Two of the Philippines biggest stars get candid on their relationship for Hello, Love, Again

Five years after Hello, Love, Goodbye, the Philippines’ Sweethearts Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards give us a glimpse of love’s promise and potential in the highly-anticipated movie Hello, Love, Again.

^{MEGA November Digital Cover featuring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in Louis Vuitton}

They were both plucked from their respective love teams and from rival networks, no less. Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards’ pairing seemed highly impossible, and therefore, a dream come true for those enamored with showbiz news. Both actors have captured the hearts of countless Filipinos: Young Kathryn as “Mara” in the soap opera Mara Clara and Alden as with his endearing boy next door charm. Both actors amassed a fan base that catapulted them to superstardom, which subsequently cemented their status as pop culture icons of today’s milieu. They epitomized the modern Filipino and Filipina: sweet yet tough, hardworking yet flexible, always focused on growth and the drive to be better.

^{Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in Jaz Cerezo}
Hello, Love, Goodbye, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, ended up becoming one of Philippine Cinema’s highest grossing films of all time, an affirmation of both Kathryn and Alden’s star power. The movie’s plot was also surely a draw, as it explored difficult topics embedded in our national consciousness:

“What will I have to sacrifice to have a better life?”

“Do I leave home and everything I know in exchange for a more secure future?”

“Will I have to say goodbye to who I love in pursuit of my dreams?”

“Do my dreams outweigh my love, or is it the other way around?” 

Kathryn and Alden gave life to those questions as Joy and Ethan who were Filipinos in diaspora experiencing these very tensions. They had choices, sure, but not enough freedom to get exactly what they wanted.

In Hello, Love, Goodbye, Ethan and Joy parted ways on a bittersweet and hopeful—yet very uncertain—note because their characters decided to pursue their individual dreams.

^{Alden Richards in Fendi}
Alden recalls that for Hello, Love, Again, returning to their characters involved accounting for the complexities brought about by time and the changes that come with it. “It was very nostalgic. Connecting them to their current selves, there [were] a lot of changes. Those five years had a lot of effect on the characters. I watched the movie again to see where everything was placed. I wanted to see what was the last thing people saw in the film. The characters right now, the way we prepared, we connected them to our personal journey also in the past five years, how things really changed and ‘yung event na talagang nakaapekto sa buhay natin ay ‘yung pandemic. That really scarred all of us in different ways, marami tayong hindi inexpect na mangyayari at that time.”

For Kathryn, preparing for the sequel was a pleasant surprise. “We didn’t expect to have a sequel when they told us about it early this year. I didn’t watch the first part [of Hello, Love, Goodbye] intentionally, pero some of the scenes pinanood ko just because when they told us about Hello, Love, Again, especially sa character ko, malaki ‘yung jump from the first one tapos ito, so I wanted to give it a different flavor.”

^{Kathryn Bernardo wears a Anthony Ramirez jacket and skirt with a Skims bodysuit}

“Joy and Ethan are part of our lives. Ang sarap laruin sa acting because like us, may growth din na nangyari sa kanila. That’s what we’re trying to show in the sequel. Pinanood ko lang ‘yung mga scenes na kailangan for emotional continuity. And then [we had] a lot of meetings with the head writer and Direk Cathy as well. I think ‘yun din ‘yung challenge for them, and then it’s hard to continue the story of Joy and Ethan, so ano na ‘yung next phase ng buhay nila ‘yung ipapakita? So, the pandemic happened. How did it affect their relationship? What happened to them? How are they now? Nagawa ba ‘yung dreams nila and all of these things? This is the perfect opportunity to show those untold stories.”

Given the film’s timeline, while it’s challenging to return to old characters and infuse newness into them, Kathryn and Alden’s friendship has made it somewhat easier. Imagine Joy and Ethan: within five years, they had to overcome so many obstacles as migrant workers while balancing family obligations and their personal lives. These characters showed strength and fortitude, admirable virtues for sure. In real life, both stars admire and respect each other—evident in their on-screen chemistry. Initially brought together by work ethic and professionalism, they’ve forged a stronger bond thanks to the desire to improve as actors and their inclination to be supportive of each other and the people around them.

