Last thursday, 17 June 2010, I woke up early with the noise of the alarm of my cellphone which I set at 3:20 am. I did what I normally do which is to check the text messages that I received while I was asleep. I got a text message from a number which is not registered in my phonebook. The sender introduced herself as Minnie from the teleserye “MOMAY”. She asked if I could tape that day for “MOMAY” as the father of Valerie Concepcion. I checked the time that I received the message and it said 12:10 am! I immediately texted back Minnie that I was available thay day. While I was waiting for her answer, I was trying to mentally check if I had an important meeting at the office last thursday. I didn’t have a meeting! However, Minnie did not text back immediately. After10 minutes, I decided to call her instead, I didn’t want to miss the taping, my last taping was middle of April yet for Agua Bendita. Last month, I missed a taping for the reason that I was not able to answer back immediately the text from a staff of tita Angge. She booked another guy for the role.
In my second try to call up Minnie, she was finally awaken. Good, she did not look for another actor for the role. She told me that my calltime was at 10 am in Pasig City. My role is the father of Valerie Concepcion (Libra). She instructed me to bring three sets of “pangmahirap na damit” (poor man’s clothing). I was suppose to be poor in the story. I arrived at the set early at 8:45 am. I am not familiar with the address which is on E. Santos St.Barangay Sumilang. Minnie texted me the directions in going to the set. I was cruising along C 5 highway when I made a wrong U -turn so I have to go all the way to the U-turn slot near the Tiendesitas area. The left turn should be made going Dr M.Flores Avenue!
We have to wait till Valerie would be done with her Wowowee hosting! Valerie arrived at about 2:30 pm and a staff from the Art Dept immediately asked her for a pictorial with us playing as her father, mother and sister. Valerie answered that she will just leave her stuff at the air con tent waiting area. We posed for the pictorial with the Pasig River as our background. We were done after a few minutes. The photos will be used as props for the scenes. At 4:00 pm, Minnie approached me and told me that I would be “on call” for my scenes. It meant that I could go home first and just wait for an advise if I am already needed on the set. I was on my way to my car when I met Director Darnell Villaflor who was very apologetic because the script had undergone several revisions. Since I arrived on the set, I was given four revised scripts! I observed that my exposure improved in the fourth revision! It was already 10:00 pm when Minnie texted me if I was available on saturday for another taping.
At midnight, Minnie texted again that I was already packed-up. I will have another taping day. Saturday came and I got a text that I did not have a taping that day. My daughter Purita was happy to learn since that meant that I will have time with her and the family for a pre-Fathers Day lunch. I took the family to Yam Cha in Timog Avenue for a buffet lunch. On sunday, Fathers Day, Purita had to study for her law course so we just stayed at home.
On monday, I got a text from Minnie that I will have a taping on tuesday, June 22. I was so happy when the final calltime came! I had a late calltime at 5:00 pm and it was again “on call”! I was able to report to work the whole day, tuesday. Before 5:00 pm I got another text that I should be at the set at 6:30 pm. Yet Minnie texted again that they have not yet finished with their scenes at the Star City. Finally, we were already on the set at 9:00 pm. Our stand by area was the big ground floor of the Momay’s house. While waiting for my take, I was with EJ Falcon and Xyriel Manabat (Momay). I was having small talk with EJ while we were watching the Pinoy Big Brother on TV. I have a chance to have a picture taking with Xyriel. The four-year old little girl was with her mommy and two assistants. She is very charming and lovable.
Ms. Madeleine Nicolas, a veteran stage, movie and TV character actress later joined us in the stand by area. She was playing as my wife in the serye. Finally, Valerie Concepcion arrived. There were scenes in the Libra’s house with Xyriel, Valerie, Madeleine and the one playing as our second daughter. EJ and myself took the opportunity to take a nap. I was awaken from my sleep with the sound of the raindrops. It was raining. A staff told me that we have to wait for the rain to stop for the funeral wake scene since the set was on the road. In depressed areas in Metro Manila, t is a normal practice that a tent donated by a local politician is installed on the road in front of the small poor man’s house where the coffin is placed for the wake. It was Director Manny Palo who directed our scenes that night.
After the iuneral wake scene, we took the syndicate’s hide out scene. Veteran character actor Mon Confiado who plays as the boss of the syndicate joined us for the scene. I was finally packed up at 5:15 am. I went straight to the office to report for work. Hope you will have time to watch my scenes in Momay, ABS-CBN Channel 2, 6:00 pm before TV Patrol.
