The Philippine entertainment industry has seen numerous tandems that have captured the hearts of many. Among the latest and most talked-about pairs is Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, more popularly known by their portmanteau “KimPau.”
Their on-screen chemistry and captivating performances in the heavy drama “Linlang” (2023) and the recently concluded Philippine adaptation of the South Korean television series “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?” have left an indelible mark on their legion of fans. Together, they brought a fresh and exciting dynamic to Pinoy television, making their series top-rated, setting social media abuzz, and scoring multiple trending topics online.
Palpable Chemistry, On-Screen Magic
In the series, the adorable pair brought an overload of kilig and good vibes as it followed the story of Secretary Kim (Kim), a highly skilled secretary, and her narcissistic boss, Brandon Manansala Castillo or BMC (Paulo). When Secretary Kim resigned from her position, the romantic push and pull between the two happened as they started catching feelings for each other.
Kim and Paulo couldn’t pinpoint the exact formula for why their tandem worked. However, they believed that the story combined with Pinoy humor and other Filipino elements were some of the factors that made their characters more relatable and highlighted their on-screen chemistry.
“As proud Pinoy, maraming nilagay ang mga writers namin and everyone involved sa paggawa ng ‘Secretary Kim’ the Philippine version. Maraming Filipino touch such as family- oriented or iyong mga more comedy side. Actually, kapag pinanood mo siya side by side, medyo parehas siya [sa Korean counterpart]. Pero iyong story namin is more Filipino and mas nakaka-relate iyong karamihan,” Kim said.
“The show is adapted into our culture. So, if you watch the original, some parts I watched, the Korean culture is strong. Pero, our Filipino culture was adapted in this adaptation: how we are, how we talk, and how we are in the Philippines,” Paulo added.
As their first rom-com series, Paulo and Kim are also excited for the fans who are watching the show on free TV for the first time. The series, which first aired in March, was initially accessible only on the digital platform Viu. Now, fans can watch it on free TV – Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5 on weekends. - Words by Len Armea, Photos courtesy of ABS-CBN/Dreamscape Entertainment
Read the full article in the June 2024 issue of the Filipino-Japanese Journal, out now in Japan.
