Ricky Davao: On the director's chair of 'Makapiling Kang Muli'

Actor-director Ricky Davao was given the daunting task by GMA 7 to helm its latest primetime drama offering titled ‘Makapiling Kang Muli,’ which marks the return of Richard Gutierrez in the primetime slot.

“It’s kind of scary and stressful,” says Ricky with a smile at the presscon held at the GMA 7 studio early this week. “But I am enjoying myself because I am working with my friends, well, most of them, like Tita Gloria (Romero), Tito Robert (Arevalo), Mark Gil who is my contemporary and Lolo Ipe (Phillip Salvador), plus John “Sweet” Lapus. They are all my friends. We have a good time on the set even if its tiring. Getting to the set alone takes six hours.” The actor-director says Makapiling Kang Muli is being shot in a number of beautiful locations in Calatagan and Lipa in Batangas, Pangasinan, Pagsanjan and Pila in Laguna.

How did he feel when he was offered by GMA to take on the directorial chores on Makapiling Kang Muli? “I got nervous because of the bigness of the project. My last directorial job here in GMA was Kokak but Makapiling Kang Muli is my first directorial job here on primetime. Nakakagulat kasi ang laki ng cast talaga.”

How is Richard Gutierrez as an actor? “He’s okay. He’s very professional. He’s a good listener. Importante naman ‘yung nakikinig. He’s also willing to learn and to experiment. I don’t want to say that we are going to present a different kind of Richard in this drama series. But I think you will see a more dramatic and serious Richard, a more handsome Richard because he’s fit na fit. I am hoping that everything will come into place. It’s hard to promise anything but I am very proud and confident with this project,” said Ricky.

It’s also the first time that he is directing Richard in a primetime drama although he played his dad in the first Captain Barbell series. He also has nothing but praise for Carla Abellana and Sarah Lahbati. “Carla is feisty. As an actress, she has really developed. She’s very good and she’s very intelligent. She’s also very professional. If you are a professional, parang hindi ka magkakamali. If you love your job and you are a professional, you can’t go wrong, “ said Ricky.

How about Sarah? “She’s gifted. The first time I worked with her in Kokak, I already said that we have a new leading lady in GMA. She shows a lot of promise. And it’s a good thing she lost weight. Here in Makapiling Kang Muli, she and Richard make a perfect match because they are both tall. It’s hard to get a leading man for Sarah because she’s tall kaya perfect sila ni Chard,” he added.

Even if he’s getting juicy directorial assignments, Ricky is still an actor and would not turn his back on a good role.

“I am first and foremost an actor but iba naman ang fulfillment ng isang director kasi para rin akong umaarte. Minsan inaarte ko sa kanila kung ano ang gusto kong makita. As an actor, I want my director to trust me. I want him to respect me. In the same manner, I also want my stars to trust me when I direct them. When it comes to my veteran stars, I tell them sana po ganito ang gusto kong mangyari. I respect that they have a different interpretation of their character. They read the script. They study it and then they have their own interpretation and I respect that. Magaan ang trabaho when I work with professionals,” he said.

Despite having the most stressful job on the set, he has yet to yell on a star because of a problem in the set. Or for failing to deliver. “If ever I did yell at somebody, it would probably be because that star is not yet ready for take, eh kailangan na magsimula. Ganu’n lang ‘yun. Mahirap manigaw.”

Directing is very stressful that’s why Ricky is trying to be patient. “Directing for TV is hard work. You are given so many sequences to finish on one day. You have to work with actors who have their separate working hours at times. Most of them are busy actors, those who have commercial shoots and other concerns. You have to shoot within a specific time period. Sometimes we shoot from 7 a.m. till 4 a.m. the next morning,” he explained.

The pilot episode of “Makapiling Kang Muli” is on Monday. How does Ricky feel with the big day coming? “I am nervous. This is a very big project. I hope the people will like it. I am confident with the project but won’t see the entire spectrum. You will never know what will happen. Parang ganoon din ang tao. Mag-iisip ka rin kung nanood ba sila o hindi?”

As a director, what does he think is the strength of his program? “I am working with a good mix of actors, both veterans and young actors. I feel strongly about this project although maraming problema, like the weather and the horses. I remember the late FPJ (Fernando Poe, Jr.) said, there are two superstars on the set, if not the child stars, then the animals. You have to wait for them kasi may mood swings din ang mga kabayo. Ayaw umarte - ahas, kabayo, aso, daga. May mga ganung elements na kami, pangrekado kasi maganda na ang drama,” revealed Ricky.

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With the hard times, many of our family members have no other recourse but to leave for abroad to try their luck and hopefully find the greener pasture. To be away from our families is one thing that an OFW endures. OFWs have to endure the pain of being far away from their loved ones while trying to earn decent income that they could send back home. The bagong bayani or how we call the OFWs have now a way to stay connected to their families.

In a press briefing held at The Lounge in Tomas Morato, Quezon on Wednesday, event host Karen Dematera (otherwise known as KaladKaren, the grand winner in Banana Splits’s Extra Scoops “Clown in a Million Contest” of ABS-CBN 2, where Pokwang also started) introduced the beauty of having Kamusta.ph.

Kamusta.ph is an iPhone and iPad app that can be downloaded from App Store. Through internet connection and availing of a subscription for Kamusta.ph, your OFW friend or relative can now call the Philippines from abroad and we may also call them unlimited.

“The Kamusta.ph is specially made from families who miss their loved ones who are abroad.We aim to make a fast way to make our OFWs have clear communication with their loved ones here in the Philippines. That is possible and at a very reasonable price at Kamusta.ph,” said Neil S. Macalino, head of Bayan International.

Depending on their subscription, they may elect a Philippine Bayan number that can be contacted from any Bayan number in the Philippines directly to their iPhone abroad or they may call any Bayan number. It has a very good reception, like getting a call from your next-door-neighbor.

For more information, you may log on to http:www.bayan.com/kamustaph.