“Jaime Fabregas: Up Close and Personal with Father Anthony”

         Among my co-actors playing  the roles of priests in “May Bukas Pa”, Jaime Fabregas is the first whom I had acted together in the past. We played as conspirators together with Ms. Pilar Pilapil in “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” which topbilled Claudine Barretto. I played the lawyer – Atty. Delgado whom Menandro (Jaime Fabregas) ordered to siphon out the money of Claudine. It was in 2002 and we were directed by Wenn Derramas and Andoy Ranay. We were both playing contravida in that telenovela.

             This time in “May Bukas Pa” however, we are now playing the roles of priests. He is playing the Lead Priest in our Monastery. As Father Anthony, Jaime Fabregas is very effective. He is very “priestly”.

             My interactions with Tito Jimmy as we fondly call him include casual conversations in between takes and during long stand by periods. He is very funny and who would not enjoy his antics everytime he speaks in his own “german” language?

             I recalled watching him in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s in the extremely popular “SIC O’ CLOCK NEWS” when then, the closest I was with showbiz was that I was involved in theatre plays in UP. I never imagined that today, I am already working with tito Jimmy who is an icon in Philippine television!

             Tito Jimmy confided that he is from Iriga City in Bicol region and had attended high school in Ateneo de Naga. A classmate of mine when I studied in  UPLB, Mr. Arturo Villamor who is also from Naga, in one of our exchanges of e-mails and chat sessions, remembered Tito Jimmy when he was in Ateneo.

             He studied in La Salle for his Chemical Engineering degree. It is really worthy to note that tito Jimmy did not have formal training in music but aside from acting, he is a professional musical scorer having done musical scoring for several movies in the past. He had received recognition for this musical talent.

             As Father Anthony, the leader of the Monastery, we, the rest of the “priests”   respected tito Jimmy like he is indeed our leader in real life. You see, he is the most senior in terms of calendar age! Even in terms of seniority in showbiz, he is also the most senior! But, given that leadership status, tito Jimmy is very friendly, jolly and always ready to give anybody his advise whether it is to improve one’s acting, or to improve one’s golf swings, he is ready with his practical tips. Indeed, we are so lucky to have tito Jimmy for a co-actor!