After the take, everybody was already smiling and the atmosphere on the set had normalized from a very tense situation earlier. It was then that I learned from the production staff that the original talent for that role could not deliver what Direk Joyce wanted. He was replaced with two more talents, each time Direk Joyce was not satisfied. Direk Joyce ordered to look for a replacement and that she will only declare the dinner break after the scene was taken. That was when the assistant director picked me up!

It was almost 9 p.m. when everyone was busy having dinner. It was nice to see the big stars mingling with the talents and the crew during dinner. It was not normal but since the Sea Port Building had a limited space, the covered parking area which served as the cooking area, dining place and stand by area rolled into one. The dining area had two round tables for Dingdong Dantes and Direk Joyce and some of the staff while two more tables were shared by the crew and the talents. There were talents who had dinner in standing position, but its normal for them.

After my quick dinner, I asked the production staff if it was my only scene and if I could already be packed up. They told me I could already go!

I decided to take the Victory Bus instead of waiting for the service vehicle until the taping is done. I requested Tatang Jimmy – the owner of the service vehicle to please bring me to the Victory Bus Liner station in Olongapo.

Tatang Jimmy was kind enough to bring me to the bus station. I was already comfortably seated on the seat immediately behind the bus driver at 9:30 p.m. The dispatcher window was in front of us. I closed my eyes to rest after I texted my wife that fortunately I finished early and that I was now on the bus for Manila. The rain was pouring hard on the roof of the bus when I saw the dispatcher finally giving signal to our bus driver to leave for Cubao.

I tried to sleep as the Victory Bus was smoothly passing the old highway to Bataan, then to San Fernando. The rain stopped and it was only drizzling when we reached Balintawak. I got off at the foot of the GMA MRT station and walked towards my car with the tiny droplets of rain falling on my head. I put my handkerchief on my head to avoid catching colds . I arrived home safely at 2:00 a..m.

I took a shower and as I was drying up my hair, I tried to recollect the events that happened since I got a text message from Jenny that she was able to arrange a racket for me that day. I gained three important lessons: first, I am blessed as a freelance character actor, I could get bookings every now and then; second, the opportunity to join the talents in the service vehicle instead of riding in my own car and subsequently taking the bus reminded me of my stature, of continuously having my feet on the ground without any illusion of being popular; third, and the most important lesson is the realization that God was watching me specially during the whole taping day and also every minute of my life. He always keep me safe, to the extent of arranging that my scenes will be taken ahead of everyone and packed me up early!

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