Allyzza Kay Trinidad

THROWBACK: Precious Hearts Romances Presents Bud Brothers (2009)

Article (news)

Check out the photos of 2009’s Bud Brothers Jake, Rafael, John, Joem, Ahron, Guji Wil and Manuel

ABS-CBN Studios

“Bud Brothers” heralded the entry of the popular, bestselling pocketbook love stories “Precious Hearts Romances” onto mainstream television, which further developed a cult following among readers turned viewers.These popular pocketbook characters have been brought to life by artists from reality shows that surely had captured the imagination of the enthralled audience.Premiered on May 4, 2009 on the ABS-CBN Hapontastic block, the captivating story penned by Rose Tan revolved around eight male friends, Vince (Jake Cuenca), Wayne (Rafael Rossell), Carlo (John Prats), Pete (Joem Bascon), Ed (Manuel Chua), Rei (Guji Lorenzana), Monty (Will Devaughn), and Pio (Ahron Villena), who owned a flower farm. The series, one of the earlier television projects of director Cathy Garcia-Molina, had weeklong episodes that featured the individual love stories of these “Bud Brothers.”The first book, “Stupid Cupids,” featured the ex-lovers Vince and Georgie (Cristine Reyes), whose relationship ended on a sour note but happened to live under one roof, thanks to the just married Pio (Ahron Villena) whom Georgie approached at his wedding to Sandy (Maricar Reyes) to find a place to stay. And, despite their constant bickering, Vince and Georgie find out they were still meant for each other and got married. “My Gulay, Wow Betchay,” the series second book, shows the intricate romance between Wayne and Betchay (Mariel Rodriguez), who first spied on him for her boss, model Alyssa (Nina Jose), who claimed she was his girlfriend and “suspected” he was cheating on her. While she had spied on him by working as a secretary of the Bud Brothers farm, she accidentally destroys a hibiscus that infuriated Wayne because it reminded him of his dead daughter Cathy, whom Betchay didn’t know about. Wayne would then forgive her provided she pretends to be his wife to make his mom (Racquel Villavicencio) believe he was married, as what he claimed to her. It was during this farce did Wayne and Betchay drew close to each other and his mom would eventually know their charade, yet accepts both of them. The big question about Cathy prevailed on Betchay’s thoughts that led to jealousy until she finds out that she was Wayne’s late daughter. After revealing it to Betchay, he asks her to be his real wife. And they walk down the aisle.The third episode “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” was about the romance between the outsider Coco (Denise Laurel), whom the community despises because of her being suspicious, and Carlo. Her “knight in shining armor” would defend her through and through until a romance blossoms. “Tails You Lose, Heads Your Mine,” is the fourth love story in the series that tells the tale of Tammy (Janna Dominguez), who had run away from her fiancé Damian (Kian Kazemi). After she fled, Tammy stayed with her aunt, who worked in the Bud Brothers Farm. After meeting Pete, she desperately asks him to pose as her boyfriend and he agreed with a toss of coin. As they continue with their role play, Tammy becomes close to Ed, but when she learned that Pete had connived with Ed to end their farce, she would flirt with him, leaving Pete jealous, making him realize his true feelings for her. But when he wanted to make it real, Damian resurfaces and a love triangle ensues. We all know however who won Tammy’s heart in the end.The fifth tale, “He’s the One,” tackles the unlikely romance between Ed and Hiromi (Valerie Concepcion), the owner of bitter rival flower shop of the Bud Brothers Farm, Petals Flower Shop. Ed was tasked to woo and seduce Hiromi and make her agree to a merger, but the smart girl saw through the sham and refused to give in. Hiromi became even fiercer in fighting the Bud Brothers because of that. But when her shop is robbed, Ed comes to her rescue and persuades her to go with him on a Tagaytay vacation for safety. During the escapade, Ed got to know more about Hiromi and how important the flower shop is to her. They would soon develop feelings for each other until Hiromi would realize that Ed is the one!The sixth book, “Pepper’s Roses,” centers on Rei and his childhood friend Pepper (Kaye Abad). They had known each other for so long because their fathers were close business associates. After growing separately from each other, Pepper would suddenly come into Rei’s life to mend their families’ fences after their fathers had a fallout. Her strategy? Lying to their fathers that they are a couple. Indeed it brought peace between them and excitement about the prospect of having their children as husband and wife. They organize an engagement party. But as they continue their farce, Pepper and Rei find out they are truly in love. And, even though there were hurdles to finally admitting that the lie was actually the truth, theirs was a happy ending.“Once in a Lifetime Love,” the series’ seventh and last episode on TV, brings forth the story of complicated love between Monty, Sabel (Wendy Valdez) and Lily Rose (Krista Ranillo). Monty, a playboy, had first dated Sabel’s cousin Lily Rose, but his father (Roy Alvarez) disapproves of him. He wants her to marry Leon (Frank Garcia), a neurosurgeon based in the US and asks Sabel to lure Monty away from his daughter. But Sabel, who’s already in love with Leon, finds a way for Monty and Lily Rose to elope.  But when Leon came home from the US, Lily Rose confessed her true feelings for Leon and wanted to pair Sabel and Monty so that her romance with the doctor would go in full bloom. Sabel would then start to feel for Monty, who remained confused with his own as he remained attached emotionally with Lily Rose. But Monty realized in the end that Sabel was his destiny.

Check out the pictorial photos of the cast of “PHR Presents Bud Brothers.”