“My Taping for the Top Rated Agua Bendita – the Conclusion”

I recalled the guideline I received from Direk Jerome during our “May Bukas Pa” days. He said, if I will have to write about our tapings, I could write anything about it but not on something that would divulge the plot of the story. He elaborated that I should avoid subjects which would telegraph the twists of the story. So as to avoid getting in trouble with the Agua Bendita staff, let me now proceed with my notes on my tapings for Agua Bendita bearing in mind the same guideline that I got for MBP.

I was very lucky to share the standby room with Bing Loyzaga and Matteo Guidicelli. When I entered room 414, Bing was already inside together with her aides. I texted Maya Aralar – the AP of Agua Bendita and asked her for a copy of the script so I could study my lines. She texted back that Lenard was going to the standby room to give me the script.

I had long lines with medical terms! I immediately memorized my lines. When I went out of the room to get something in my car, I met Maya who was frantically talking with someone on her cellphone. I greeted her. I had worked with her on several projects the most memorable of which was for a Robin Padilla-Judy Ann Santos action series titled “Basta't Kasama Kita”. I played a Forensic Doctor and member of the Eagles (a special investigative team like the NBI) where Lito Pimentel acted as our Chief and Robin and Judy Ann played the roles of top Eagles agents . Maya was then one of the Production Assistants, but now she is already the Associate Producer of Agua Bendita. Maya was talking to Matteo on the cellphone. She was frantic because it was already 2:00 am but Matteo went to the wrong hospital! He went to Citiworld Hospital which is in Anonas near Project 4. I told to myself, we will have to wait for at least fifteen minutes for Matteo to travel to UERM.

When Matteo finally arrived, we immediately started taping for our scenes. Most of my scenes were with Matteo and Bing Loyzaga. It was direk Claudio 'Tots' Sanchez-Mariscal IV (Tots Mariscal for short) who directed us. After the first scene, we went back to the standby area. We changed our costumes for another scene. We were waiting for the Production Assistant to tell us to be on the set. Bing Loyzaga told me that when we were taping the first scene, she thought that she was having eye problem when she saw my eyes with a white ring around the middle part. I told her that according to my friends, the white ring is a sign of presence of cholesterol in my system. Bing made a nice compliment: she told me it is a manifestation of a foreigner blood in me!

We had a scene in the Operating Room. It was my second time to act inside a real sterile and functional Operating Room. The first was when I played the role of a surgeon who operated on Gerald Anderson in “Sana'y Maulit Muli”. It was in the operating room of the St. Jude Hospital in Dimasalang, Manila. Good, the administrators of UERM also allowed us to tape inside the sterile operating room. A real surgeon from UERM was around to brief me on technical matters so that the scene will be realistic. She taught me how to use the large operating microscope. While we were inside the Operating Room, all of us including the cameramen and crew wore sterile outfits.

In another lull while we were in the stand by area, I took the opportunity to ask for a photo with Matteo. We had a small talk. I learned that he is from Cebu City. I told Matteo that my father was also from Cebu and that I can also speak Cebuano. We were talking in Cebuano after that. He offered all of us in the standby room with a box muffins which he brought.

The taping went on smoothly with most of the scenes taped only in take one. The atmosphere was so relaxed. I learned that what we are taping is for airing two weeks later. Maybe it was the reason for the relaxed atmosphere.

Direk Tots declared a pack up at 4:45 am. After saying “thank yous” to everyone, I left the set and I was proceeding to my office.

The early morning drive with few cars on the road was very pleasant. It led me to have a reflection: we could never question God's wisdom. Having played bit roles for nine years, I prayed for a regular role in a regular show. He granted my prayer: He casted me in the long running show “May Bukas Pa.” But since we were in a”chorus acting” being 12 priests in a monastery, I had limited dialogue. You see, I did not specify in my prayer that the role would have long lines! After “May Bukas Pa” he gave me the role of Mayor Gasti in Precious Hearts Romance “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso”. The role had long lines but the show was only for two weeks and three days. This time, He gave me a bit role in another top rated show “Agua Bendita” with long lines. I remembered what my mother used to tell me: “Ask and you shall receive. That is why we should be very careful in what we pray for, baka ipagkaloob sa atin at yun pala hindi naman talaga natin gusto.” Now, I am praying for a regular role with long lines in a once a week show!

I passed by a Pugon de Manila bakery and I bought 3 pieces of pandesal. I planned to have it for my breakfast at the office. I told myself, I still have enough energy to work for another 8 hours in the office after the early morning taping. Well, all in a day and night's work.

My scenes might be aired on April 26 or thereabouts depending on the editng. Hope you will have the time to watch it- Agua Bendita, ABS-CBN, Channel 2 (The Filipino Channel – in foreign countries), 7:45 pm, after TV Patrol.