The love team of Alexa Ilacad and Gab Lagman can be called experimental. But how do they work their chemistry in the Kapamilya primetime teleserye Init sa Magdamag? The tandem spills the tea in this episode of Kapamilya Chat.
Upon learning about her role as Hannah, the younger sister of Gerald Anderson’s Tupe, Alexa knew she better prepare for drama-heavy scenes. She thought Gerald has this reputation as a dramatic actor, so she had to rehearse and keep up. She was also excited to see how Gerald does his craft.
“Pagdating sa work, nando’n lang talaga ako para mag-work, hindi ako nando’n para makipag-barkadahan,” says Alexa about building rapport with her co-stars. With this in-the-zone attitude, it was quite surprising that she’s the first to approach her new love team partner Gab. She said the lock-in setup changed her mindset. She just wanted things to be light and easy, thus the “kapal ng mukha” to approach him.
As a newcomer, Gab appreciates Alexa’s effort to initiate their friendship because he’s still shy to make the first move. And they just hit it off. He said he’s blessed to work with Alexa and learn something from her.
On the lock-in setup, Alexa believes it has pros and cons depending on the material. For instance, working with Init Sa Magdamag requires intense emotions, and she thinks there’s no better place to cool down than home. For her latest film “Four Sisters Before the Wedding,” the lock-in was easier to survive because it’s a light comedy-drama.
“Minsan maganda rin ‘yung uwian para nakakabitaw sa character at siyempre makasama din ang family. Pero minsan maganda rin ‘yun nandoon kayo para focus talaga sa ginagawa,” she explained.
For Gab, the lock-in results in consistent portrayals. It helped them focus. For instance, Albie Casino once shared that Gab sacrificed ball night to prepare for his heavy scenes. It also grew their camaraderie, so much so they had a squad vacation in Boracay after the last taping cycle. The biggest downside for him is homesickness. But kudos to Star Creatives for keeping a smooth and organized taping structure.
Apart from playing basketball, the cast also bonds over food trips. They even memorized each other’s favorites – pancit canton for Alexa and mango shake for Gab.
Asked about their similarities and differences with their characters, Alexa thought she’s a fighter and family-oriented like Hannah. They also share the same fashion taste. Thanks to Hannah, she’s able to release her negative emotions.
Gab, on the other hand, resonates with Kiko’s selfless attitude when it comes to love. They are both close to their dads and he can relate to Kiko’s struggles as a working student because he had a similar life in the United States.
Catch Alexa and Gab in Init Sa Magdamag on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z.