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                       The set of Princess Sarah is like a kindergarten class except that the parents are allowed inside the classroom.

Imagine almost 20kids wanting to ask you a question all at the same time. Each kid is very unique from the other. Each kid has a peculiar characteristic that distinguishes his/her apart from the rest. The kids are a delight to be with. it makes me feel young as well. They just want to play. They think that the set is their playground…oh, well… that’s another blog entry…’ incoming child star’

What struck me most is that everybody in the set  is on guard with themselves…. hahahahahahaha!!!! there you go!

                                    

Everybody wants to be a good example to the children. Not only that, no one wants to carry that guilt or burden of teaching a kid some bad traits.

It shows that people in the set can actually be nice and courteous if needed. Nobody wants to blamed after years that the childs future was desroyed because of what she/he has seen in the set with tita or tito whoever.

hahahaha! some guilt tripping there. I now conclude that everybody believes Jose Rizal : Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Bongga!

The set of Princess Sarah is not the usual taping set of the usual taping atmosphere. It’s not a quiet atmosphere for the kids have so many things they want to say and ask. I salute our directors, asst. directors and staff for having such long patience to keep up with the kids.

The staff are not the only ones that are adjusting … the crew as well…

1. I have noticed that people are very cautious with their manners because the kids might imitate the elders.

Imagine walang naglalaro ng sabunot-sabunotan, walang naglalandian, walang nag babad- sign, walang nag aaway o nagpapakita ng di magandang asal. If meron man, not from the sight of the children.

2. I haven’t heard any person curse in the set. That is no joke! Funny?! Nobody has ever blurted out a single bad word in the set even in the height of one’s anger. All I hear is …grrrr!

classic example:

Staff 1: ANAK NG, NG… (couldn’t continue because a bunch of kids entered the room)

Kid 1: ANAK PO NG?

Staff 2: ANAK NG TETENG… NASAAN NA BA YUNG PROPS NA KAILANGAN?

kid 2: SINO PO SI TETENG?

Kid 3: BAKIT DI NA LANG NIYO TAWAGIN YUNG PANGALAN MISMO NG TAO?

Staff 1: NAKALIMUTAN KO ANG PANGALAN NIYA EH.

Kid 1: KUNWARI PA PO KAYO GUSTO NIYO DAPAT MAG BAD WORD EH…

hahahaha! kids… You can’t start anything with them that you cannot finish and cannot fully explain and stand for it.

                                          

3. No hanky panky playing in the set. Even the homosexuals are very tamed.

4. No unneccessary movements or actions that may confuse the child in sight.

5. The people correct each other when one slips or forget that there are children around…

        WAG KA NGA MAINGAY! LAKI NG BUNGANGA MO DIYAN. oopsies! wrong term… bunganga? how funny that we correct each other on the set as if there were GMRC teachers or inspectors. When situations like this arise immediately one will  correct the wrong term with the right one. WAG KA NGA MAINGAY DIYAN PLEASE. LAKI KASI NG BIBIG BITO EH.

hahahahaha! all these changes because we have a kindergarten class on the set.

In reality, the adults are being guarded by the children with our actions, words and deeds…. When i thought all the while it was supposed to be the other way around….

I know this reaction might be long overdue for most of the people who would be reading this…. sorry… I had to garner strength and courage to be able to write this and at the same time not sound defensive and guilty for what so ever….

The title of the blog:

APAT DAPAT,DAPAT APAT NAKAKAGULAT! and i stand by this for a couple of reasons.

1. no real star as in superstar but it hit the tills showing in all cinemas nationwide for a month long. How about that? Amazing right?

2. different reactions and different comments sprung from this movie

3. it’s a movie that  one will either like or hate.

4. I wasn’t around during the premiere night and so I did not see and hear the peoples’ reaction with the movie.

I watched the movie in a regular theater along with my sister and some friends… I cannot be a real good reviewer of this movie, I feel because I’m a part of it. But I cannot help but share my feelings with the effect of the movie to me….

My sister without any expectations came to watch and she did enjoy the roller coaster ride of emotions while watching the movie.

I personally felt that the movie is not your usual expected comedy. It is a black comedy, a tragic comedy. I did not realize that while we were shooting that my Director, Wen V. Deramas, already had something in mind. He was setting again a new trend in terms of doing comedy.

