Why Carmina and Zoren nearly turned down the offer to star as leads in a drama together

For the first time, Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi are set to star as leads in a drama together.
 
During the "Stories From the Heart: The End Of Us" press conference on Wednesday, the celebrity couple shared that they initially weren’t going to take the offer, especially since Carmina’s father was in and out of the hospital.
 
“Dapat talaga hindi namin tatanggapin to. At first we were so excited. Not everyday na nabibigyan kami ng chance na ganito, not everyday we're given a chance to work together on such a beautiful project…pero with what’s happening with my dad,” Carmina said.

“After a while I said hindi ko kaya. It’s either ako or si Zoren nalang pero kung kami hindi ko talaga kaya," she added.

[We really weren’t supposed to accept the offer. At first we were so excited. It’s not everyday we’re given this chance, not everyday we’re given a chance to work together on such a beautiful project…but with what’s happening with my dad.
 
After a while, I said I couldn’t do it. It’s either me or Zoren but if it’s the both of us, I can’t do it.]
 
Zoren also shared that it was hard since both of their children were gone from home and the fact that if they both took the roles, both parents would be gone from the house.
 
However, after taking a leap of faith, the couple decided to take on the opportunity.
 
Thanking everyone for their hard work, Zoren got emotional and teared up, saying, “May pinagdadaanan kami as a family, dad ni Mina in and out of the hospital kaya isa ‘yun sa mga nagiging emotional [reasons].”
 
He added, “As an actor, you wait for this kind of story, this kind of director, these kinds of writers, these kinds of creatives, these kinds of producers. Bihira ‘yung mangyari sa show na hinihintay mo na magaling na magkasama sa isang production. It’s really a blessing and an opportunity to be chosen dito sa magandang programang ito.”
 
[As an actor, you wait for this kind of story, this kind of director, these kinds of writers, these kinds of creatives, these kinds of producers. It’s rare, and you wait for a show where great ones come to work together for a production. It’s really a blessing and an opportunity to be chosen for this beautiful program.]
 
Carmina also expressed her gratitude for the team and for letting them take the time before accepting the role.
 
“Buti nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon mapaisip-isip," she said. "So we did a lot of thinking and Zoren and I said, ‘Sige, Hon, tanggapin natin. Bahala na. Let’s just pray and live it all up to God and then let’s just give it our all.’ And then we are very thankful God really guided us…This is very close to our hearts.”
 
[It’s a good thing we were given the chance to think this through…So we did a lot of thinking and Zoren and I said, ‘Okay, Hon, let’s just accept this. Let’s leave it to God. Let’s just pray and leave it all up to God and then let’s just give it our all.’ And then we are very thankful God really guided us…This is very close to our hearts.]
 
Carmina and Zoren are set to star in Stories From the Heart: The End of Us, their very first drama together where they both play the lead roles.
 
The series revolves around a married couple who gets torn apart after the husband cheats. However, they find themselves reigniting the relationship during the process of annulment.

It is set to premiere on December 20. —JCB, GMA News