They sailed and braved the rough seas.
The millennial fairytale One of the Baes marked the first-ever primetime series of the RitKen love team”•a dream come true for all RitKen shippers.
Viewers were all aboard in following the story of Jowalyn and Grant in the said romantic-comedy series produced by GMA News and Public Affairs. Since its pilot airing, OOTB charmed its way to Filipino TV households and stirred interest among netizens.
In the series, Jowalyn Biglangdapa (Rita Daniela) is resolved to become a ship captain, and tries to avoid romantic entanglements along the way. Grant Altamirano (Ken Chan), on the other hand, is convinced he already met his one great love during his childhood and is on the verge of meeting her again. While showcasing environmental awareness through his vlogs, he sets out to look for her.
Jowa discovers that going after her dream will not be smooth sailing, especially when people like Alona Aragoza (Melanie Marquez) and Xtina Aguilar (Joyce Ching) will do anything to pull her down. But with the support of her adoptive father, Paps Fernando (Roderick Paulate), and her friends in the Home Baes, Jowa succeeds and finishes her studies and finally becomes a captain of the ship.
Meanwhile, Grant learns that recognizing one’s true love can be challenging at times and that the past can cloud one’s perception of the present. At first, he thinks that he has found his childhood love in Xtina. Meeting Jowa changes everything as he finds himself falling in love with his friend. In the end, Grant discovers that Jowa indeed was the girl who saved his life when they were young.
One of the Baes aimed to empower women on the high seas. It also paid tribute to our Filipino seafarers by featuring real-life maritime students from Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in the production.
Ken, who plays Grant in the series, shares that the OOTB opened his eyes to the reality that maritime students face in achieving their dreams. “Habang ginagawa namin ang One of the Baes, naranasan at nalaman namin kung gaano kahirap ang buhay ng mga estudyante na gustong maging marino. Dati parang ang dami kong complaints about life. Pero nu’ng naranasan ko kahit papaano isabuhay ang buhay nila, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na wala akong karapatang mag-complain pa sa buhay. Hindi biro ang ginagawa ng mga estudyanteng marino dahil buhay nila ang isinasakripisyo nila, matupad lang ang pangarap nila at ‘yun ang pinaka-importanteng natutuhan ko sa One of the Baes.”
He adds that he will definitely miss his OOTB family. “Sobrang mami-miss ko ‘yung mga co-actor ko at ang mga staff dahil sila ang nakakasama ko almost every day sa loob ng maraming buwan. Iba kasi ang nabuong samahan sa OOTB. Dati, kinakabahan ako kasi ang dami naming veteran actors na makakatrabaho. Nagkabaliktad, sobrang sarap pala nilang katrabaho at ‘yung kaba ko nawala dahil ang cool nila lahat. At ang mga staff, wish ko sana makatrabaho ko ulit sila again, soon. Mami-miss ko rin ang locations na pinupuntahan namin like Bataan. First time kong ma-experience na magpabalik-balik from Batangas to Mindoro. At mami-miss ko rin ang paglangoy-langoy ko rito sa dagat, kasi hilig ko talaga ang dagat at dito sa OOTB natupad ‘yun. Ang dami kong eksena na sumisid ako sa dagat at nakita ko ang mga coral reef at mga isda. And mami-miss ko ang luto ni Tita Amy Austria dahil lagi syang nagdadala ng pagkain sa set,” he says.
Respect for other people is what Rita will take with her from OOTB. “Respect people’s time, respect kung ano man ang naging desisyon ng tao, and learn to adjust. Kasama ‘yun sa respect eh. Malaking bagay ‘yun kasi halos majority ng cast ay veteran actors. Nakita ko kung paano nila nire-respeto ang trabaho nila at mga taong kasama nila sa show,” she says.
She shares that she will miss the Baes and their “Home Baes” the most. “Kahit na maliit at magulo, marami kaming napagdaanan doon. At syempre mami-miss ko ang production staff.”
In a few days, the millennial fairy tale One of the Baes will finally come to an end. As the love story of Grant and Jowalyn (Team JowAnt) blooms, another one begins with Carmina and Paps (Team CarPaps).
Will Team JowAnt, Team CarPaps, and the rest of the Home Baes family finally get their own version of happy ever after? Don’t miss the last chapter of One of the Baes, this Jan. 31, after The Gift on GMA Telebabad.