Since Lovers in Paris (LIP) will soon be replacing fan favorite Tayong Dalawa, members of the entertainment press wondered whether the Koreanovela adaptation could duplicate the success of the top-rating teleserye. But director FM Reyes (Lobo and Sana’y Wala ng Wakas) has no worries regarding this since LIP is far from being an action soap or a dramatic family saga like its predecessor. “Actually kaya hindi kami naprepressure dun, unang una sa pagkakaiba ng genre. Malaki talaga ang hatak ng ganong klaseng teleserye. And for a romantic comedy, we’re offering a totally different flavor. Ang isa pang issue sa viewers ay highest rating Koreanovela ang Lovers in Paris dito sa Philippines. Sabi ko sa team namin, hindi yun ang worry natin. Ang worry natin is how we would breathe life to the characters na Filipino yung dating,” he explained.

Reyes admitted that he initially didn’t want to direct a remake of a Korean series because people would always compare it to the original. Another challenge for ABS-CBN’s creative team was to make sure that the Filipinos could identify with the story. “With all of your expectations, it’s already difficult for us to make this work, particularly for the cast because they’ll always be judged either the better or worse [for it]. Pero sana tanggapin ng audience. Makikita dito yung pagka-Pilipino natin. Having Vivian as a lead character, how do we portray women in the Philippines? Dun pa lang magkaiba na kasi when you assess the culture of Korea, iba yung pagtrato nila sa babae pagdating sa family,” he stressed.

Multi-awarded scriptwriter Ricky Lee, creative manager of LIP, also added that they made the Pinoy version of Lovers in Paris more family-oriented to better portray where the characters are coming from. As it is, viewers are smart enough to ask for instance why Vivian, who supposedly comes from a lower middle-class family, can afford to study in Paris. “Kasi ang Pilipino very communal kasi [galing sa] third world country. Mga Koreano mapera sila. Kumbaga marami tayong nakikita na hindi natin kwekwestyunin kung Koreanovela pero kung Filipino teleserye siya tatanungin natin. So kung papanoorin ni’yo yung Lovers in Paris, maaalala at mararamdaman ni’yo pa rin yung [basic themes] nung original version pero ibang-iba ang makukuha ni’yong teleserye na ibibigay namin.”

Lovers in Paris premieres on September 28 on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

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