Loisa Andalio And Ronnie Alonte Talk About Their Upcoming MMFF Movie

Fresh off their recent success with the ABS-CBN series Love in 40 Days, Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte (LoiNie) are back with another project. This time around, you’ll get to see these stars not just on the small screen but now at the cinemas.

The duo is set to appear alongside My Teacher lead stars Joey De Leon and Toni Gonzaga for the MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) movie which is about a high school teacher who returns to her hometown and learns life’s valuable lessons from her unconventional student: a 70-year-old man. Directed by Paul Soriano, My Teacher serves as a reunion project for Joey and his former noontime show co-host Toni, and it is also a comeback movie for the LoiNie loveteam after the strict two-year pandemic lockdowns.

Loisa and Ronnie said My Teacher was an inspiring film to work on.

“Kailangan nilang mapanood iyong ganito kagandang story na maraming lessons at punong-puno ng pagmamahal at ang ganda talaga niya. Hindi siya iyong mabo-bore ka. Bawat eksena, may aral talaga na mapupulot,” Loisa begins. “Ang lesson na ibinibigay ng My Teacher is walang pinipiling edad iyong pangarap at hope. Basta habang nabubuhay ka, may pag-asa anuman ang sitwasyon mo sa buhay o kapalaran mo. Basta pag-igihan mo lang at may pangarap ka, matutupad mo iyon.” 

Ronnie, on the other hand, shared, “Magaan iyong pelikula at, for sure, makaka-relate lahat ng mga estudyante at lalo na ang mga teachers... Bata man o matanda, dapat din tayong matuto at matuto pa.”

Loisa and Ronnie also talked about their characters in the film and how they can relate to their My Teacher roles.

Loisa describes her character Erica as a “good student” in the movie and a relatable character especially to those who are also going through different situations as a student. Just like Erica, Loisa was also diligent as a student.

“Noong mga panahong estudyante ako, iyon din naman talaga ang goal ko kaya ako nag-aaral mabuti at ginagalingan ko sa school—kasi gusto kong mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan iyong family ko. Doon ako nakaka-relate. Isa siyang inspirasyon sa mga kabataan. Honor student ako sa movie at noong high school din ako. Nakaka-inspire si Erica kaya dapat tularan ng kabataan. Mag-aral mabuti,” the young actress said.

As for Ronnie, he calls his character Francis as “isang pasaway at bad boy na estudyante na lahat ng mga guro ay sumusuko.” Francis is also the love interest of Loisa’s character Erica.

Asked if he feels there are similarities between himself and the character he plays, Ronnie laughed and revealed, “Sa totoo lang, hindi nagkakalayo. Pareho lang, pero mas malala si Francis. Kung si Ronnie 50% [pasaway], si Francis naman 100%.”

He continued, “Nandoon din naman iyong pagiging pasaway ko pero the way magsalita sa teacher, magkaiba naman kami. Mababait ako sa mga teachers ko. Pareho kami ni Francis nagba-basketball. Magaling din naman ako sa class.” 

Still, the young actor found a redeeming factor in his seemingly “bad boy” character.

“Ang nagustuhan ko kay Francis, kapag gusto niya, gagawin nya lahat para maabot iyon. Ganoon din ako. Kapag may gusto akong bagay, kailangang makuha ko at magawa ko ito. Gustong gusto ko iyon kay Francis,” Ronnie explains.

With this movie as an MMFF entry, there are many things that the couple is excited about. They have joined MMFF before through the 2018 movie Fantastica, but this is both their second time at the movie festival with meatier roles and their first time to join again after 2016 and the strict pandemic lockdowns.

“Na-excite kami kasi finally naka-join ulit. Thank you, Lord, kasi hindi namin inexpect na sa tagal ng pandemic and after Love in 40 Days, nabigyan kami ng movie at sa MMFF pa,” Ronnie shares.

Loisa is equally excited at the prospect of joining the MMFF because it gives them a chance to get up close with fans and cinema goers in a festive way.

“I look forward to the festival kasi may parade tapos maraming offer na films dito tapos nakaka-proud din kasi may entry ka. Nakaka-excite lalo na ngayon na mas normal na so free na free na manood sa sine,” she said, her eyes beaming.

“Galing pandemic so ngayon na lang ulit kaya lahat ng mga tao, for sure, na-miss nila itong MMFF, iyong parade at kung sino may mga entries. Iyon ang inaabangan talaga. Please support local movies,” she added.

“Hoping kami na mas suportahan ng mga tao hindi lang iyong My Teacher kung hindi lahat ng pelikula kasi dito talaga, iba-iba ang mapapanood mo,” Ronnie supported Loisa’s plea.

Asked how they’re going to celebrate Christmas, the couple said it’s going to be all about work as they will be busy promoting My Teacher while shooting an upcoming romance movie for TEN17, a film production company currently helmed by Loisa’s former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Fifth Solomon. While Christmas season is hectic for LoiNie, they look forward to brighter things to come in 2023. In fact, they are also planning to have a huge surprise for their fans and followers next year.

“Marami kaming goals ni Ronnie sa 2023. Sa personal, we just want to be healthier and makagawa pa kami ni Ronnie ng maraming businesses bukod sa work sa showbiz. Marami pa kaming iniisip na business na gusto namin ayon sa lifestyle namin,” Loisa told Metro.Style. The couple recently opened their café called Farron Café in Cavite and they intend to open another branch in Laguna next year. Loisa and Ronnie are also busy with The Bloom Project, a healthy drinks business which they manage with their friends.

According to Ronnie, the pandemic was an eye-opener for them and motivated them to get into business ventures and make wise investments. “Para kapag walang work and shooting, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang income. Iba talaga kapag may negosyo,” the actor explained.

“Nasabi na rin naman ni Loisa plans namin for next year. Pero lagi kong sinasabi, kahit ano'ng mangyari at wala ka namang inaapakang tao, bahala na si Lord. Kapag sa Kanya ko ipinagbahala, alam ko magiging okay ako. As long as ginagawa ko ang best ko sa work at sa opportunity, si Lord na ang bahala kasi never naman Niya kaming pinabayaan,” Ronnie concluded with faith and optimism.

Lead photo from Metro.Style archive - photographed by Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto for Brands