When two superstars – Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo – work together again on the sequel of their 2019 blockbuster (“Hello, Love, Goodbye”), the result is another movie to look forward to, “Hello, Love, Again.”

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana from the screenplay of Carmi G. Raymundo and Crystal Hazel San Miguel, “Hello, Love, Again” is set five years on from when Joy (Bernardo) said goodbye to Ethan (Richards) and Hong Kong to pursue her dreams in Canada. They meet again in Canada but realize both of them have changed a lot individually.

A co-production of Star Cinema and GMA Pictures, the film also stars Joross Gamboa, Valerie Concepcion, Jennica Garcia, and more.

We interviewed Bernardo and Richards virtually and they talked about working together in this sequel, working in Calgary, Canada, and getting to know more about the OFWs and their lives.

It’s nice seeing you both again. So, talk about working together in this movie. What did you learn about yourself and each other?

Richards: Being able to do this project again with Kath is a breath of fresh air. We were able to get to know each other deeper, as opposed to doing the first part of the film. And we’re very glad we’ve seen each other grow and mature. How we take our roles very seriously helped us to make this film beautiful. We’re grateful for the opportunity, again.

Bernardo: It was smooth, I didn’t have any problems when we first worked back in 2019. And now, five years after, he’s still the same guy, but like an upgraded version of that. So, it’s good to see those changes that happened to him over the years. The comfortability is there. It wasn’t hard for us to go back to the characters because we were helping one another. So, it was smooth.

Photo courtesy of Star Cinema

How was it filming in Calgary, Canada? Can you narrate any memorable experiences?

Richards: One of the highlights was when we were shooting at the residential area where a lot of Filipinos came to visit our shoot. That’s just one of the most memorable ones because we have seen the love and the excitement of our fellow kababayans to see us there. Because as far as I know, they’re very much limited to local Filipino actors coming to see them. And that opportunity gave them happiness because they were able to see us.

One good thing about our Filipino kababayans in Calgary is they talk to each other. They’re very cooperative when we ask for favors. The locals there in Calgary don’t understand what kind of setup we have here in the Philippines when it comes to when actors come and visit. But the filming went smoothly because of their cooperation. And we appreciated the love and the warmth that they gave us during the filming.

Bernardo: There were so many memorable moments because we tried to have fun. The schedule was really tight, so we tried to find fun in everything that we did, even if it was hard. It’s hard to pick one. But if I had to pick, I would say, when we were in the middle of the shooting. When everything was adjusted, we had inside jokes. We were very comfortable, and we ate together.

It was fun to hang out with them because you see the openness of everyone. No one is difficult to work with. So, whether you’re a Filipino or a Canadian or non-Filipino, you felt the teamwork to make this despite all the challenges. And we appreciate that.

In your research for this movie, what did you learn about the OFWs and their lives?

Richards: In each country that we were able to, actually Hong Kong and Canada, there are different stories to tell. So that goes to show that in every country where there are international workers or OFWs, they have something different to tell, different hardships, different daily lives, the things that they have to sacrifice are different somehow, but very familiar with all of the OFW stories.

So, with this film, we hope that we are going to be able to touch their lives. And I hope that this film will also be their platform to send a message to the world that their sacrifices are not unheard. They’re not unseen by their fellow Filipinos. We hope that this will transcend to the hearts of the OFWs for them to realize that one way or another, at the end of the day, all will be worth it.

Bernardo: Just like the first film, our respect is still there. Even before “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” our respect for the OFWs was still there. We did “Hello, Love, Goodbye” in Hong Kong, and then now we did “Hello, Love, Again.” So, maybe as I grow older, my respect for them is growing, especially hearing their stories and portraying the role of joy, who is an OFW, also known as an international worker.

It shows that all of us have our own struggles. We always see Filipinos smiling, and you don’t know what they’ve been through. It’s amazing how adaptable we Filipinos are. That’s one of the things I admire, that no matter where they go, they will survive, and you will see them smiling. It’s so nice to see the positivity and those smiles. And now, it’s time to share their story.