“What really helped us, I think, is that friendship really is such a good foundation. Of course, comfort. I just feel very safe when I’m with him.

– Kathryn Bernardo on reuniting with Alden Richards

“Doon pumapasok ‘yung openness. Parehas kaming open ngayon just to…’yung mga passion namin to make this work and of course we care for one another, we’re friends; it’s very easy and light. Pareho kasi kami—when it’s work, we do it 100% or ‘wag mo na gawin at all. Parehas kasi kaming ganun,” Kathryn shares.

^{_{Katrhyn Bernardo wears a Louis Vuitton sheer blouse with Ulysses Caragyan shorts; Alden Richards wears a Louis Vuitton full look}}

For Alden, it’s about being comfortable with Kathryn, thanks to the trust they’ve built.

“Kath is a very good person. There’s no question about that. I’m sure all the people around her know that by heart. I know that by heart.“

– Aldern Richards on his genuine connection with Kathryn Bernardo off and on-screen

“Ayun kasi the basic foundation of any relationship is trust. But for me, dadagdagan ko yun ng good heart and good intentions—and that’s what she has. With every relationship that’s like that, it’s bound to last.”

^{_{Alden Richards wears a Louis Vuitton full look; Kathryn Bernardo wears a Louis Vuitton sheer blouse with Ulysses Caragyan shorts}}

Filming Hello, Love, Again wasn’t easy. A very lean team was sent to Canada for the shoot. Alden adds, “There’s one scene in Canada, the basement scene. I always go back to that. I saw Kath, she was very exhausted, but she still managed to pull off the scene. Kath is very considerate of everyone around her, I see how she treats yung mga kasamahan namin. Ganun siya sa mga katrabaho niya, so that makes me even more motivated.”

Mutual respect and admiration make Kathryn and Alden click on and off screen. This has, of course, translated to what seems like a prelude to a continuous creative partnership, if not lifelong friendship off the silver screen. Kathryn knows the full value of keeping a good person in one’s life. “As long as Alden wants me to be his friend, why not? He’s such a good person. With any friendship, important yung values. And we have the same values. We have differences too and it’s so nice to see that as well. Ako, nakikita niya how I work, how I am as a person. Iba yung dynamics namin and I’ll be his friend anytime.”

As with legendary creative partnerships and friendships, there’s always the idea of continuous learning, of improving and growing. The Kathryn-Alden partnership is also driven by this. Both actors feel a need to always push the envelope.

^{Kathryn Bernardo in Anthony Ramirez}

For Kathryn, it’s also simply part of who she is. “I think I crave for growth. I don’t want to be stuck. It’s not that I’m not content at all—I just want to grow because if you plateau, that’s the end of it. Bawal ka maging complacent. At the same time dapat may motivation to be better everyday even if it’s just 1%. Hindi ko nakikita ‘yung life ko without growth and goals. What’s the point of growing old if you just get stuck in one stage? I find it sad. It’s not just me, I want to grow with the people around me and I want them to grow. Alden is that kind of person to me too, he’s so supportive of my growth.”

^{Alden Richards in Anthony Ramirez}
It’s safe to say that they’re each other’s cheerleaders. Alden views it as essential. “It’s something we owe to ourselves. We should work towards being better versions of ourselves everyday. Yun nga, like what Kath said, if you don’t hunger for any improvement, that’s your death as an actor and as a person.

“I always do things afraid. That’s the only time you’ll be able to reach your own potential and see the best in yourself, when you’re uncomfortable.”

– Alden Richards

Kasi when you’re just living the life that you’re used to, memorize mo na yun eh. But if you’re able to do things afraid, I guess that’s where growth comes from.”

^{Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in Louis Vuitton}

Hello, Love, Again can be viewed simply as a sequel of Hello, Love, Goodbye, or some sort of local equivalent to the “Before” series by Richard Linklater, given how the films have captured the imagination and hearts of many Filipinos. But the movies may also serve as a career diary of two of the country’s most beloved and celebrated actors. Joy and Ethan surely have grown leaps and bounds, as most of us will soon see. But as artists, Kathryn and Alden have done the same, a testament to their commitment to growth and becoming better versions of themselves as they take on every role, giving them depth and life.