As soon as the first-ever teaser of the upcoming series Make It With You was released last December 2019, many of us certainly got giddy upon the sight of top loveteam Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil sharing kilig moments together and hearing Ben & Ben’s swooning version of the classic love song with the same title as its official soundtrack.
Aside from these, what made us extra thrilled to see it beginning on January 13 is finding out that portions of this newest romantic drama were shot in the captivating country of Croatia, which is arguably new to the eyes of most of us since it’s only the first time that a Filipino series was filmed there.
However, throughout ABS-CBN’s 65 years of serving us quality entertainment, such as through dramas, we all know that this is not the first-ever Kapamilya teleserye that was shot abroad. As we look forward on roaming around the rustic streets and scenic spots of Croatia via Make It With You, let’s revisit the previous series that took us to other parts of the world.
Let’s start our “tour” with the teleseryes that showcased the beauty of our home continent – Asia.
Staying true to its title, 2005 primetime series Vietnam Rose, led by Maricel Soriano and Angelica Panganiban indeed gave us a glimpse of the said beautiful country by shooting some parts of it there.
In 2008, seasoned actor and ultimate leading man Jericho Rosales had the opportunity to work opposite Malaysian actress Carmen Soo in the romance drama Kahit Isang Saglit, which was also shot in Malaysia.
Being the Philippine adaptations of hit Korean series, some parts of the Sam Milby and Angel Locsin-starrer Only You (2009) and Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales-starrer Green Rose (2011) were shot in South Korea.
Narrating the story of a Filipina-Chinese girl who relentlessly pursued to be recognized by her conservative Chinese father, 2011 series My Binondo Girl starred by Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Matteo Guidicelli, and Jolo Revilla had to be compelling as it should be. Thus, filming in Hong Kong really did a great help.
In 2012, three Kapamilya teleseryes brought us to three different Asian countries.
Afternoon soap opera Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo, which was starred by Shaina Magdayao, Jake Cuenca, and Bangs Garcia, gave us a glimpse of the lives of our beloved overseas Filipinos workers based in the Middle East as it was mostly filmed in Qatar.
Starring on their first-ever primetime series together as a loveteam, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla turned into royalties of Bhutan as they played the roles of long-lost Princess Areeyah and Dasho Yuan, in Princess and I. Enrique Gil was also there portraying Dasho Jao, as well as Khalil Ramos who impressed us as Kiko.
It might be entirely shot here in the Philippines, but long-running daytime series Be Careful With My Heart was still able to take us to Japan when its lead characters Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Richard (Richard Yap) had their honeymoon there.
In 2013, KathNiel once again brought us with them on a trip abroad as their characters Chichay and Joaquin of Got To Believe went to Singapore, where their romance got tested with the arrival of Liza Soberano’s character as the third wheel.
Heading on to Europe, let Barcelona, Spain be our first stop for this was chosen as the filming location of the “first-ever series about OFWs” Crazy For You, which was released in 2006 and was starred by Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano.
Kapamilya teleseryes Dahil Sa Pag-ibig (2012), Walang Hanggan (2012), and Dolce Amore (2016) made us all fall deeply in love with the historic country of Italy after it was chosen to be the backdrop of some of its significant scenes.
Award-winning actress Bea Alonzo was able to experience working in two different European countries via the two teleseryes she headlined – A Beautiful Affair (2012) that was shot in Vienna, Austria and A Love To Last (2017) that was filmed in Germany.
In 2016’s Till I Met You, reel-to-real loveteam James Reid and Nadine Lustre, along with their co-star JC Santos, made us feel kilig not only with their chemistry, but with the beauty of Greece as well.
Meanwhile, the 2009 Philippine incarnation of the hit Korean drama Lovers In Paris starred by Piolo Pascual, KC Concepcion, and Zanjoe Marudo also took us to the romantic city of Paris, France where the latter was also shot.
And for the last leg of our “teleserye world tour” – which is the USA – two well-loved Kapamilya dramas were filmed them. First off was the JaDine-starrer On The Wings Of Love (2015) that gave us a glimpse of the complicated process our dearest OFWs have to go through in order for them to secure a green card.
A year after, we witnessed how New York City served an important role in the development of the love story of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim’s characters Tin and Macoy in the primetime drama The Story Of Us .
Does this “tour” made you excited to see Croatia through the eyes of Belinda (Liza) and Gabo (Enrique)? Well, you better not miss its premiere this coming January 13 on Primetime Bida.