My Taping for the Top-Rated Show Agua Bendita!

Following an advise from our “May Bukas Pa” director Jerome Chavez-Pobocan is a decision that is proving to be worthwhile. I am referring to Direk Jerome's insight when I asked for his advise during a lull in our last taping day of “May Bukas Pa” regarding my hair. Yes, the color of my hair! You see, Direk Jerome asked me to grow my moustache and beard during our final audition for said tv show. With it, I would add character to the role of Father Jude who was described as old and grumpy. Eventually, I got that major role, one of the 12 priests in the monastery who adopted and raised Santino in that long running tv series. However, as the hair of my beard and moustache grew, it was white color. I felt it would be awkward if I dye the hair in my head with black color while my beard and moustache are white color. So, I decided not to dye my hair during my one year stint as a regular cast of “May Bukas Pa”. When the show ended, I asked Direk Jerome's opinion if it would be better if I dye my hair with black color. His answer was this: there are few senior actors now. Having white hair would be an advantage since I would look older than I age and I could fill the demand for roles that require senior actors.

A few days after “May Bukas Pa” had its final episode last February 5, I landed a major role as Mayor Gasti (note: with long speaking parts, ha!ha!ha!) for Precious Hearts Romances – “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso” which aired from March 15 to 31. Next, I got a text message from Maya Aralar – the Associate Producer of “Agua Bendita” two weeks ago asking me my availability to tape for Agua Bendita. It was a monday and I had several meetings that day in my office. When I asked if the calltime would be after 5:00 pm, Maya replied, “malabo po”. I begged off and told her, “next time na lang”.

That “next time” was last monday, 12 April. Maya texted me again if I was available to tape for Agua. Last monday, I was ready to tape even if the call time was early. I have prepared my wardrobe as early as sunday afternoon. Before I slept last sunday, Maya texted me that my calltime was 6:00 pm “on call” , UERM hospital. Yes! I thanked God when I read the text! It meant that I could still report to work the whole day!

At 6:00 pm. I texted May for update of my “on call” status. She texted back that they were still in the first location and will have to transfer to a second location before the unit will move to UERM Hospital for my scenes. She advised me to go home first.

I immediately went home. I slept at 8:00 pm. At 12:20 am, I was awaken with the message alert tone of my cellphone s for a text message from Maya. She asked me where will I be coming from and that they are taping for the last scene before they will move to UERM. I asked where will they come from. Since they were in Tierra Pura (Tandang Sora area), I took a quick shower and left for UERM at 12:40 am. I arrived UERM at 1:15 am.

Bing Loyzaga arrived on the set almost at the time that I arrived UERM. I recognized her when she got off from the car that parked beside my car. Mang Jun who was one of our crowd control in “May Bukas Pa” met me and advised me to proceed to our waiting area at room 414. When I entered the main door of the hospital, Harold, our MBP field cashier greeted me, “talagang hindi na babakante si Father Jude ah!”.

I smiled back but honestly, his comment made me very grateful to God for giving me Direk Jerome Chavez-Pobocan who gave me that wise advise of not dying my white hair! Good I listened to his advise, so far, “hindi pa ako nababakante” with my second project after MBP and hopefully still counting! (to be concluded…)