Is a love team about chemistry alone? Hyacinth and Gab prove it’s also about the drive in their engines—and together, they’re a force no one can outrun
Not every leap from page to screen works. For Chasing in the Wild, an undeniable spark started long before cameras rolled. It began with the University Series that racked up almost a billion reads, building a fanbase fiercely devoted to its intricate plotlines and endearing characters. Its transition to the screen was never just going to be another adaptation, but a high-stakes gamble to bring beloved characters to life—faces that could embody the messy yet magnetic pull of Sevi and Elyse through the portrayal of Gab Lagman and Hyacinth Callado.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Gab Lagman and Hyacinth Callado on the High Stakes of ‘Chasing in The Wild’
Despite being a love team, a dynamic often drenched in inseparability, the two have cracked the code of balance. It’s a modern power play—breaking from tradition and proving that knowing when to take the lead and when to step back isn’t a weakness, but a clever dance of control. Hyacinth and Gab aren’t afraid to let the other take the wheel, and that’s what keeps them in the race.
From First Call to the Big Break
For Gab Lagman, this was the moment he had been grinding toward, finally claiming his space as a leading man. For Hyacinth Callado, it was a baptism by fire—her first role, first camera call, then suddenly, she was at the center of it all. But neither of them expected their adaptation to blow up.
“I didn’t expect too much for myself, but I was hoping that things would be good, especially knowing that the first two shows did so well and so beautifully,” Hyacinth shared with MEGAStyle.
“Of course, there’s always going to be pressure between Hya and I because the first and second books did really well,” Gab admitted, echoing Hyacinth’s sentiments. “So, we just hoped that we’ll be able to catch up with them. I never expected it to blow up like this.”
The series may be ending, but it didn’t take long for fans to realize it was their chemistry that made it work. They were an unlikely pair yet they fit perfectly. Gab reinvented the classic jock, infusing it with a surprising depth, while Hyacinth turned the finicky princess trope on its head with purpose and confidence. Together, they took a well-worn Filipino love story and made it feel both familiar and excitingly new.
Fueling Their Journey
Acting can often feel like just a role to play, but filming intimate, vulnerable scenes requires a connection you can’t fake. It’s something that has to be built off-screen. While Gab and Hyacinth had already found their rhythm having worked on prior projects, Chasing in the Wild had them upping the ante.
“I think the one that really developed our chemistry is doing workshops together. We did a lot of chemistry workshops and relationship workshops,” Gab shared. “And the bonding we had on set—that’s where we learned more about ourselves and one another.”
Hyacinth agreed, noting that building their chemistry never felt like a chore. “Somehow, we didn’t have to do too much work for that,” she said. “But when we needed it, when we would feel like it, we would just bond.” Off-screen, when they weren’t playing Sevi and Elyse, they practiced maintaining their eye contact and doing push-and-pull exercises—something Gab pointed out was Hyacinth’s favorite. It was much like a dance, always flowing, never forced.
When it came to the more difficult parts of the plot, their support for one another wasn’t always verbal, but about tuning into what the moment demanded. “Sometimes, we would be there for each other,” Hyacinth explained, sharing how they’d listen to music or retreat into their own heads before the scenes. “But, out of nowhere, I would hold his hand or we would hug each other.”
It’s nothing new, these exercises. But the way Gab and Hyacinth made them work for them, turning basic routines into moments of real connection, added a layer of authenticity that translated well on screen.
En Route to Success
Gab’s journey to landing Sevi was anything but instant—a slow burn that turned into a defining win in his career. “I waited for this for seven years, and I would even say it’s my favorite role now,” Gab shared with MEGA, the gratitude in his voice unmistakable.
“Timing is the most important thing in this industry. I’m a firm believer that if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be for you.”
– Gab Lagman on scoring his first lead role as Sevi
But what makes it the role of a lifetime? For Gab, Sevi isn’t just a role, but his dream life brought to screen. Basketball was his first love, and the court his first stage, so integrating that passion into a career-defining role felt like sinking a game-winning shot. “I mean, you just gotta wait and see what’s in it for you in this industry,” he reflected. “As long as you’re patient and as long as you love the craft and the work, kung para sa’yo, para sa’yo.”
On paper, Gab and Sevi could pass as two sides of the same coin—both passionate about basketball, deeply loyal to family, and charmingly stubborn when it counts. But it’s Sevi’s rough-around-the-edges nature and a more Pinoy sense of humor that pushed Gab to step outside his comfort zone. To bridge that gap, Gab went all in. He visited wet markets, observing vendors to catch the cadence of Sevi’s words and find his tone. Such reflected his respect for the role.
This kind of dedication didn’t come overnight. Like an athlete in training, he approached the role with laser focus and dedication—studying, observing, and shaping up with everything he had. In Sevi, Gab found the ideal balance: pieces of himself and pieces of someone new.
Keeping Pace and Driving Into Her Path
Hyacinth Callado approaches her journey with the same drive for growth that fuels a champion. While Gab’s path was a slow burn, Hya’s big break came in the middle of a whirlwind—a move she describes as anything but easy.
“I’ve only been in Manila for about three years,” Hyacinth told MEGA, her tone both candid and reflective. The leap wasn’t just across countries but across a whole new way of life—living alone, and learning the ropes of an unfamiliar industry. “I’m having to juggle all these things because I don’t have a lot of the help that maybe some other people have,” the actress confessed. “I’m thankful, though, because a lot of people on set would help me.”
Yet, the weight of homesickness lingered. “There were nights when I would just cry at home because I missed my family,” Hyacinth said. But through those moments, she unearthed resilience. She built a circle of “beautiful people” who became her Manila family, offering her happiness, gratitude, and a sense of security. This newfound community became central to her mental health advocacy, a cause she champions passionately.
Her journey mirrors the questions many face as they grow: Who am I? What impact do I have? How can I be my best self? While Hyacinth doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out, her willingness to confront these questions with vulnerability makes her relatable and inspiring.
“In this industry, I can’t think of pressure. I can only think of the moments when I would remind myself that I’m proud of myself and that I’m doing my best.”
– Hyacinth Callado on finding pride in the journey
Hyacinth Callado isn’t your typical “strong woman.” She’s not interested in wearing armor or pretending to have it all figured out. Instead, her version of strength is about hitting the brakes and recalibrating when necessary—all without shame. That’s what real power looks like.
Fueled by Fire
It felt more like fate than fiction with these two. Their dynamic, which fans have increasingly got behind of, wasn’t just “good acting”—it was the real deal, turning Sevi Camero and Elyse Ledesma into characters you couldn’t imagine anyone else playing.
But what really makes them unstoppable? It’s who they are on their own. Gab’s years of quiet hustle and Hyacinth’s fearless leap into the unknown show that, when the moment’s right, nothing can stand in their way—together or apart.
Photographed by EXCEL PANLAQUE of KLIQ INC. Creative Direction by GALLAHAN EAST. Art Direction by JONES PALTENG. Makeup by REMCY CARDONA. Hair by JANELLE DELA CRUZ. Grooming by BHADS CASTOR. Styling by MYRRH LAO TO (Hyacinth) and ROKO ARCEO (Gab). Shoot Coordination by JOANA FERNANDO. Sittings Editor MIA CASTRO.
