On the Set: I Love You: Betty La Fea

    I got a new booking for a bit role in “I Love You, Betty La Fea” last week. It is as Philippine Embassy representative in London.   I was so excited to report to the taping location as I gathered that the show is getting good rating even if it is only in its early weeks of airing. It is always nice to appear in top rated shows since it gives good exposure. Moreover, since the ABS-CBN shows are also aired worldwide through The Filipino Channel (TFC), the exposure is even multiplied more times over.

    The first set for the taping was  at the St.Therese General Hospital on C. Raymundo Avenue, Pasig City. The big stars on the set that day were Ai Ai de las Alas, Wendy Valdez ,Vhong Navarro and Ronaldo Valdez. My scenes were with Ai Ai. In the story, she went to London to work.

    The second set for my scenes was the Centennial Airport Terminal 2 of  the Philippine Airlines. On the second set were the lead stars Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz in addition to Ai Ai de las Alas, Vhong Navarro and Ronaldo Valdez.

    As usual, there were also bit players and extras on the set to complete the cast. Director Eric Salud whom I had the chance to work with when we taped Magdalena was at the helm.

    Since we taped scenes that were supposed to be in London, we need to have Caucasian bit players. For our scenes, we had two Australians and a French bit players who played as British Immigration Agents. I pity the foreign bit players. You see, after taping some scenes in Pasig, they were also instructed to go to the second location  which was  at the airport. It was raining hard that night. When they were finally called by the Production Assistant for the scene, the Assistant Director told them that actually they were no longer needed for the scene! In order that their presence will not be put to waste, they were made to change wardrobes and were made as passers-by as arriving foreigners!

    Also joining the cast is Marife Necesito, a character actress whom I had the chance to work with when we did the Station ID for Cinema One and for GMA 7’s Lenten Offering three years ago titled “Angel Villa” which topbilled then newcomer Dennis Trillo. Marife told me that she was casted in a foreign film that was partly shot here in the Philippines and also in Sweden. She played one of the three lead roles of the movie which will be shown next year. I congratulated her for this achievement and more importantly for the big talent fee she got for it!

    Among the big stars that day, I had worked with them in past projects except for Bea Alonzo. It was the first time that I met her. I must admit that I suddenly became an instant fan of Bea Alonzo. She is more beautiful in person than on TV. It took almost an hour and a half for the make up artist to make her appear a Betty La Fea.

    Our scenes are for the 7th week, the show is still in its 4th week this week. Hope you will find time to watch this funny show.