Alden Richards shed tears as he remembered her mom while shooting their upcoming movie "Family of Two: A Mother And Son Story” with Sharon Cuneta for Cineko Productions.

"It's been a while since my mom passed away, and I was able to relive my happy moments with her when I wasn't an actor yet. I wished she were with me now in this film," said Alden Richards during the media conference for the movie at Novotel Manila last Sunday.

Alden admitted he felt the maternal affection in his screen mom, Sharon.

"Ms. Sharon was so motherly to me when we were doing this film. All our scenes together - light or heavy scenes - came easy. She was very supportive, along with Direk Nuel Naval, thanks to Ms. Mel del Rosario's beautiful script.

"Overtaken by every line and scene, I was comfortable doing them. I wished I was doing all these with my real mother figure," Alden said.

He confirmed Sharon's early statement that they hit it off easily like real mother and son on the set.

"We enjoy the same hobbies and watch the same things online. And our sentiments, our commitment to our craft and the industry are the same. I truly appreciate our similarities and think that's one of the reasons we clicked on 'Family of Two: A Mother And Son Story,'" said Alden.

 It's a dream come true for Alden to have worked with Sharon.

"It's a different character I play here - from a cocky, spoiled rich kid (in '5 Break-Ups'). 'Family of Two' revolves around two characters who have only each other in their lives. My character grew up with a single mother. I'm a sheltered son, an only son.  That's where our story revolves as mother and son in the film. It's one of the films I dreamed of doing, given a chance to work with Mama, Ms. Sharon," said Alden, who admitted the last film he saw Sharon was in the movie "Caregiver."

Sharon's wish

"Kidding aside, Alden and I are very much alike. Our values, views in life, and even our business interests. We're very much alike," Sharon said. "Alden is such a nice guy. I wish he was my son. I hope Miguel grows up to be like him. Because Miguel is such a good boy."

Sharon added: "We need to watch a simple movie. I'm telling you, I've long wanted a movie like this. I needed to do it.

"I strongly feel that simple films are needed during these uncertain times. Uncomplicated with no pretensions and non-essentials. Real life. Simple," the megastar said. "Simple film only, please," she added.

She said the movie is the story of a mother who was widowed when her only son was five years old. So, at age 5, the son and mother are "A Family of Two."

"Through the years, they are close. Then, the little boy/son grows up. It's just that simple. But it hits you straight in your heart. I'm certain that when you watch this movie, there are parts when you're smiling without knowing you're already in tears. That's the effect it has on me," Sharon said.

Holiday plans

It's beginning to look like Christmas as the stars of the upcoming movie Family of Two (A Mother and Son's Story) sit back, relax, and celebrate the holidays.

At the media conference, Sharon and Alden shared their holiday plans amid preparations to promote their movie.

Sharon admitted that she will miss her eldest daughter, KC Concepcion, who will celebrate Christmas with her father, Gabby Concepcion, for the first time.

"Simple lang ako mag-Pasko. Simple lang kami lagi. Sa noche buena, kami lang. Just my immediate family. But it will be the first Christmas that KC will be spending with her father. They never spent Christmas together," said Sharon.

(My Christmas is simple. We are always simple. Sa noche buena, just us. Just my immediate family. But it will be the first Christmas that KC will be spending with her father. They never spent Christmas together.)

She added: "It's going to be different for me. It's a little sad. But I'm also happy for them because they do it for the lost time.

"Ganun lang talaga kami. Simple lang. Kain lang kami. Tapos mag-o-open lang ng konting gifts siguro five each. Kasi the next morning yun ang talagang mag-oopen kami.

(That's really how we are. It's simple. We eat. Then we'll open a few gifts, maybe five each. The next morning, we will open more gifts.)

"Ang hiningi ko sa sarili is not material. Yung gustong mag-donate at magbigay sa birthday ko is donate to Paws animal rescue. It would mean so much more. Any little amount will do. So that's my request. It's so hard to maintain all the rescued animals. People can adopt animals there. They are taken care of. They are trained. They are so sweet. 

"I'm also taking a one-week break for my birthday. Dito lang naman sa Asia with my family. God has been good, and I've been doing so much work ... so much work. Hindi ko alam paano isisiksik yung mga dumating na offer. Concerts tuloy-tuloy even without my partner. I will have a concert tour in the US. So it's so busy. And I'm thankful to God for that," Sharon added.

Sharon and Gabby got married on Sept. 23, 1984. KC is their only child. Sharon and Gabby separated in 1987. Their marriage was annulled in 1993. In 1996, Sharon got married to Sen. Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan. They have three children. In 2004, Gabby tied the knot with Genevieve Gonzales. In October, Sharon and Gabby reunited for a successful concert entitled "Dear Heart." Sharon, Gabby, and their daughter KC reunited on stage for the first time.

Alden said he will go on vacation for two weeks in the US after the MMFF season.

"Theater tour po yun kasi first day ng Family of Two. Then dinner with my family and then tatapusin ko lang yung season ng MMFF dahil aalis po ako for my birthday for two weeks. I will be taking a two-week break with my family. So kailangan ko pong huminga dahil ang dami ko pong ginawa ngayong taon. And mas marami pa po next year," he said.

