WENDELL Ramos’ eldest son, Saviour, 21 years old, is now into acting and appears in the BL series, “Unlocked: Neo and Omar” opposite Miggs Cuaderno. Viewers are quick to note that he is not as tall or good looking as his hunky dad.
That’s quite unfair, but we guess it couldn’t be helped that Saviour is being compared to his father who, at 42, certainly remains to be one of the best looking guys in local showbiz and, although Saviour is buff just like he’s dad, he’d still really suffer in comparison.
“Natanong nga niya ako why he’s not as tall as I am and why he’s darker in complexion,” says Wendell. “I told him na hindi maiiwasang ikumpara siya sa akin but sabi ko na lang, not to mind the comparisons. I told him na kung anong meron ka, tanggapin mo na lang, and you just have to embrace it. You need to love yourself first and not compare yourself with anyone.”
Is he against his son’s joining showbiz? “Hindi naman. Pero sana, maintindihan niya ‘yung sinasabi ko sa kanyang huwag ikumpara ang sarili niya kahit kanino. I told him, as long as you love yourself and you believe in yourself and in what you can do, that’s the more important thing. Kasi wala namang perpektong tao. And he should just be grateful na may trabaho siya. Walang kahirap-hirap, may kumuha agad sa kanyang umarte.”
We guess such comparisons is the fate of the children of more popular showbiz parents. It’s difficult to achieve stardom when your parent before you is still very much active in the business. Paolo and Gab Valenciano, Robin Nievera all tried to make it as singers, but let’s face it, their dad’s Gary and Martin are still on top of the game so it’s hard to make a name for themselves. Lucky for Paolo and Gab, they eventually found new careers as directors.
Going back to Wendell, he continues to play lead roles like in the current afternoon hit, “Prima Donnas”, where he plays Jaime Claveria, the man Aiko Melendez and Katrina Halili are both fighting for. They’re now on their second lock in taping and the whole cast is very happy as the ratings of the fresh new episodes that they previously taped are really soaring high.
Viewers, though, say that Aiko as Kendra and her daughter, Elijah Alejo as Brianna, seem to have gotten worse in sowing more evil deeds in the show’s latest episodes. “Mas lalo yatang grumabe ang kasamaan ng mag-ina laban sa Donnas,” says one concerned viewer. “Nakakaalarma na ang pagiging salbahe nila, dapat na silang kalusin.”
Big project for Christmas
ERIC Quizon, Ricky Davao, Perci Intalan and Jun Lana, the four directors of TV5’s special Christmaserye, “Paano ang Pasko” (Jun is also the show’s scriptwriter), are featured in a special zoom presscon and all of them expressed admiration for their actors as they’ve been on a lock in taping in San Pablo City for over a month now and they have yet to finish the whole series.
So how did the project come about? Jun Lana replies: “TV5 asked us if we could come up with a Christmas drama series when the -ber months started. Our company, IdeaFirst, will be the showrunner and naisip agad namin, we will be pressed for time as it will start airing on Monday na, November 23, and will run for one month. It’s good I already have a project na reserved sana for a movie, so we thought of adapting it as a soap opera. The title is ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ because it happens right now, while there is a pandemic going on, and we’re all wondering kung paano nga ba ang gagawin nating pagdiriwang ng Pasko. How will Filipino families celebrate Christmas in the midst of crisis, tapos nagkabagyo pa? ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ will make viewers feel inspired na puede pa rin namang ituloy ang Pasko sa kabila ng mga hindi magandang nangyayari sa atin sa ngayon.”
How come they have four directors?
Perci replies: “Kasi nga, we’re pressed for time, so it’s a big challenge for us. Bayanihan ito, e. Kailangang magtulungan kami kasi malapit na ang start ng airing. E, sumagupa pa kami sa tatlong bagyo. Nasira ‘yung mga daan patungo sa location. Nabagsakan ng mga puno.”
Despite all the difficulties, they persisted. Perci continues: “Tapos, we have such a big cast, as this is the story of a family who have a big reunion because of the ongoing health crisis in time for the Christmas season. Ricky Davao came here as an actor, playing the family driver who knows the secret of most family members. But in the course of our lock in taping, pinagdirek na namin siya ng ibang eksena.”
How did they cast the show?
Perci says: “We have to be careful in choosing the actors who’d breathe life into the characters. The show marks the comeback of two good actresses on TV drama. Maricel Laxa plays Faith, the family’s matriarch who is about to discover a long kept family secret. Julia Clarete plays Love, her eldest daughter whose past is coming back to haunt not just her, but their entire family. Beauty Gonzales plays Hope, the second daughter, na may nakaraang relasyon with her sister’s husband, Ejay Falcon. Kasama rin sina Devon Seron, Matt Evans, John Lapus, Allan Paule, Cedrick Juan and newcomers Ace Ismael and Justine Buenaflor. Playing a very important role is recent Urian winner Elijah Canlas as Noel, the troubled grandson who is about to discover the truth about his lineage. Lahat sila rito, may pasabog. Kasi wide ang range ng mga eksena. May humor, may drama, may mga matitinding confrontations and awayan.”
Eric Quizon adds: “The story is really very relevant today kasi nga kasali rito ang pandemic. It shows how important the family is in such trying times. All families encounter problems, but if all family members will share and cooperate, they can find the solutions together. Iyon ang pinapakitang important message dito sa ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ Tayong mga Pilipino, kahit may mabigat na problemang pinagdaraanan tayo, may masasandalan tayong pamilya natin to help us out.”
“Paano ang Pasko?” will air Monday to Friday night at 9 PM, starting this Monday, November 23, on TV5 and Cignal Entertainment.
