Fans are raving about the chemistry between rising Viva Artists Agency (VAA) stars Andres Muhlach and Ashtine Olviga. The duo stars in the Wattpad series Ang Mutya ng Section E, based on Lara Flores’ popular book. The series officially premiered on the Viva One streaming service on Jan. 3. Directed by Theodore Boborol, the series runs for 16 episodes.
With a fanbase eager to see the new love team in action, the show has already stirred excitement even before its release. The official trailer of Ang Mutya ng Section E garnered over two million views in less than 24 hours across all platforms after its release on Dec. 19. By Dec. 21, the views had surged to seven million.
During the grand press conference for the series, Boborol was asked whether Muhlach and Olviga could be the next big love team. He expressed confidence in their potential.
“The formula in love teams is opposites attract. Just from that, you’ll feel the excitement when they come from different worlds, and then you look for what they have in common, how they connect. Even from their character backgrounds, you get excited, especially when they fall in love with each other,” Boborol said.
He further emphasized, “They have huge potential.”
Both Muhlach and Olviga have also been generating buzz on social media, where fans have embraced their chemistry. On TikTok, where a large portion of Gen Z viewers engage, clips of the two sharing candid moments and behind-the-scenes footage have gone viral.
Fans have also noticed the strong bond between the pair, with some speculating that they share couple bracelets. The fanbase, AshDres Keepers Official, has already established a presence on TikTok, with another account titled “Asawa ni Andres” having gained 17.6 million likes.
For Muhlach, this is his second acting project, following his debut in the TV5 sitcom Da Pers Family with his parents and twin sister. When talking about working with Olviga, he expressed feeling excited during their scenes together.
“It feels really good. Every time I have a scene with Ash, I get butterflies,” Muhlach shared.
Olviga, who has had multiple love teams in the past, expressed her gratitude for the pairing, calling it an “answered prayer.” She noted that working with Muhlach felt different from her previous screen partners.
“I’ve had many love teams, but it was really with Andres that things clicked. I didn’t expect it. Of course, he’s Andres Muhlach. I’m really grateful. It feels like an answered prayer,” Olviga said.
When asked about the most rewarding aspect of his career so far, Muhlach spoke about the challenges and preparation involved in acting.
“There’s a lot of things. It’s not easy. Your work during taping days—even before taping—is all preparation. It’s different for each of us,” he explained.
In terms of advice from his parents, Muhlach shared that they often remind him to remain true to himself and give his best in every project.
“They always tell me to be myself and to put in the effort. The effort you put in will show if you really give it your all,” he said.
Ang Mutya ng Section E will have new episodes every Friday. The cast also includes Rabin Angeles, Andre Yllana, Heart Ryan, Charles Law, Axel Torres, Yayo Aguila, Katya Santos, Nanette Inventor, and Lander Vera-Perez.
