Piolo Pascual and Bea Alonzo

Actors Piolo Pascual and Bea Alonzo are set to play former Sen. Benigno Aquino and former Pres. Cory Aquino, respectively, in a forthcoming two-part “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode.

Although Piolo admitted being excited about the project, “'di ko naman puwedeng sabihin na hindi ako kinakabahan. Mahirap siya. Pero gusto ko.”

He added: “I don't want to pass up a chance like this. Milestone ito hindi lang sa career ko, pero sa showbiz because ngayong lang ipalalabas ang love story ng two well-loved icons ng ating generation.”

Bea echoed Piolo’s statements, calling the project “chance of a lifetime.”

“Kabado pero after reading the script and after somehow researching sa character, sobrang mai-in love ka sa love story nila. It's all about sacrifices...all about real love. Sobrang ganda. I-wi-wish mo na sana makahanap ka rin ng ganoong klase ng pagmamahal,” she said.

Playing Ninoy and Cory is such a herculean task for both Piolo and Bea that they took it upon themselves to carefully study the characters.

“I asked for videos...everything that I could get para lang ma-familiarize ako sa tao [ng] hindi lang [based] sa nababasa ko. There are times tinutulog ko na ang boses niya kasi nga parang you have to be Ninoy. It's a big effort,” the dreamboat revealed.

“Bingyan nila ako ng babasahin. Pinanood ko 'yong SONA, 'yung last SONA noong term ni tita Cory at saka yung speech niya sa US Congress. 'Yung mga ganoon,” said Bea.

Completing the cast of the forthcoming “Maalaala Mo Kaya” episode are Yayo Aguila as Pinky Abeleda, Jodie Sta. Maria as Kris Aquino, Sam Concepcion as young Noynoy, and Liezel Martinez as Balsy.