MARVIN GETS A NEW ADDRESS
By C. Mendez Legaspi

GMA’S latest bet in continuing its prime-time ratings supremacy, I Luv NY stars the reunited love team of Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal, and the volatile team-up of Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado. The glue that binds them all together is New York, a character in itself.
       While Magdangal, Herras and Mercado are still hot copies, it is Agustin who is the most intriguing. So at the press launch of the series at C3 Events Place in Greenhills, San Juan, it was the erstwhile Star Circle original who was inundated with questions.
       First off, what factor convinced him to make the big move to the rival media giant? “With a beautiful project like I Luv NY, ’di ako nakatanggi. And with Jolina part of the package, who can say no to that? Napakaganda ng offer para tanggihan,” said the award-winning (for his demented turn in last year’s Kutob) actor.
       I Luv NY revolves around Baste (Herras), who goes to the US in search of his mother; Natalie, a rebellious fashionista who runs away from an arranged marriage; Polly, an illegal alien with an outrageous sense of style; and Albert, an angry heartbroken man impervious to Polly’s quirkiness.
       “With this soap, GMA is the first to use cameras that give this series a ‘film look,’ a first in Philippine television that we are introducing,” the director Louie Ignacio announced with no small amount of pride. “It is also the first Pinoy soap shot in New York na legal—meaning, may permit at hindi kami hinuhuli.”
       Weathering the coldness of the city, the cast and crew, aided by a staff from New York University, toiled for 22 days in the Big Apple. “Akala mo masarap, pero ’di kasi kami sanay sa malamig! Kahit five layers of clothing na ang suot namin. Still, it was a privilege to work in New York. We were on Cloud Nine!” Ignacio recalled, adding, “’Di biro ang gastos sa permits and sa equipment, katumbas nito ay two to three movies.”
       The prospect of relocating to New York to live and work there holds little appeal to Agustin. “Siguro mas masarap dito manirahan, kasi kahit saan ka man tumira, maghihirap ka rin. [Mas gusto kong] maghirap na kasama ang mga taong mahal ko sa buhay.” And, of course, he never has to be away for too long from his months-old twins Santiago and Sebastian, as well as his fledgling ventures into the food business.
       “Masarap at masaya maging bagong kapuso,” Agustin admitted. So, is he staying long at his new address? “My contract with GMA is on a per-project basis, pero ’di ba when you start work at a new company, gusto mo magtagal?”
       Marvin and Jolina fans can be assured of their daily fill of the love team, touted on a par with the Maricel-William and Nida-Nestor tandems. “Our chemistry and our energy just happen when we’re working,” Agustin said regarding his and Magdangal’s comfort zone. “May mga eksena ngang ’di makunan kasi tawa kami ng tawa!”
       Hardly anyone was surprised when Agustin made the big switch, though. After all, prior to the switch he had appeared in Magpakailanman and won in the monthlong “Kasabwat” test on Extra Challenge. But I Luv NY is a crucial point in his career. “Ang ganda, ang laki [ng soap opera na ito]. This is something that I can be proud of.”