CinemaBravo

Heaven Peralejo made sure she was fully immersed in the world of I Love You Since 1892 by reading the original Wattpad novel multiple times, a level of dedication she revealed during the media launch held at Viva Cafe on July 24, where CinemaBravo was invited. Alongside her are Jerome Ponce and Joseph Marco, who also expressed their commitment to bringing the beloved story to life in its much-anticipated Viva One adaptation.

During the presscon, Heaven shared that she didn’t just rely on the script—she revisited the book over and over to ensure her portrayal of the lead character remained faithful to the original.

“I have read the book a lot of times, and I have read the script a lot of times. I make sure na same na same, and wala pong binago, binigyan lang ng buhay yung character,” she said.
(I’ve read the book and the script so many times. I make sure it stays exactly the same—nothing has been changed, just given life.)

The story is about a rebellious teenager who time-travels to 1892 in colonial Philippines and takes the identity of one of her ancestors to prevent a tragic story from happening. While carrying out her mission across a different timeline, she discovers the true essence of destiny, sacrifice, and a love that transcends time.

Taking on the challenging dual roles of Carmela and her great-great-grandmother Carmelita, Heaven said she was deeply invested in the character.

“And yeah, I love the character so much to the extent na hindi ko sila papabayaan.”
(And yeah, I love the character so much that I won’t ever neglect her.)

This time-travel romance marks another milestone in her career following her breakout role as Luna in The Rain in España. In I Love You Since 1892, Carmela is a rebellious present-day teen who gets transported to the year 1892 and is forced to live as Carmelita in order to rewrite the past and return to her own time. Heaven’s portrayal of both identities highlights her versatility as an actress, taking on two time periods and emotional arcs in a single narrative.

Jerome Ponce enters period drama territory as Juanito

Jerome Ponce, who stars as Juanito Alfonso, also underscored how committed the production was to staying true to the book.

“It’s still the original story na ginagamit namin… So, parehas na parehas yon. Yun ang masasabi ko,” he explained.

(It’s still the original story we’re using… It’s exactly the same. That’s what I can say.)

He also shared how involved he’s been in the adaptation process—from closely following the script to working with the director—because he sees this as more than just a job. It’s a project rooted in trust, and he said they wouldn’t risk their careers if they weren’t fully behind the material. For Jerome, it’s about delivering a Filipino story written by a fellow Filipino, and doing it with pride.

His role as Juanito signals a major shift from his previous performance as Hiro in Safe Skies, Archer. This time, he trades his modern, heartthrob pilot persona for a colonial-era gentleman whose orderly life is turned upside down by love. The romance between Juanito and Carmela becomes central to the narrative, bringing drama and emotional weight to the series.

Joseph Marco adds tension to the time-crossed romance as Leandro

Meanwhile, Joseph Marco, who plays Leandro Flores, shared that one of the production’s earliest promises was to stay loyal to the novel’s text. As an actor, he believes that authenticity comes from preparation—something he took seriously by crafting over 50 pages of personal notes just to build his character’s backstory.

“You’re gonna add depth to the role… Acting, this is a community project. Alam naman natin na lahat dito, we’re aiming for the best (We all know everyone here is aiming for the best),” Joseph said.

Joseph plays a major role in the series’ central conflict as Leandro, the former love of Carmelita who returns from overseas determined to win her back. His presence disrupts the growing bond between Carmela (as Carmelita) and Juanito, adding a layer of tension and passion to an already complex time-bending love story.

I Love You Since 1892, one of Wattpad Philippines’ most iconic historical fiction titles, is authored by bestselling writer Binibining Mia. The novel was originally published on Wattpad in 2016 and has since gained over 131 million reads. It has sold more than 210,000 printed copies and was named Book of the Year in 2019.

The series also introduces the intertwined lives of multiple families who play vital roles in the story, portrayed by a mix of veteran actors and promising newcomers. At the helm is internationally acclaimed director McArthur C. Alejandre, known for his emotionally resonant and visually compelling works.

I Love You Since 1892 is coming soon to Viva One.