30 Nov, 2024
How DonBelle’s “How to Spot a Red Flag” Offers a Fresh Approach to Filipino Drama Series
A bliss of joy to all Bubblies! DonBelle’s newest Viu Original Series, How to Spot a Red Flag, is now streaming. The show tells the story of a spunky barista, Cha (played by Belle Mariano), in the picturesque land of La Union, where she meets two gorgeous men—one of whom is Matt, a charming good boy played by Donny Pangilinan. A new onscreen couple is born: MattCha.
We attended the show’s media con held in Quezon City. Donny and Belle expressed their gratitude and love for their fans, delighting everyone with charming moments and fun activities throughout the event. One of the highlights was the surprise for two randomly selected lucky fans, who each won exclusive signed Polaroid photos from the beloved love team.
In the middle of the event, the love team captivated fans with their undeniable, genuine chemistry. When asked by ABS-CBN correspondent and event host MJ Felipe if there’s a secret behind the organic acting on screen, Donny was the first to respond, “S’yempre kami ni Belle, sobrang genuine lang namin sa isa’t-isa. Lahat ng ipinakita namin, na–fi-feel talaga namin.”
Belle followed with an equally heartfelt answer, “I’m just really happy that I get to do this with him, and I’m grateful that I have him in my life.” Fans erupted in cheers, filling the hall with excitement for the love team’s new milestone.
Garlic Garcia, the Head of Content for Viu Philippines, shared her thoughts on the key elements of How to Spot a Red Flag that particularly resonate with the youth and everybody experiencing a similar situation. She told Metro.Style, “We love How to Spot a Red Flag because it talks to the youth; it talks to everybody dating—anybody who wants to date would experience red flags and learn how to avoid them.”
Garlic further expressed the essence of the show, highlighting the modern approach of Gen Zs when navigating romantic relationships, where identifying red flags are vividly portrayed. “The show will teach you what the talking stage is, how cheaters operate, how to avoid ghosting, and what to do when you’re ghosted. We love it because we’re confident it will resonate with many,” she added.
The production of the series undoubtedly required immense effort to execute each scene. The undeniable chemistry between the two leads and the camaraderie built within the cast were made possible by the hard work of the production team and director Dwein Baltazar.
Garlic also shared how this original series from Viu has elevated the landscape of Philippine television, saying, “We’re so excited that this show is an example of what an elevated series from Viu looks like. A Viu elevated series is glossy, features a relatable yet compelling story, and presents scenes that are less contrived, making everything feel more natural and believable.”
It’s part of the culture for Filipinos to sit on the couch and watch their favorite dramas every day; Pinoy teleseryes often have hundreds of episodes in one season. But with How to Spot a Red Flag, the production team strategically crafted the show to only run for 25 episodes, each lasting 30 minutes. Still, they are mindful of making the story complete, tight, and with the perfect build-up to the climax.
How to Spot a Red Flag is now streaming on Viu, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday, and a special behind-the-scenes show every Friday. Don’t miss a single episode—subscribe now to Viu and follow the whirlwind story of Matt and Cha!