David Licauco and Ashtine Olviga are bringing their brand of acting to the Filipino adaptation of the hit 2017 Korean series “Fight for My Way.” Working together on the Viva One project for the first time, the actors said they have developed a natural onscreen chemistry through growing familiarity and mutual respect.
Directed by Crisanto B. Aquino, the series follows Aira (Olviga) and Hanz (Licauco), childhood best friends for more than two decades, as they support each other while navigating adulthood and pursuing dreams they put on hold. McCoy de Leon and Aubrey Caraan complete the main cast as Manny and Sally.
With fans expressing excitement over their pairing before the premiere, Licauco and Olviga are determined to meet expectations.
“I’m grateful and thankful for the love that we are receiving from people, especially because our pairing for this project was so unexpected. The love we’ve received motivates us to push ourselves further and do better in our work. We’re also very thankful to our supporters because they continue to show their support not only for us individually but for the show itself,” Olviga said during the series’ press conference.
“There’s pressure, in a sense, because even before the release of the show, there are already supporters, and that’s because your fans are very engaging. Our responsibility is to do well in the show, so we’re really giving our best,” Licauco said.
The actors also praised each other’s professionalism. Olviga described Licauco as a considerate co-star who gives her room to work through challenging scenes.
“I really appreciate David because I’ve noticed that he’s very patient and understanding. Sometimes I struggle, but he never makes me feel like I’m taking too much time or that I’m holding him back. He doesn’t make me feel pressured, and I appreciate that about him,” she said.
Licauco, in turn, spoke highly of Olviga’s preparation and attitude toward work.
“She comes on set prepared, memorizes her lines and is kind to everyone. She’s a nice person and a good actress. You don’t feel like she’s an actress because of how she treats the people around her,” Licauco said of Olviga.
Although Aquino initially wondered how their contrasting acting styles would work together, their first scene eased his concerns.
“I immediately felt that it would work,” he said.
Beyond establishing chemistry, the cast had to balance familiarity with the original characters and making the story relatable to Filipino viewers.
Olviga studied Kim Ji-won’s performance in the original to understand her character’s emotions and mannerisms.
“I was very conscious of every scene, so I would watch the original and try to understand what was happening and how the character was feeling. At the same time, I still wanted to give the role my own interpretation and bring a Filipino touch to it,” she said.
Licauco initially considered imitating Park Seo-joon’s mannerisms but found he needed a more natural approach.
“When we started filming on the first day, I felt uncomfortable because that wasn’t me. I asked Direk about it, and he gave me his blessing to just be myself. That really helped me,” he said.
He also trained in mixed martial arts and taekwondo to play Hanz, a former taekwondo prodigy who dreams of becoming a professional fighter but works in pest control because of financial difficulties.
Aquino wanted the adaptation to feel like an authentic Filipino story.
“My principle is that it should look like a Filipino story. I know the story came from Korea, but when you watch it, I don’t want it to feel like something being copied. I want Filipino viewers to feel that this is their story,” he said.
While retaining certain iconic scenes and performances, the production incorporates Filipino culture through its locations, food and portrayal of everyday life.
De Leon and Caraan also mark their first onscreen pairing. Their characters are part of the “Crazy Fantastic Four” Manny, Sally, Aira and Hanz.
“She is the kind of actress who really studies the script and understands her character. For me, that made our first meeting and scenes together smoother,” De Leon said.
Caraan described De Leon as a gentleman who establishes trust and open communication.
“Before anything else, he asked me to tell him about my limits. Since we’re working on an adaptation and our characters have been together for six years, there shouldn’t be any awkwardness between us. He’s very open and considerate, both on and off camera,” she said.
The supporting cast includes Rob Gomez, Icee Ejercito, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Albie Casiño, Abby Bautista and Maui Taylor, along with Taneo, Marlo Mortel, Billy Villeta, Maru Delgado, Lester Llansang and Nikka Ruiz.
“Fight for My Way” is Viva One’s first Korean series adaptation. It premieres exclusively on the streaming platform on Nov. 20, with new episodes every Friday.