“Working for the first time with the Great Comedian – Mr. Dolphy”

              Hazel Parfan, our Associate Producer for “May Bukas Pa” texted me  early last week if I would be available for taping last Friday, 07 August 2009. With all honesty, I answered I am available after  5:00 p.m. to mean that I will be available after my office hour since it was a Friday, a working day.

             Early Thursday evening, Letlet, of our wardrobe, texted me our costume requirements for the next day’s taping. Before I went to bed, I had placed my folding bed in my car’s baggage compartment and my bag with all the things I need for the next day’s taping in my car’s back seat.

             However, I did not receive any text message until 5:00 a.m. of Friday morning, the time that I regularly leave my home for office. I decided to report for office. When I reached the office, I texted Hazel and Beegee Soldao, our Executive Producer to ask if there would be a callslip for me. At about 9:00 a.m., Beegee texted back asking if I would be available for a 1:00 p.m. calltime. I readily texted back in the affirmative. I decided to go on half day having completed all the work in the office for the day.

             A few minutes before I left the office, Pinoy Big Brother Winner Ruben Gonzaga texted me if he could join me in my car. I picked him up in our usual meeting place at the service road after Royal Mall in Valenzuela at 12:15 p.m.

             We were already travelling along North Luzon Expressway in the vicinity of km 44, somewhere in Pulilan when we received a text message from Hazel asking where we are and to make sure not to be late for the 1:00 p.m. call time since Mr. Dolphy –our honored guest was already on the set.

             When we reached the location, it was already 1:07 p.m., we were seven minutes late! Direk Jerome Pobocan and Hazel were teasing the two of us that we made Mr. Dolphy wait!

             Direk Jerome brought us to the special tent for the Great Comedian – Mr. Dolphy. He was wearing a very sweet smile, blue long sleeve camisa de chino when we were introduced to him. There were only five of us actors playing the roles of “priests” that were finally called to tape that day with the Great Comedian – Mr. Dolphy: Dominic Ochoa, Lito Pimentel, Budjie Mortiz, Ruben Gonzaga and myself.

             We learned later that Mr. Dolphy was only available for taping from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. It was his third taping day, the first two days were done in the Home for the Aged at the back of SM North. The taping was very important since it would not be complete if our guest will not be able to visit the monastery.

             Our scene with Mr. Dolphy was done inside the San Guillermo Church and the scenario was that Moy – (Vhong Navarro) brought his father Pilo (Mr. Dolphy) to his home from the Home for the Aged and he took him to the church to pray thanksgiving to God. The priests in the monastery were introduced by Moy to his father.

             The occasion of working for the first time with Mr. Dolphy was an opportunity to have a picture taking session with him. Even Vhong Navarro posed with the Great Comedian!

             The taping day was a “raket” for us (meaning: mabilis natapos) because Vhong Navarro was suppose to be done with his scenes by 8:00 p.m. since he had an early flight the next day for an out of town engagement. The day working with Mr. Dolphy and Vhong Navarro ended at 9:00 p.m.! It was fun, quick and of course a great honor!