GARDO Versoza is not affected by the lockdown because of his hit Tiktok videos that made some quarters call him the “Tiktok King.” He continues to be busy both on the small and the big screens. He plays villain to Gabby Concepcion in the hit GMA soap, “First Yaya” and in Viva’s horror flick for Holy Week, “Biyernes Santos,” he plays the role of a senator.
“I’m just thankful to our Lord dahil hindi Niya ako pinabayaan,” he says. “I’m happy to be part of ‘Biyernes Santo’ kasi I enjoyed working with our director, Pedring Lopez.
Nakakatensyon itong movie namin, but he’s so cool on the set. Hindi naha-high blood at all.”
He adds that the movie is of international quality. “I really want to congratulate Direk Pedring. Congrats sa movie namin kasi puede mong isabay ito sa Hollywood. Itong ‘Biyernes Santo,’ kapag napanood mo, mamangha ka. It’s really scary. Kahit ‘yung wife ko, trailer pa lang, hindi na matagalan.”
How does he feel now that their film will just be shown online in Viva Max and not in theaters?
“Siempre, it’s sad na hindi ito sa sinehan mapalabas kasi pam-big screen talaga ito, but we have to take into consideration the health of the moviegoers, lalo na ngayon tumataas ang cases of infection.”
What is the connection of “Biyernes Santo” to their film?
“The story is set during Holy Week. It starts on Holy Monday and ends on Good Friday na patay ang Diyos kaya evil can reign. The story is about the fight between good and evil. My daughter, Via Ortega as Aurora, is pursued by bad spirits so dinala ko siya sa bahay namin sa probinsiya to protect her. I got Ella Cruz, an espiritista and healer, to help guard her against evil spirits that are attacking her.”
Watch “Biernes Santo” on March 26 at VIVAMAX online at web.vivamax.net or download the app on Google Play Store.
***
Adriana So got the surprise of her life when director Perci Intalan suddenly called her to say that she’ll be included in the cast of TV5’s hit soap “Paano ang Pangako.” What happened was that Danita Paner, who originally played the role of the villainous Andi in the story, backed out from the lock in taping of the show in San Pablo due to the surge of cases in the pandemic.
Direk Perci explained: “When she said ayaw niya, sabi namin, if she’s not comfortable to shoot, ayaw rin namin siyang pilitin. We meant to get Adriana noong start pa lang ng show last year, but she’s then busy with ‘Gameboys’ and ‘Pearl Next Door.’ But this time, bakante siya, so we called her, just the day before the shoot lang. Nagulat siya, but no questions asked, next day, diretso na siyang nagpunta sa San Pablo for her shoot. And we’re very thankful she said yes, sumabak agad siya and she’s very good.”
So did Adriana have second thoughts in taking on the role that was started by someone else?
“None at all. When they offered the role to me, para akong binuhusan ng cold water. Ang ganda ng role ni Andi, very complex. Big challenge siya, and the fact that they considered me for the role is such a big thing for me. Sobrang maldita ‘yung character ni Andi.
Kinidnap niya si Maricel Laxa. She’s so manipulative sa lahat ng characters and she became mentally challenged after she got arrested. Mahirap siya, but I really enjoyed doing it.”
Don’t miss Adriana So’s tour de force performance as the deranged Andi in “Paano ang Pangako” this Monday at 7:15 p.m. on TV5.
***
Vin Abrenica is at the Zoom press con of a new movie, “Nelia,” and since he is a new dad, it’s understandable that most of the questions to him were about his and Sophie Albert’s baby girl who changed his life.
“Definitely mas inspired ako in my life,” he said. “I’ve been a father for five days now and five days na akong no sleep. But kahit nakakapagod, it’s the most rewarding thing for me, spending every moment of my life with our baby. I realized that I’m not living my life for myself anymore. At lalo kong minahal ang parents ko kasi hindi pala biro maging magulang. But it’s a very fulfilling feeling. Now, I also have to be very careful sa shoot kasi it’s high risk because of the pandemic and we have our baby to protect at home.”
Their baby’s name is Bianca. “Her arrival is a new growth for me and Sophie. We’re eight years na in our relationship as boyfriend-girlfriend, so bagong development ito for us. I feel so happy watching her take care of our baby na mas hawig niya. We’ve become officially engaged sa Batangas, so ang wedding namin baka sometime later this year or next year na. We have also put up our own business for physical fitness equipment na bagay habang may pandemic.”
He’s happy to play a lead role in “Nelia,” a film about mental illness where he plays Jeff, a nurse in a mental hospital. “I’m excited with my role kasi nursing is my first course in college in Pampanga. Naka-two years ako before I moved to Manila and joined showbiz.
I’m excited to work with the cast like Winwyn Marquez, Raymond Bagatsing, Shido Roxas, Ali Forbes and Lloyd Samartino na puro ngayon ko lang nakatrabaho.”
***
‘Akala ko, maninibago ako, but there was no adjustment period at all — Richard Yap’
Richard Yap has no regrets transferring to GMA 7. At the Zoom presscon for his latest assignment, the “On My Way to You” episode of the primetime hit drama anthology, “I Can
See You,” he says he really felt the warm welcome that GMA gave him.
“Akala ko, maninibago ako, but there was no adjustment period at all,” he said. “I never felt uncomfortable kasi everyone’s so warm, so welcoming sa first taping ko pa lang for ‘Dear Uge.’ They never made you feel na galing ka sa kabila at naging maganda agad ang rapport ko sa lahat. Hindi lang sa cast but everyone involved in the production.”
What was the reaction of his fans when he allowed his and his wife Melody’s love story to be dramatized in “Magpakailanman”?
“Okay naman. No negative reactions. Folks are just happy to see ang life story namin ng wife ko on TV. I’m glad a lot of people liked it.”
The past year 2020 was a difficult one for all. How was he affected by the pandemic?
“My businesses really suffered, lalo na ang restaurants ko. Some were closed down for a while and when we’re slowly recovering, heto tumaas uli ang surge ng cases at naghigpit na naman. I’m one with everyone in praying na matapos na sana itong pandemic.”
What’s his role in “On My Way to You” of “I Can See You”?
“I play the dad of Ruru Madrid. I get worried when he gets depressed kasi iniwan siya ng girlfriend niya, si Arra San Agustin. Buti na lang at dumating naman si Shaira Diaz para maaliw siya. The story is about letting go and moving on, as directed by Mark Reyes.”
His next project is a teleserye with Heart Evangelista to be shot in Sorsogon, “I Left My Heart in Sorsogon.” They’re supposed to start taping in April but with the pandemic raging again, maybe it would have to be postponed.
