Bringing to life the story of a spunky barista who is getting torn between two gorgeous guys—a confident bad boy and a charming boy-next-door who are both into catfishing, Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan headline the newest Viu Original series How To Spot A Red Flag. Their fellow cast members shared their working experience with the popular love team on and off cam which shooting the romantic comedy series in La Union earlier this year. 

Mylene Dizon, who plays the loving mother of Belle in the series, described the onscreen couple as naturally sweet with each other even when the cameras aren’t rolling.

“Of course I knew sila yung pinakasikat ngayon and a lot of people look up to them and all that jazz but to work with them, I was actually really surprised. Because the chemistry that they have onscreen is not just onscreen. Charot lang yun hindi totoo (laughs). I see it sa little gestures na ginagawa ni Don kay Belle, the way Belle also consults with Donny. Halimbawa yung, ‘Puwede ko ba kainin itong mushroom?’ Hay, kinikilig ako! It shows through that’s why I think it works all the time pag magkasama sila at may mga projects sila because I think it’s really natural for them to really care for each other. It’s very, very nice.”

Angel Aquino, who plays the very clingy but supportive mother of Donny in the show admitted she is hoping for some real life romance to grow between the two.

“Shippers kami talaga eh. Sini-ship namin silang dalawa. Kasi bakit ba ayaw pa di ba? Parang kitang kita naman. One time kasi, nag-te-taping kami, tapos yung character ni Belle bumisita sa bahay. Tapos after a take tapos may set-up, parang malalasahan mo talaga yung tamis, ano ba yun. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Naging kayo ba?’ Hulaan niyo na lang kung ano yung sagot. Siyempre hindi ko ilalaglag yung anak ko (laughs) at yung mahal ng anak ko. Excuse me, huwag kayong mag-assume ha. Wala akong sinabi. Tinanong ko lang sila and they answered very truthfully and I appreciated that. Ang masasabi ko lang, sobrang authentic ng friendship nila and I admire it and it makes it so easy to work with them para sa aming lahat. Kasi ang gaan gaan nilang katrabaho. Walang heaviness and wala yung nag-aaway sila. It’s feels so fresh and clean, parang panty shield lang yun ah (laughs). Ang sarap nilang katrabaho, ang gaan, parang ganun na lang.”

Christian Vasquez said it was hard notice to notice the special bond between the two even when they weren’t doing any scenes together during the taping.

“One time andun kami sa standby area, nakaupo ako dun tapos andun sila nag-si-script reading. Tapos tinitingnan ko lang silang dalawa, nararamdaman ko ang sarap maging ganyan yung age. Kahit nag-si-script reading lang sila, alam mo yung pag nagtitinginan lang sila, hindi ko alam eh kung lalagyan ko ba ng malisya o hindi. Parang sabi ko gusto ko maging ganyang edad. Parang iba yung meron silang dalawa. Ayokong i-judge eh. Iba lang yung pakiramdam ko, parang may something. Pero kayo na mag-judge. Basta kinuwento ko lang sa inyo. Kayo na bahala (laughs).”

How to Spot a Red Flag is the first Viu local original series between ABS-CBN and Viu after successful partnerships for the Philippine adaptations of The Broken Marriage Vow, Flower of Evil, and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim. The cast also includes Jameson Blake, Esnyr Ranollo, and Kira Balinger. Directed by Dwein Baltazar.