Award-winning filmmaker Adolfo Alix, Jr. directs and has co-written with award-winning Jerry B. Gracio “Happenstance,” the first period Filipino Boys’ Love (BL) series.
Exclusively streaming on the LGBTQ+ streaming platform, GagaOOLala, “Happenstance” is a love story that happens between two individuals from different time periods. Newcomers Kiko Ipapo and Jovani Manansala get their biggest break as they play Wade and Jose Manuel, who magically meet although they are living in 1974 and the other in 2020, respectively. Jose Manuel is grounded after his military father learned of his relationship with Luis, an activist. Wade, on the other hand, is recovering from a recent break up with Eric and while on vacation is caught up in the quarantine because of the CoVid 19 pandemic. After the super moon, an opportunity opens for these two heartbroken souls to connect across time and find love once again.
The two leads are relative newcomers. Kiko Ipapo is a social media personality and influencer. He started as a print model before deciding to try his luck as an actor.
“Happenstance” is his first foray into acting. Opposite, Jovani Manansala also started in the entertainment industry by doing several commercial ads. After that, he acted in television shows like “Ipaglaban Mo” and “Maalaala Mo Kaya” and in the independent films “Mamu, and a Mother Too” and “Jolly Spirit.”
Alix assembles an award-winning supporting cast, led by two-time Gawad Urian best actress Rosana Roces, Gawad Urian best actress, six-time best actor winner Bembol Roco and Gawad Urian and Asian Academy Creative Awards best actress Angeli Bayani.
Said Angeli: “‘Yung role ay kasambahay nina Giovanni sa 1970s na parang ate, tita na nakakausap niya kasi hindi niya makausap tatay niya, hindi siya makapag open up.
Siyempre sinuportahan ko sila kasi kailangan nating tulungan ang mga bagong actor, kailangan iangat and also para matulungan natin isa’t isa para maikwento nang maayos ang isinulat ni Gng. Jerry [Gracio].”
Acting heavyweights Alan Paule and Erlinda Villalobos are also in cast, as well as Shu Calleja, Ken Anderson and Saviour Ramos.
Jovani Manansala found acting opposite veteran actor Alan Paule a challenge.
“Pinaka challenging sa akin ‘yung makaeksena si Allan Paule, veteran artista na siya, ako baguhan. Mahirap makipagsabayan sa galing niya mag arte,” said Manansala.
Alix relates that he was inspired by a news report about a house owner finding love letters from the 70s during a house renovation and who tried to track down the sender almost five decades later.
The series airs weekly on GagaOOLala.
