As the beloved ABS-CBN series ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ drew to a close, emotions ran high during the final press conference held on April 11.
Nova Villa, one of the esteemed cast members, couldn’t hold back her tears as she reflected on the journey that brought the series to its conclusion.
With tears welling up in her eyes, Villa shared the profound impact the show had on her. “Itong Can’t Buy Me Love, para sa akin, mahirap ng kalimutan. Walong buwan na pagsasama, at hindi biro ang relasyon,” she began.
Throughout her portrayal of Mamang Nene, Villa immersed herself in the complexities of her character, forming a bond that transcended the screen. She expressed genuine affection for her co-stars, especially Bingo (Donny Pangilinan). “P’wede palang mahalin kahit hindi nanggaling sa iyo; hindi mo kadugo. At ‘yun ang ipinakita natin dito,” she passionately expressed.
Pangilinan, visibly moved by Villa’s emotional display, shared his heartfelt connection with her character. Fondly recalling his late great-grandmother, whom he called ‘Mamang,’ he found solace in the portrayal of Mamang Nene by Villa.
“I couldn’t imagine anyone else perfect for the role but Tita Nova. Kasi grabe po ‘yung binigay niya sa amin dito sa show. Never siyang nag-no kahit sobrang hirap ng eksena. Kitang-kita na nahihirapan na siya, hindi pa rin. Kahit overtime na, siya ang unang magsasabi na, ‘Game, gawin po natin direk. Ano pong p’wedeng gawin?’,” he said with a cracked voice, expressing his gratitude to Villa for her dedication.
Anthony Jennings, who played Snoop in the series, also praised Villa’s portrayal of a loving grandmother. “Gusto ko lang din sabihin kay Tita, kasi parehas din kami ni Dons na ‘yung lola ko, nakikita ko rin kay Tita Novs. And ‘yung mga maliliit na bagay talaga. ‘Yung bibigyan ka ng kendi, ng biskwet, ‘yung sampaloc tita,” he shared with a smile.
As the series draws to a close, the cast members expressed their gratitude for the joyful moments they shared on set. “Puro saya, halos saya ng lahat. Puro kalokohan. Of course, kay Dons, siyempre mami-miss ko ang mga eksena namin na hindi na namin nagagawa masiyado. ‘Yung kuliglig namin, ‘yung mga masasayang eksena namin, ‘yung deliveries namin. Dami, ang dami kong mami-miss. Of course, si Maris din. Siyempre ‘yung mga eksena namin,” Jennings added.
‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ will air its final episode on May 10. Viewers can catch it on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida or stream it in advance on Netflix.
