Pasabuy takes the pandemic and an e-commerce trend as a majestic backdrop to a hopeful love story about moving forward and finding a new romance.
WeTV
Actors: Heaven Peralejo, Gino Roque IV, Ella Cayabyab, Ralph Malibunas, MJ Cayabyab, Gail Banawis, Nana Silayro, Ricardo Cepeda, Kim Perez
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Premise: Two strangers meet at a community chatroom for the ‘pasabuy’ of goods and necessities. Left pondering for their initial encounter, they find themselves drawn to each other (WeTV)
Running Time: 28-38 mins
Director: Xian Lim
Why You Should See It:
Two hearts seeking answers converge in this Web series that takes the pandemic and an e-commerce trend as backdrops. In Pasabuy, Gino Roque IV plays John Ernesto, a hopeless romantic trying to shrug off a recent break-up. He avails the sanctuary conveniently offered by a resort, in his hopes to write the perfect song that could win Sophie (Ella Cayabyab) back.
Heaven Peralejo plays the workaholic Anne, who is being weighed down by her hopes that her boss sees her romantically. Anne and John’s paths cross one day when they both had to take advantage of the online ‘pasabuy’ service for their groceries.
While their first physical meeting had them started on the wrong footing, the two eventually become closer and begin discovering things about themselves that somewhat make them see the possibility of them ending up together.
Pasabuy serves as Peralejo and Roque’s first team-up, but one can’t possibly deny the early spark between them. A follow-up project on the heels of Pasabuy’s success won’t necessarily be surprising given the pair’s surprise chemistry. Gail Banawis. Ella Cayabyab, and Ralph Malibunas from PBB Connect, who are all making their debut acting performances in a series, still have to work on their delivery, but the fact that this marks their first foray into acting make them all promising stars who can have their starring roles soon.
Both Nana Silayro as the strict but jolly resort owner, Miss Minchin, and MJ Cayabyab as the chaotic and loud friend of Anne, Gesper, are bright rays of sunshine in the series, with their chuckle and laugh-worthy lines. Filipino band, I Belong Zoo, provides the kilig-inducing background to Anne and John’s romance, with their hugot anthems, Sana, and Pansamantala. The soundtrack laces Pasabuy’s bittersweet romance with hope, and it keeps its story attractive and worthy to be followed.
More than the chemistry of the leads, the humor of the supporting acts, and the many surprises and between, Pasabuy is that hopeful love story that reminds us romance is always possible, even in the most unexpected moments and places. It is also an affirmation that it mostly only takes a new perspective to move forward and to see the beautiful things that we mostly fail to catch when we’re stuck in the heartaches of the past.
Pasabuy now streams for free on WeTV. Watch the official trailer below:
