“Working Again with Vhong Navarro”

            Actor Rico Yan was still alive when I had the chance to work with iconic Vhong Navarro for the first time. It was in 2001 for the movie “Got to Believe” where Rico Yan played the lead role with his then reel and real life girlfriend Claudine Barretto. Vhong Navarro played a supporting role as a wedding photographer. Claudine as the lead star was playing the role of a wedding planner. Incidentally, one of our lead actors in “May Bukas Pa” my co-priest Dominic Ochoa was also in this movie as the best friend of his real life buddy Rico Yan. 

            In that movie, I played a bit role as the daddy of the bride – Wilma Doesn’t in the wedding for opening scene of the movie. The Guadalupe Church in Makati was used as location for the wedding scenes and the wedding reception was in the garden of Intramuros. The movie was directed by Ms. Olive Lamasan. 

            I vividly remembered that as the wedding photographer in the movie, Vhong Navarro was all over the church during the wedding and in the Intramuros garden for the reception scenes. As a versatile dancer, (he was a member of the dance group named Streetboys)  more of an acrobatic dancer, Vhong was taking shots in a different way: he was more of a dancing wedding photographer! 

            That was in 2001 or eight years ago. Since playing support role in that movie, Vhong Navarro had evolved into a box-office star playing comedy roles as Mr. Suave and as an action star in Gagamboy to name some of his blockbuster projects. 

            As far as tv projects are concerned, he played Lastikman which became a top-rated show. In this project, Director Jerome Pobocan was Vhong Navarro’s director. 

            That is why, it was not surprising when he guested in “May Bukas Pa” last week. Having worked with Director Jerome, obviously their camaraderie  and familiarity was taken into consideration for Vhong to play the role of Moy, the son of Dolphy. 

            When Vhong Navarro stepped into our aircon tent, he was the same Vhong Navarro that I had worked with eight years, devoid of any air of arrogance now that he is already a superstar. I mentioned to him bout our chance to work in “Got to Believe”. He was quick to answer,”ang tagal na noon ah!” Yes, it crossed my mind that I have been in this industry for 10 years now, having started 1999 with a bit role in a movie with Philip Salvador. 

            Working with Vhong Navarro for the second time after eight years have of course may pagbabago na: he now comes to the set with a driver cum Personal Assistant. He has a personal make-up artist too. In his first taping day with us, he was provided with a separate air con tent all for himself. But, the next taping day, he preferred to join us in our tent. For sure, he loved to be with us than be isolated in his tent! 

            It is nice to work again after 8 eight with an icon like Mr. Vhong Navarro! May the industry thrive to have many more top-caliber actors like him: without an aura of arrogance despite his superstar status!