Archive for March, 2010
“Why Pila, Laguna is Close to My Heart”
Aside from Viga
n, Ilocos Sur, another town specifically its town plaza and the ancestral houses surrounding it was declared by the National Historical Institute on 17 March 2000 as a National Historical Landmark.
Having studied at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos from freshman in 1973 till I graduated in 1978, Pila has a special spot in my heart. On my first taping day for Precious Hearts Romances “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso”, I left Quezon City at 12:15 pm. Already, memories of Pila started to flashback on my mind. However, I tried hard to set aside the scenes of the past as I wanted to concentrate on my driving. First, on my mind was to focus and confirm if the notorious traffic going to the south courtesy of the widening of the South Expressway has already vanished. As soon as I hit Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the traffic was already heavy specially the stretch from the corner of Timog Avenue to portion near the Camp Crame. It was a good 30 minutes. However, after Camp Crame the traffic was already smooth except for the area near Guadalupe bridge.
Read More..>>“OF DJ Durano, Angel Jacob, Marielle Sorino and Tart”
On my second taping day, I was again lucky that my calltime was very convenient, 3:00 pm, not too early and yet not too late. Our first scene for the day was an all-star cast: Oyo, Tintin, DJ Durano, Nina Jose, Marriel Sorino, Tart Carlos and myself. The road in front of the Pila Municipal Hall was our set.
“Working With Oyo Boy Sotto and Kristine Hermosa”
Ten years ago, I was then a struggling tv talent. I got a call from the late Cora Banaag, a talent supplier that I will have a taping at 9:00 pm at the Danarra Hotel in Quezon City. I could vividly remember when Direk Rory Quintos gave her instructions to us. It was a big party scene: From among the all-male party goers, Direk Rory chose me to be one of the six men wearing formal attire who would do the big scene: a box as big as a refrigerator was brought into the party which was a hosted by a Congressman (played by the late Abet Zialcita). The box was a gift, a special gift complete with wrapper and ribbon. I was tasked by Direk Rory to pull the ribbon and finally open the big box. It was Kristine Hermosa wearing only a two-piece bikini. I will present Kristine to Tonton Gutierrez (groomed to run for Governor in the story) as a “gift” from the Congressman and I will lead the six men in dancing and horse playing with the gift. The only restriction
given by Direk Rory was that we are not suppose to touch Kristine. The big scene was for “Pangako Sa Yo” which launched Kristine Hermosa's acting career! I was one of the two lawyers (the other one was Gamie Viray) of Madame Claudia (Jean Garcia) for the series which lasted one year and a half. By the way, I heared that the very popular series is currently airing in China complete with chinese sub-titles.
“My First Taping Day for PHR’s Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso”
The text that I got last sunday, March 7 advised me that my call time was at 3:00 pm on the set in Pila, Laguna. Another text came in, this time it was from Raffy Rosal, the Program Liaison asking me if he could deliver my script at my office on monday. I told him, I might not have enough time to study my lines and requested that it be delivered to my Bulacan home.
I was so happy of my call time. I thanked God for arranging my schedule for the first taping day, I could still come to office in the morning and go half day to report for my taping.
I arrived at the office at 5:30 am and I went through my regular schedule after May Bukas Pa ended which is to do brisk walking three rounds of our SSS Building for 15 minutes. While walking, I made a mental calculation: if I would immediate leave for Pila, Laguna after I swipe out at 12:00 noon, I would be on the set before 3 pm.
Read More..>>“Precious Hearts Romances is local Mills and Boon”
Last monday, March 1, the taping for the episode “Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso” of the “Precious Hearts Romances” series started with the municipality of Pila, Laguna used as location. However, I did not have a call slip since the role of Mayor Gasti does not have scenes yet in the script for the first week.
I reported for work that day. While I was inside the elevator, my officemates asked me the magical question: “What is your next project?”. I had a quick answer: “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso”- an episode of “Precious Hearts Romances” series which is aired every day from Monday to Friday, 5:30 pm, ABS-CBN.
Rose, the elevator girl joined the conversation and told me that she knew the story of “Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso”. She narrated that it is about a girl who sold an old coin owned by her dead grandmother to a hobby shop. Curious, I asked Rose how come she knew the story. She told me that she had read the the story in a “Precious Hearts Romances” pocketbook.
Read More..>>