“Paano Sasagutin ang Tanong na: Ano Ang Next Project Mo?”

Even before the final episode of “May Bukas Pa” was aired, I already received messages through my Facebook account and even personally from friends and office mates I met in the corridors and even inside the elevator asking that magical question that one usually gets after the end of a project: “Ano ang next project mo?”

On a personal note, such simple question is actually not that simple. After hearing it many times, I began to ask myself what could have motivated the person to ask me that question. Is he concerned with my “acting career (?)” and wanted to be updated with the latest (ha ha ha ha ha)? But, I am not a superstar, not even popular actor but a simple character actor, or to be more precise, an employee who moonlights in his spare time as a character actor. As such, it does not really matter much what would be my next project since I consider acting primarily and simply a sideline. An additional source of income to augment my salary. That acting is one of my passions is a known fact. But it does not mean that I need to have that next project as soon as possible! To further deal on the issue, I am more inclined to believe that the motivation or the reason why some persons ask me that question is simply this: it is token question, para lang may ma-itanong.

If that magical question was asked five years ago, that time when I jumped from one project to another after appearing in bit roles where my tapings for one project would only be from 2 days to 5 days, answering it would be an easy one.

However, after being casted in a support role as one of the priests in “May Bukas Pa” where tapings lasted for one whole year, three times a week, with personal appearances in shows like ASAP, and Umagang Kay Ganda to promote the show, and going up the stages of several award giving bodies as one of the representatives to receive the awards, the “next project” seems to be a magical thing.

As of the moment, I am savoring the luxury of sleeping. Yes, I am trying very hard to recover the long hours of staying awake during the tapings. Since I also gained weight as a result of too much eating during tapings, I also enjoyed brisk walking every morning for 15 minutes. As soon as I arrived the office at 5:40 a.m. I brisk walk three times around our building!

Now, going back to the question on how to answer: ano ang next project mo? My immediate response is this: wala pa po. But, frankly, just like most of the avid followers of May Bukas Pa, I am hoping that there will still be a Book 2, a sequel. If ever it will happen, I must not have any commitment, otherwise I will not be available just in case I will be called to join the Book 2! During the appreciation dinner given by Sir Gabby Lopez and Ms. Charo Santos last February 16 for the cast, we were looking for signs in between the words of the big boss. But, the boss seemed to hold his card close to his chest! No signs, no hints!

Asked the same question a week before our last taping, Badjie Mortiz who played Father Paul answered it this way, “ Ang next project ay parang tunay na pag-ibig, hindi na hinihintay, kusang dumarating!”.

I posted Badjie's answer as my facebook shout! I have adopted it then as my official response to the magical question: what is your next project?

Two weeks and three days after May Bukas Pa's final episode last February 5, I am now relaxed, and just like all of of us in the cast missed the tapings. I know that the next project would come!