(It's a theater tour because it's the first day of Family of Two. Then, I'll have dinner with my family and finish the MMFF season because I'll be leaving for my birthday in two weeks. I will be taking a two-week break with my family. So I need to breathe because I did a lot this year. And even more next year.)

Jackie Lou Blanco: "Ako siyempre panonoorin ko muna ang pelikula namin. But usually, we spend Christmas with my mom. It's more with the family. Ganun lang. I'm just happy and grateful for what we have and thankful sa lahat ng binibigay ng Panginoon."

(Of course, I will watch our movie first. But usually, we spend Christmas with my mom. It's more with the family. That's it. I'm happy and grateful for what we have and for everything the Lord gives.)

Miles Ocampo: "Ang Christmas po ay para sa family. So kasama ko po ang pamilya ko sa Pasko. And then my cinema tour po kami. Manonood po kami sabay-sabay."

(Christmas is for the family. So I'm with my family for Christmas. And then we're going on a cinema tour. We're going to watch it together.)

Pepe Herrera: "Isa lang po. To be with my wife as she gives birth. Baka Christmas eh. December 17 expecting na. So yun lang po." (Just one. To be with my wife as she gives birth. Maybe it's Christmas. We're expecting Dec. 17. So that's all.)

Mel Mendoza del Rosario: "Mass with my family and lunch with my brother's family and my husband Ricky. Ganun lang."

Director Nuel Naval: "Ako naman sa mga kapatid ko kasi wala na kaming parents. So we will have a mass for our parents so parang halos kasama na namin sila. Will have lunch at may theater tour."

(I'll be with my siblings because we no longer have parents. We will have a mass for our parents, so it's almost like we're with them. We'll have lunch and a theater tour.)

Winning tandem

Nuel and Mel are the winning tandem behind the movie, "Family Matters," which won 25 awards from eight award-giving bodies, including the MMFF, in 2022.

Mel and Nuel first teamed up as writer and director in “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” Mel shared, “It was in 2009 that we had a chance to work together in MMK. Nuel was supposed to direct an episode the following day, but he wasn’t comfortable doing it because he was unhappy with some parts of the script. The episode writer could not revise it as he was out of town. As a creative manager, I was compelled to do the revisions overnight para lang pumayag siya to shoot the next day.”

"Tumaas ang respeto ko sa kanya, kasi may ibang directors na makapag-taping lang would take liberties with the script. Si Nuel never mo mapupuwersa mag-shoot pag di confident sa script. Nuel would graciously offer na kahit di muna siya sumweldo basta hihintayin niyang maayos ang script. After this sobrang na-appreciate ko siya as a professional. Years later, I felt he was ripe for film. That’s when I recommended him for “A Secret Affair," Mel said.

(My respect for him has increased because other directors can only tape and would take liberties with the script. You can never force Nuel to shoot if he is not confident in the script. Nuel would graciously offer even if he didn't get paid first. He will wait for the script to be fixed. After this, I appreciated him as a professional. Years later, I felt he was ripe for the film. That's when I recommended him for 'A Secret Affair')

After their first successful team-up, five more films followed: This Time (2016), Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019), More Than Blue (2021), Family Matters (2022), and Adik Sa 'Yo (2023).

Direk Nuel described his bond with Mel, "We are good friends, to begin with. We share the same family values and work ethic, and that’s why we get along so well. Basang-basa na namin ang isa’t isa. She need not describe a scene in detail for me to get what she wants to say. I guess alam na rin niya how I will interpret her written work. I think it’s also the trust and respect we share that makes our tandem click."

Mel added, "We nurture each other’s creativity. Madali kaming nagkakaintindihan sa personal na buhay at trabaho. Malimit kami mag kwentuhan tungkol sa pamilya namin, minsan magkakaiyakan pa tapos sasabihin namin – gawin natin yan sa movie!" Both are known for their family-themed collaborations.  

"Kahit sa mga teleseryes, core competence ko ang family stories. Siguro kasi lumaki ako sa masayang pamilya. Sobrang appreciated ko sa mga magulang ko, kapatid, extended family like uncles, aunts, and cousins. Tapos ang Kuya ko may parenting education advocacy. Marami akong natututunan sa kanya. Naging napakamapagmahal ng pamilya ko, kaya siguro lumaki akong masayahin – bitbit ko yung pagpapahalaga sa pamilya sa mga kwentong sinusulat ko," she revealed.

Nuel stressed, "Doing family-related films is an advocacy for me. It is also a tribute of sorts to my parents--to be able to share the family values they have inculcated in me. I grew up in a close-knit, religious, and traditional Filipino family. And this is reflected in my work as a director. These family values will never go out of fashion and must be shared with our audience. It’s basic at hindi dapat mawala sa consciousness ng mga Pinoy. Love begins at home."

In “Family of Two” (A Mother and Son Story), Sharon plays Maricar, a selfless mother who only wants the best for her son. Her life revolves around her son Matty, played by Alden, a loving son any parent would want as a son-in-law.

The film is by Cineko Productions and is one of the 10 official entries to the MMFF 2023. It will open in cinemas nationwide on Dec. 25.