“The May Bukas Pa Cast Party”

The text of Ms. Hazel Parfan, our Associate Producer said that the May Bukas Pa cast party will start at 6:00 p.m. Last friday, 05 February 2010. The party will start with mass, after which the cast will watch the final episode, then dinner was set to follow.

As the habitual early bird, I left my office immediately after I swiped time out at 5:00 p.m., and drove to Il Terrazo on Tomas Morato Avenue, the venue of the Party. When I entered the penthouse, I saw Irene and Tita Mae Santos giving instructions to the staff for final arrangements of the venue. It was 5:15 p.m, and since it was still early, Irene suggested that I roam around the mall first. I followed Irene's suggestion. Anyway, I came early on purpose so as to get a parking space in anticipation that if I would come late, I will be parking my car perhaps three blocks away from the venue.

There is a Rustan's Supermarket at the lower ground floor. I decided to buy some grocery items. At about 5:45p.m., I returned to the penthouse, still no cast member arrived. To my surprise, Father Jess Manabat, our ever graceful host and parish priest of San Guillermo Church in Bacolor, Pampanga arrived a few minutes later. Father Jess told me he was invited to say mass. I was glad Father Jess came in: I had a someone to talk to, and a good company to be with. Father Jess asked me to do the first reading for the mass. The time passed fast, but still only a handful of the expected persons to attend arrived. To his credit, among the big stars in the cast, it was Dominic Ochoa who first arrived at about 6:45 p.m.

Phoemela Barranda and the crew of TV Patrol had already setting up in preparation for the remote coverage of the cast party. They were ready to feed the first field report of Phoemela at 7:00 p.m. However, only about 10 of us were inside the venue. Tita Mae Santos suggested that Father Jess, myself and a few others occupy the table near Phoemela so we can provide a good background for her broadcast.

Since the airing of May Bukas Pa will come in at 7:45 p.m. I suggested to Father Jess that either he will say mass after the show or he might have to start the mass by 7:15 p.m. You see, I had in mind that the mass would take about 30 minutes just in time for the start of the airing of MBP. At about 7:20 p.m., the number of guests increased and Tita Mae requested Father Jess to start the mass. I joined him on the elevated platform together with Tony Manalo who read the responsorial psalm.

When the airing started, I felt that I was in a company of people who were eagerly waiting for the start of a world premier of potential block buster movie! Indeed, as we went on watching the final episode, we were mesmerized by the beauty of the scenes. After about 15 minutes, Ms. Cory Vidanes, a senior official of ABS-CBN arrived and joined us in the table I shared with Direk Jerome Pobocan. Direk Jerome noticed that in one of the scenes which showed the supposed to be dead Santino, he was seen breathing! Direk Jerome was disgusted that the editors did not notice it!

After the closing bill board finally ended, the crew from the ABS-CBN news and other reporters were busy interviewing the lead stars: Albert Martinez, Tonton Gutierrez, Dominic Ochoa and Zaijian Jaranilla to name a few.

Zaijian (Santino) was playfully holding my neck while I was carrying him in my arms when a TV crew for the evening news requested Santino for an interview. Zaijian insisted that he stays in my arms during the interview. I made Santino sit on my lap before the start of the interview.

There was a long line for the buffet table. There was food for everybody: the cast, the production staff and the crew.

Other ABS-CBN bigwigs led by Sir Deo Endrinal and Ma'm Julie Anne Benitez also arrived after the viewing and joined the celebration.

There was a beer station. There were merriment and everyone was enjoying the party as a fitting finale to celebrate the success of the phenomenal teleserye, which everyone gave their own share of blood, sweat and tears! I left at 1:30 a.m.