“Hello, Love, Again” Is a Heartwarming Love Letter to Filipinos Everywhere

Who believes in second chances? It’s great that the team behind the record-breaking hit film Hello, Love, Goodbye does—because it means we can look forward to its highly anticipated sequel, Hello, Love, Again.

The film stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards as they reprise their roles as Joy and Ethan in the latest chapter of their love story that melted the hearts of fans everywhere. With veteran director Cathy Garcia-Sampana at the helm again, there’s no doubt that Hello, Love, Again will tug at the heartstrings of Filipinos across the globe once more.

In a media conference last October 17 at the Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN, the cast and crew gave more insights on the film, which is set to come out in theaters on November 13. Everyone on the team was visibly excited about the project. It’s only fair since the first film was the highest-grossing Filipino film.

The visible Kathryn-Alden chemistry
Of course, it’s hard to talk about the film without noticing the chemistry between the two leads. In answering a question about their characters, Kathryn noticeably slipped up, revealing that she calls Alden ‘Tisoy’ as a nickname. “Lahat kami, ang tawag sa kanya ‘Tisoy’, okay?” she promises between knowing cheers from the audience.

This chemistry was further highlighted as the leads spilled the details about their first impressions of each other. Between only seeing each other at events and exchanging a friendly wave, they didn’t exactly get to know each other right away.

It was only when Hello, Love, Goodbye was brought to the table that Kathryn and Alden really got to talk.

“Ang first impression ko talaga kay Kath is sobrang galang,” says Alden. “No effort ang kailangan mong gawin for you to be friends with her.”

And given that there was a lot of promotion for the original film beyond the shooting hours, he shared that they really got to know each other, forming “a deeper understanding about each other.”

As for Kathryn, she says Alden was very approachable even at first. “Wala ’yung hesitancy, kasi alam ko na I can talk to him. Especially siguro ngayon, through the years, after Hello, Love, Goodbye,” she says. She reveals that they’ve been able to maintain their friendship since then, to the point where they can talk about almost anything.

If Kathryn and Alden’s friendship has developed over the years, would this spell anything different for the Hello, Love, Goodbye sequel?

It looks like it’s a matter of balancing how to stay true to what people loved about the first film while bringing something different. This is, no doubt, quite a tall order especially since the original has etched itself onto the hearts of local audiences.

“We didn’t expect anything from [the first movie],” shares Alden in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style. “We just wanted to show a good film, to show a good story, a great story to a lot of Filipinos here and abroad. And of course, to highlight the hardships of the OFWs.”

They, of course, had to stay true to what made fans all over the nation fall in love. “Kailangan i-keep namin kung ano ’yung nakilala ng mga tao na si Joy,” says Kathryn. “But then, kahit di naman nila sabihin, parang feeling ko lang kailangan ko siya lagyan ng ibang flavor.”

Kathryn’s character in the film is now a healthcare worker, so it brings about a different world from being a domestic helper in the first film. “It’s fun to play around with it,” she shares.

The fact that the movie takes place in Canada this time also sets a fresh tone for the story. “Iba rin ’yung struggle ng mga OFWs in Canada,” observes Kathryn. “So, they have a different story to tell. Different experiences to share. And hopefully, ’yun ’yung makikita nila dito sa movie.”

According to one of Hello, Love, Again’s writers, Carmi Raymundo, the more technical aspects of the story also further this new spin. “There’s something different in the manner, in the way, the structure that we told the story. So isa ’yun sa mga aabangan nila [the audience] sa pelikula.”

Time is also supposedly a very big element in the movie, although this aspect is likely something that audiences would have to see for themselves as the team couldn’t reveal too much about how it would factor into the sequel.

Direk Cathy also made sure that audiences who didn’t watch the first film would still appreciate Hello, Love, Again. “Kumbaga, titindig ’yung kwento,” she says, sharing that it could fairly be a standalone film.

Kathryn also told Metro.Style how the process of creating the film was different this time, especially given the astounding success of the first one. “Nakita ko na nag-adjust din si Direk [Cathy],” she says. “And sobrang nahirapan din siya sa movie na ’to… On shooting abroad. Alam ko rin kung gaano siya ka-pressured. Kasi ang hirap talaga ng sequel.”

But was it all worth it? The answer is pretty clear. “I’m very proud of this project,” Alden reflects. “[Of] us,” Kathryn chimes in. Alden continues, picking up from the powerful one word she said, “And us. What we have brought to the table. And I’m just very excited.”

It’s exciting since Hello, Love, Again is a love story at its very core. But, perhaps more than simply being about the love between Joy and Ethan, the film also shapes itself as a love letter to OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) everywhere. Many have had their share of sacrifices and tribulations being away from their families in the Philippines.

“This story is for them [the OFWs],” Alden tells us. “This story is not just for, you know, mga hopeless romantic, or mahilig kiligin. This is a story about life. This is a story about the OFWs all over the world.” It’s a story of the self-giving love between Filipinos abroad and their families back home—the “unsung heroes” and the life they leave behind. It’s the kind of love that knows no distance.

Such distance brings a profound kind of heartbreak that has resonated with viewers very clearly. “The past two years, we’ve seen ’yung naging response ng Filipino audience here in the Philippines,” says Carmi as she expressed the team’s excitement about how Filipinos abroad would react to the film.

There’s definitely a promise of a similar success when it comes to reaching OFWs. “It’s very important because, first and foremost, it’s their story,” adds the writer. “So from the beginning, from the concept, it’s about them.”

It was crucial for the team to truly make Filipinos in other countries a part of this movie. The team even took time to interview OFWs in Canada to get a better sense of how to anchor the story. But more than simply reflecting the realities of living abroad as a Pinoy, they wanted them to feel included in the celebration of the film.

And yet, amid all the celebrations and congratulatory messages, Direk Cathy remarks that the film isn’t hers, even as its director. “A film can never be made by one person,” she says, crediting the stellar team that helped bring the movie to life.

Direk Cathy got more emotional as she shared her hopes for the film. She says, “Sana makarating kami sa puso niyo. Sana, paglabas niyo sa sinehan, gusto niyo magmahal muli. This movie is about finding home,” she says between tears, “and I hope you find your home.”