I have read a lot of blogs and reviews that they got dissapointed with the movie. Dissapointed because they were expecting the usual formula kind of movie from Deramas…. too bad he did not give us that.

I myself, got worried while watching the movie with all my expectations… It’s different… It’s a very bold move….

It’s black comedy. I don’t know how many people could truly enjoy that type of comedy but I’m saying these not only to defend the movie but because i myself was suprised of how it has affected me.

The script has flaws. Oh yes… a lot of it… first how my character was able to surpass all entries in the airport… hello! kaya nga comedy at movie ito… hindi naman ito docu.

Still there was something missing with the story flow and that I would agree with the others.

As I was trying to analyze the movie, my mom told me her piece about the film

‘ Totoo kasi yung pelikula kaya marami ang nasaktan dahil totoong mahirap manilbihan sa ibang bansa, saka yung movie niyo was discouraging the filipinos to work abroad to keep the family. masyado kasing masakit na realidad na nakadikit pa sa maraming issues kaya hindi handa ang isang taong papasok ng sinehan para manood ng comedy… yun lang yun…’

Oo nga… I was trying to intellectualize the movie but here’s my mom that gave her one cent worth of logical and practical observation… The truth hurts.

Though the truth is also funny.

Who do we blame for this? (oo nga, tama si mama, sanga-sanga nga ang issues involve with the main premise of the movie)

Am I believing this because it’s my movie and I want to defend it? maybe yes, maybe no… The movie is not the answer to poverty but it’s coming from a painful reality presented in a light manner.

Bold move for Wen V. Deramas.

Something new for all of us.

To all who watched enjoyed, did not enjoy, confused, dissapointed, elated or whatever your reaction was… thank you very much for giving this movie a chance.

There were also a lot of people who wrote me and commented that they liked and enjoyed the movie. Thanks as well… i mean double thanks.

To my director, Wen, thanks for the oppurtunity of being a part of this project and congratulations because you have once again did something new with comedy… Filipino audience ready or not..here you came with the movie.

Lesson Learned: Next time when you do or watch something do not expect anything because we do not know what’s in store. We only get dissapointed when we have some point in comparison and reference.

So much has been said about this movie at the end of the day… taste is very subjective. Comedy is very subjective. Art and beauty is very personal. The captain of the ship (director) has the overview of everything and he knows what he wants to say… Ano pa ang sabihin niyo….hehehehehe…. kumita ang movie. It reached a whooping 100million and will be shown in New York and New Jersey….

My manager broke the good news that I will be joining Ms. Sharon Cuneta for her Canada Tour as her guest. What a blessing! This is so exciting!

As the tour date was nearing, they were already asking me who I wanted to bring for the tour… I wanted to bring my sister but with the apprehension if she could handle the task of helping me with my act. She would be like my assistant. There was also smurf( Rowena) who knew what to do and was so excited to join me… Let me see… Let me think… what’s best?

I asked my sister and she declined…(whew!) Okay, guilt is off my chest that I never considered her. I just had to ask her and find out if she wanted to but she declined right away.  Reaction: both good and bad. Bad she turned down the opportunity to travel and good because it’s a load off my back.

2 weeks before our tour. She decided that she would join me. What?!@ Why so sudden? how can she cope up? Can she handle the stress? can she take the pressure? Can she cope up with the fast-paced life of touring? Can she move fast? How will she blend it with the others? Is she ready to face this industry? How about her masters? Her finals with school? To top it all, BAKA MAG-AWAY LANG KAMI!??? oh dear….

If God allowed this to happen, then maybe He has a reason.

Vancouver Airport:

She forgot my make-up kit at the check in cabin. I was the one getting all the baggages…as expected. Not solely her fault because the make-up bag also slipped off my mind. Still, it’s supposed to be her job… 1 down. moving on…

Calgary Airport:

Ate Belay was the one who met us at the airport. First time I met her. She seems very nice. Tita helen was the only one I really knew from the producers side. At the hotel I met, Ms. Sandra, Ms. Nancy and saw Tita Helen.

