“May Bukas Pa Priests on Mall Tours”

  Part of my contract with ABS-CBN for the role that I play in May Bukas Pa states that, “Talent shall attend…all promotional and merchandising campaigns, activities or events…” Accordingly, management informed me that I will be joining the mall tours for the promotion of Santino art/coloring and comic books currently on-going in selected SM Malls.

I decided to join the Mall tour which was scheduled last October 03 in SM North EDSA Food Court. There was already an on-going activity on stage when I arrived at the food court. Few minutes later, Robin Tolentino arrived with girlfriend Alexis. We seated at the back of the audience. I asked a staff of the mall tour if there were staff from the production of May Bukas Pa. When I realized there was no one from the production, I texted our Executive Producer for names who we were supposed to coordinate with at the mall tour venue. She texted back that we have to look for Pia. She gave Pia’s number. After I texted Pia, an Event Marshall led us to the dressing room at the backstage. A few minutes later, Lito Pimentel joined us. We  were served with pizza and cold drinks. We learned from Pia that our number will be at 4:30 p.m. yet. A few minutes later, Ruben Gonzaga joined us. We realized that there was plenty of time before our  4:30 p.m. schedule. We decided to go shopping instead of staying inside the dressing room at the backstage.

                I was able to buy a new DELSEY shoulder bag. I was looking for a bag that can carry all my things including my notebook computer and all my personal stuff so that I will be carrying only one bag.

                When we went back to the dressing room, Andre Tiangco arrived with a friend Chats, his classmate in College. A few minutes later, Tintin Bersola-Babao arrived  with her eldest daughter. We had photo sessions with Tintin and her daughter.

                Lito Pimentel related to us that he is very familiar with the SM North EDSA food court because it was the venue of their long running Sunday noon time show “Kwarta o Kahon” with his real life uncle Tito Pepe Pimentel. He said the dressing room looked the same when they were still using it.

                Pia gave us the final instructions before we finally went on stage. Our number followed after the book reading session done by Tintin Bersola-Babao.

                We greeted the audience mostly children with their parents and expressed our thanks for their patronage of “May Bukas Pa”. We requested them to continue watching the show. We acted as judges for the drawing contest and awarded the prizes to the winners. Photo ops with the kids followed.

                We were done in about 5 minutes. We went back to the backstage. More picture taking followed this time with staff of SM mall.

                On our way out of the food court, an ABS-CBN Event Marshall offered to escort us to the parking area. I politely declined. I told him, “di pa naman ako masyado kilala, hindi naman siguro ako dudumugin”!

                There are more mall tours set: in SM Fairview, SM South Mall and SM San Lazaro. Other “priests” will be in these legs of the mall tour!