‘THE RAIN IN ESPANA’ is a youth-oriented series of 10 episodes starring Heaven Peralejo, Bea Binene, Marco Gallo, Krissha Viaje, Nicole Omillo, Aubrey Caraan, Gabby Padilla, Andre Yllana, Francis Magundayao and Frost Sandoval.
It is based on the hit Wattpad University series which has 550 million combined reads, written by Gwy Saludes. The title is obviously inspired by "The Rain in Spain", the popular song from the hit musical, "My Fair Lady".
The series is directed by Theodore Boborol who earlier did several films for Star Cinema, like the hits “Just the Way You Are” with LizQuen, “Vince, Kath & James” with Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia” and “Finally Found Someone” with Sarah and John Lloyd.
Chynna Ortaleza is creative producer and her husband Kean Cipriano is the musical director.
The lead roles of Luna and Kalix will be played by former PBB 2016 housemates Heaven Peralejo and Marco Gallo, where their love team was billed then as Marven.
They say they both felt good when they learned that they would be paired in the series and co-star with a bunch of talented young stars to support them.
Heaven as Luna is taking up architecture at UST in Espana Ave., Manila, while Marco as Kalix is taking up law at the Ateneo in Loyola.
Despite the long distance between their universities, they meet, fall in love and the series will chronicle the ups and down in their relationships for ten years.
“It’s a good feeling to see Marco again after six years,” says Heaven. “Okay kami agad and we feel comfortable working with each other.”
They are part of a very big cast and surprisingly, they all get along fine.
“We had workshops then we went on a night out at nag-click kami agad lahat. Naging magkakasundo kami even before our shoot started and we’re all excited to work with each other,” adds Heaven.
Is she aware that some netizens do not approve of the casting Viva chose for “The Rain in Espana”?
“Yes, I’ve read some of the comments. But you really cannot please everybody so, kami ng mga kasama ko, we just take it as a challenge to prove that Viva didn’t make a mistake in getting us for our respective roles.
"Talagang huhusayan na lang namin ang aming trabaho so as not to disappoint them.”
Heaven’s career is really on a roll.
She has this new series for the small screen and on the big screen, she has a new movie that is an official entry at the December Metro-Manila Filmfest, “Nananahimik ang Gabi”, where she plays the controversial role of Ian Veneracion’s very young lover.
“I really feel so blessed and I’m just thankful na hindi iisang type lang ng story ang ginagawa ko,” she says.
“‘The Rain in Espana’ is a romance while ‘Nananahimik ang Gabi’ is a suspense-thriller.
"Maganda ang pagtatapos ng 2022 for me with the movie this December, at maganda rin ang pasok ng new year na 2023 with the new series that will also be shown in a new Viva platform.”