First official day in Canada:

The promoters generously toured us to lake Louise. It’s a long 2hour drive. When we got there, it’s freaking cold! MM’s first comment was " ate, you can’t stay long out here. You might get sick. You have a show tomorrow. It’s too cold. The sudden change of weather with your jet lag might affect your performance."

Thought Bubble: Kapatid ko ba yun? Totoo ang sinabi niya.

After going around for quite sometime.

MM: We have to go home. You still need to write a script.

Back to the hotel:

I was so tired that I decided to take a power nap. I told MM to wake me up at 1130pm, so i can write my script. She did wake me up at 1130pm, 1230 and at 130am. She did not sleep until I stood up and started writing my script.

As I was about to finish writing my script at 4am, I was shocked to see her still awake behind me. She waited if I needed something. I told her to sleep now because I’m all good.

Calgary Show:

MM fixed all my stuff. Prepared my costumes. Set-up my make-up. Asked me what I needed. Reviewed with me my script and my sketch. Gave me pointers….

Okay… Let me do my thing. Did my make-up. Fanny Serrano generously fixed my hair…. Now, where is MM? She’s nowhere to be found. ‘ eto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh..’ In my surprise, she was with Ms. Sandra and Ms. Nancy helping out with the power point. Can’t I be more proud that she was tasked to do such. she was helping with the production side which what I really want her to do… offer help where she can.

Show started.

I was already on stand by alone with tita helen because MM was busy fixing up my things at the dressing room.

Tita helen told me:

‘matagal na kami magkakasama nila Sandra. Kami ang nagtutulungan kasi kami rin naman talaga ang magdadamayan bilang magkakapatid kami. Si nancy, matagal na rin namin siya nakakasama. Mababait ang kapatid ko lalo na iyang si Sandra… Si Belay nagkakaintindihan na kami kung ano ang trabaho namin at assignment namin. Mas maganda nga pag kapatid mo ang kasama mo kasi mas nagkakaintindihan kayo at totoo ang malasakit ninyo sa isa’t- isa."

Thought bubble: magkakapatid kayo? sandra, helen at belay? ayos ha…

Tita Helen: matagal mo na ba nakakasama ang kapatid mo sa tour?

candy: Ngayon lang po.

Tita Helen: Okay siya. Masipag. Saka okay iyan… Tingnan mo mas sensitive siya sa kailangan mo. ganun din kasi ako sa mga kapatid ko. Minsan nag-kakainisan kayo sa show pero pagkatapos nun wala na. Magkakapatid kasi eh. Gusto niyo syempre walang mapapahiya at masasaktan sa inyo, walang madedehado.

Thought bubble: OO nga naman. Tama ka nga naman dun.

We had 3 successful shows in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The people was very pleased. We met a lot of people along the way. Learned a lot of things about Canada, touring and people.

Everybody was so focused with the shows, schedules and alike. Amidst all these I was seeing something else…

I couldn’t help but notice how the Chavez sisters with ate nancy worked. I always thought that it was hard to deal and work with relatives. But they proved me wrong.

Working with family had a certain security. That was what I saw with the Chavez sisters. They had trust with each other and enjoyed each others company as colleagues and siblings. I enjoyed watching them. It felt good to see real blood sisters helping each other. It was like they were playing, playing grown-ups. I felt guilty that I doubted what my own sister can offer me.

I zeroed back to my own sister, who I doubled at first but never failed me ever. She took me by surprise. She went beyond what i expected of her.

In Vancouver she told me that this might be the first and the last time that she could join me in a tour because she would be busy with work and her master-al. In my heart, Thank God I was given a chance to travel with her and to be with her, just the 2 of us far from home.

We had a great show in Canada.  We enjoyed the company of Fanny Serrano and the whole band. I was in awe with Mega on how she captures the audience when she’s on stage. Sharon Cuneta wooed the audience in different levels. Her Life and her movies marked and made me remember highlights of my life.

In Canada, I also had a deeper friendship with Fanny Serrano.

                        

Had a chance to speak and bond with Marvin Q. (basta!)

In Canada, I met and worked with the Chavez sisters. I’m amazed how they make things work in their simplicity. They are already a production of their own. No politics, no pretense… working, happy family.

Again In Canada, I realized

                                          

…. I had a younger sister whom I can truly depend on even with my work. I spent time with my sister and I love it!