The show actually followed the premise of the Korean drama that featured Jasmine (Kim Chiu) a down-on-her luck but very resourceful girl who works as a tourist guide for Chinese tourists. And also with Julian, who is a second-generation heir to a realty corporation.

In this episode, the story began with the announcement of Julian’s grandfather (Ronaldo Valdez), that he will be stepping down and handing the reigns to Julian to the annoyance of Tessie (Kaye Brosas) who was expecting to head the company herself. After the party, the grandfather collapsed after a rather lengthy speech of remorse about the loss of his favorite daughter and her daughter, Hannah. Feeling that he needs to lighten the load of handling the business and help his grandfather eliminate the guilt, Julian decides to look for Hannah.

Meanwhile, Jasmine’s father (Lito Pimentel) decided to bet a gangster’s money and the family’s rent money in a horse race in the hopes of doubling it. Fortunately, he won but was robbed outside the racetrack. Jasmine and her father tried to hide from their landlady because they cannot pay the rent, but Jasmine remained optimistic and tried to comfort her father despite the fact that she too felt that her situation is hopeless.

To keep up with her obligations as a tourist guide, Jasmine desperately tries to delay the flight because her people were late. Incidentally (remember that this is a drama), Julian was also at the airport because he was going to China to meet up with some people. To make sure that her tourists would board that plane, Jasmine created an incident where she slumped at the check-out counter (Is this what is called?) and told a rather corny story of trying to find her love because she was never able to tell him that she loved him. Of course, the passengers sympathized with her and asked the officer to let her in the plane to look for her ” true love”.

Inside the plane, crying her eyes out, she surveyed the passengers slowly and landed on the lap of Julian.

There were some changes that I have seen in this episode. Since they have to use the Philippine context, the show used Luneta as the tourist destination that Jasmine and her friends show the tourists with. Now, it doesn’t bother me at all to have one of the well-known landmarks in the Philippines as the show’s setting but if that is the case why just use the monument of Rizal? Sure, Jasmin mentioned that she was trying to save money that is why the tour was also limited. Then in the bus scene, it seemed that the tourists went outside Manila and yet this was not explained. Sometimes, we need to have a sense of continuity to understand an episode not just a mishmash of scenes.

I have not initially opted to compare the two shows because that would be unfair to them. Although I can’t promise, really. The Pinoy version is so asking for it. Let me count the ways.

First, Kim Chiu’s acting. I know I’m going to get this from her fans, but she needs to tone down the bubbly, cutesy acting. It was very painful to watch. Don’t get me wrong, I found her adorable in PBB, the only show where she was in that I sat the whole way through. The thing is, as a viewer, I don’t want her to wave her arms all the time like she was having a seizure. She also keeps on making funny expressions that I am assuming she was projecting to be cute but like I said, she is cute, she shouldn’t overdo it.

I also feel that understated acting was not really in the script because I saw a lot of screaming and contorted faces with Jasmine’s friends. The character of Cathy Gonzaga tries too hard to be slapstick. Physical comedy needs timing. I am optimistic that as the episode continues there will be improvement on these youngsters.

Second, the acting ability of Gerald Anderson has already been well-documented. The thing is, I never realized that wooden acting is contagious. Most of his scenes with his co-actors were like talking with a teleprompter. I guess Ronaldo Valdez texted his scenes with him. I am assuming that with an uptight persona, it will be easier for him to act. I was wrong. I was a bit embarrassed that I was laughing at the scenes that were not really meant to be funny. Sadly, Gerald was always in it. And don’t get me start with the hair. Don’t rich men have hairstylists?

Now, the episode was not really that awful. I liked Lito Pimentel although he was given really bad jokes in this episode. Corny is corny but give the man some material he could stretch his comedic skills in. He’s the guy from “Manok ni San Pedro,” he needs to show his props.

The character that I am really excited about is Kaye Brosas. She was always typecasted as the funny sidekick but now she is the antagonist. It’s too early to say how she’ll pull this non-comedic role but I am happy to see her in her fabulous glory. I don’t know what is it with Pinoy dramas and really glammed-up kontrabidas but hey, I love the mascara.

I have yet to see how this show will go. I can’t say if this is a so bad it is good category, or I’d-rather-do-something-bad level, I need to see a few more episodes. So far, I am sticking it out for Kim. She seems to be trying too hard, it’s a shame not to support her.