Milby and Julia Montes arrived in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on Friday (27 September) to begin shooting their upcoming series Saving Grace. Dreamscape Entertainment shared photos of Milby and Montes alongside new child star Zia Grace, where they were warmly welcomed by the people of Palawan.
Saving Grace will mark Montes’ first lead role in four years, following 24/7. She previously made a guest appearance in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, led by her real-life partner, actor-director Coco Martin, in 2021. (Martin and Montes, too, have never admitted that a romance has been blossoming between them for years, though many showbiz insiders are aware of it. This non-admission seems to have had no negative impact on their respective careers.)
The 29-year-old actress also headlined the film Five Breakups and a Romance opposite Alden Richards.
Meanwhile, Milby last appeared in the 2022 TV series A Family Affair alongside Ivana Alawi, Gerald Anderson, Jameson Blake and Jake Ejercito.
Saving Grace is the Filipino adaptation of the Japanese drama Mother, which achieved global success as Asia’s most exported scripted format, with adaptations in Turkey, South Korea, Ukraine, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia.
Aside from the two leads, the series will also feature Sharon Cuneta, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia and Christian Bables.
Saving Grace will also mark Cuneta’s TV comeback after taking a break due to health issues.
“Health matters, but it’s manageable now,” the megastar said of her condition, particularly her hip injury.
Cuneta’s last TV appearance was also in Ang Probinsyano in 2022, where she played the role of First Lady Aurora Guillermo-Hidalgo. She also appeared in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entry Family of Two.
Recently, the award-winning singer-actress revealed that she is preparing to write her autobiography.
Perhaps Milby should also consider writing a memoir about how his life and career have evolved since he moved to the Philippines and gave up his career as a band member in Ohio, USA. The memoir could also include his romance with Miss Universe 2018.
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New Deadline Alert! The submission deadline for finished films for the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival this December has been extended to Monday, 7 October, at 5 p.m. Producers are advised not to miss out!
The announcement was made by the MMFF executive committee on 29 September.