'Seducing Drake Palma' star Rabin Angeles has acknowledged limiting his social media exposure to reduce stress.

'Ngayon po sa totoo lang, hindi na ako masyado nagsosocial media para hindi na ako masyado nag-iisip-isip. (Honestly, I don't want to spend too much time on social media because I don’t want to overthink), Rabin said when asked how he maintains his popularity during the media conference for the series, held recently at Viva Cafe in Araneta City.

Rabin added: 'Ayoko na rin nagbabasa masyado ng mga comments. Magpo-post pa rin naman ako pero habang nasa show ako hindi muna ako magsosocial media para focus sa trabaho. (I don't like reading comments too much. I'll still post but while I'm on the show I won't be on social media to focus on work.)'

Asked how popular he is now on a scale of one to 10, Rabin said: 'One lang. Dapat sa baba lang tayo. Marami pa akong dapat matutunan. Marami pang bigas na kakainin at ramen. (Just one. We should stay grounded. I still have a lot to learn. There's still a lot of rice to eat and ramen.)'

Rabin is teamed up with Angela Muji in the 16-episode Wattpad sensation that has reached more than 120 million reads to date, together with its second book, Dating Alys Perez. 

Written by Ariesa Jane Domingo under the pen name “Beeyotch”, it starts with a girl’s intent to help her best friend win back his ex-girlfriend by getting the threat out of the way. That “threat” is a newcomer in school – the handsome and mysterious Drake Palma, who is fast becoming the crush ng bayan.

A fun and youthful story with a lot of twists and turns, this story deserves to be enjoyed by an even wider audience. Studio Viva presented its series adaptation, which premiered on Viva One last June 15.

Under the direction of the award-winning Crisanto B. Aquino (2025 Manila International Film Festival and 2024 MMFF Best Director for “My Future You”, 2019 MMFF Special Jury Prize Winner and 2020 Osaka Film Festival ABC Award for “Write About Love”), and with a cast of fresh young talents, fans of the book can be sure that their beloved characters are in good hands.

Crisanto said it wasn't a challenge to shoot the kilig scenes between Rabin and Angela because it came out naturally.

Effortless ang mga kilig moments nila kaya hindi na ako nahirapan mag-shoot ang mga scenes na ganun. Sa trailer kung mapapansin ninyo meron silang halos magkadikit na yung mga nose nila. Pero napaka-natural ng chemistry nilang dalawa. (Their thrilling moments are effortless, so I didn't have any trouble shooting those scenes. In the trailer, if you notice, their noses are almost touching. But the chemistry between the two is very natural, the director said.

Taking on the titular role is Rabin, now considered one of the new gen heartthrobs after playing Yuri Hanamitchi in the highly successful series Ang Mutya ng Section E. As Drake, he is smart, the type who can sleep through class yet still achieve perfect scores on exams. He is a transfer student, but doesn’t make an effort to be friendly. Though he acts aloof, girls still swoon over him. He doesn’t take any of them seriously.

Angela plays the funny and strong-willed Alys Perez. She is secretly in love with her best friend, who is now brokenhearted. She cannot stand to see him suffering, so Alys agrees to his request to seduce Drake and keep him away from his ex. The possibility that she could genuinely fall for him is the furthest thing from her mind. 

As Alys pursues Drake, his cousin, a frustrated photographer, enters the picture. Tripp Marco Palma, played by Dylan Menor, lives by the mantra, “go with the flow”. He’s into motorcycles, guitar hero…and upon meeting Alys, he’s also into her. This is bound to stir things up between him and Drake, whom he is secretly envious of.

Ethan David plays Sheen Mendoza, a football player and the best friend of Alys. He is friendly, but is also a crybaby. Even after their breakup, his love for his ex hasn’t diminished, and he’s desperate to get her back.

Rafa Victorino plays Kei Chui, head of the cheerleading team. She breaks up with Sheen because of boredom. When Drake comes along, she’s instantly attracted to him. Getting close to him is a challenge that excites her. 

Yumi Garcia plays Aya Pineda, the weird yet funny, caring, and incredibly honest best friend of Alys. She loves to gossip, but feels jaded about love. 

Frost Sandoval plays Kent Valdez, Sheen’s classmate and friend, a smooth talker with a playboy streak. He’ll try to work his charm on Aya.

Sara Joe plays Shaira Silos, Drake’s friend. She fondly calls him “husband/hubby” as he’s her first love, but it’s Tripp who was in love with her. She is nice, but has suicidal tendencies. 

Rounding out the cast are seasoned actors Mark Anthony Fernandez as Steve Palma, Drake’s father; Christopher Roxas as Andy, Alys’ stepfather; and Lander Vera Perez as Cyriel, Alys’ biological father. 

Lovely actresses Denise Esteban and Nikka Ruiz contribute to the complexity of the story with their respective roles: Esteban as Katrina Palma, who has an intriguing connection to both Drake and Steve; Nikka Ruiz as Dana, Alys’ mom, who is co-parenting with Cyriel, and happily married to Andy.