With the show's creative team.

Miss Kay Brondial in glasses.

Sir Zoilo Barrel at the leftmost side.

(Whom I have met both for the first time, and exciting most especially with Miss Kay 'coz I have seen her name in lots of shows and she's a writer in Mula sa Puso 2011!)

Miss Bing Castro (my Mama Bing! :D) in red beside me.

(They are the show's writers.)

And beside Mart in the righmost side is Miss Rose Colindres.

She is the show's headwriter.

This image is courtesy of Miss Kay Brondial :)

WATCH OUT FOR PURE LOVE AT 5:45 LATER BEFORE TV PATROL!

Pure Love images courtesy of Pure Love's Official Facebook Page. :)

Thanks to Mart for our photos. :)

And, watch out for my pilot week review within the week. ;)