Coming from the success of his film "Firefly," Kapuso child actor Euwenn Mikaell Aleta teams up with veteran actor Joel Torre in the new Netflix movie "Lolo and the Kid."

The story follows hustler Joel and the child Euween he took in. They routinely con the wealthy, but a life-changing opportunity could end their inseparable bond.

During a media roundtable at the Raffles Hotel in Makati on Aug. 1, Joel talked about working with Euwenn.

"It was a wonderful experience. Ang saya, I know of Euween pero first-time kami magtrabaho and instantaneously I knew this kid was a boy wonder. Very in-demand, mag-so-shoot kami tapos puyat na puyat he just came from one project talagang professional siya," Joel said.

(It was a wonderful experience. It was fun. I had heard of Euween before, but it was the first time we worked together, and instantly I knew this kid was a boy wonder. He's very in demand; we would do a shoot for a show and then stay up late. He had just come from one project, but he's professional.)

Joel also mentioned how Euwenn puts his passion and dedication into his work.

"For such a boy at his age, to be working that hard is something remarkable for me," he added.
Euwenn mentioned his surprise at Joel's warm welcome during the film.

"Akala ko po nung una kapag batikan mayayabang kasi matagal na po sila sa industriya, pero mabait na tao po ang batikan katulad po ni Tito Joel po," Euween said.

(At first, I thought that veteran actors had a bragging attitude because of their long tenure in the industry, but not all veteran actors are like that; they are kind, like Tito Joel.)

Joel mentioned that they both made an effort to portray their respective roles in the film as they worked for the first time.

"Acting is co-acting, you're only as good as your co-actor. So, in this film wala kaming sapawan or whatever, bigay na bigay kami pareho kaya makikita niyo per scene narereciprocate yung feels namin dalawa while acting," Joel added.

(Acting is co-acting; you're only as good as your co-actor. Therefore, in this film, we don't overlap. Instead, we give each other space so you can see each scene reciprocating our feelings while acting.)

The film not only showcases the deep love between the characters but also emphasizes the heartbreaking nature of letting go of someone. Joel confessed that he found it challenging to act in certain dramatic scenes, as he empathized with the difficulty of letting go of someone and making sacrifices.

"If you love somebody, you have to set them free. Yung ang pinaka-ultimate sacrifice for me, and also heartwrenching na eksena. Honestly, I hard time doing it because kargadong-kargado ako at the same time, hirap na hirap ako sa eksena na yun, I don't know why. Pero looking back kaya ako nahihirapan, kasi iniimagine ko na mahirap talaga i-deal yung ganung bagay," Joel shared.

(If you love somebody, you have to set them free. That is the ultimate sacrifice for me, and also a heart-wrenching scene. Honestly, I had a hard time doing it because I was really into it. I had a hard time with that scene, I don't know why. But looking back, that's why I had a hard time because I imagined that it was really difficult to deal with something like that.)

A grandparent's love

As a grandson of Lolo and Lola himself, Euwenn shared that the key to their successful relationship is love, which Joel wholeheartedly agrees with.

"See? He said it so simply pero grabe yung laman niya. It's also the relationship, kapag mahal mo, makikita mo talaga. You cannot fake it or act it. Kaya, that's how we both feel while doing the film," Joel said.

"See? He said it so simply, but his content was intense. It's also about the relationship. When you love, you can really see it. You cannot fake it or act it. So that's how we both feel while doing the film."
 

Euwenn also mentioned that he gives his grandparents money from his paycheck to assist them in purchasing groceries for their store.

"Ako po yung nag-iispoil sa kanila, every sweldo ko binibigyan ko sila para may pambili po sila ng kailangan, kasi meron po silang maliit na tindahan," Euwenn shared.

(I'm the one who spoils them. I give them their entire salary so they can buy what they need because they own a small store.)

More than just a movie, "Lolo and the Kid" is a monument to the enduring strength of love and the sacrifices we make for the people we care about.

"Lolo and the Kid," was directed by Benedict Mique, and also stars JK Labajo, Iza Calzado, Meryll Soriano, Joem Bascon, Nico Antonio, Markki Stroem, Shaina Magdayao, and Alfred Vargas.