Living their childhood fantasies

When he was younger, model-turned-actor Zanjoe Marudo, who plays Super Islaw on ABS-CBN’s superserye Super Inggo, saw himself as a shy, reserved kid.

"Though other people still see me as such, I can confidently say I have become more comfortable with other people," he adds. "Before, I’d rather keep many things – my dreams, plans – to myself."

Zanjoe shares that before people would often see him daydreaming and ask, "Why are you in another planet again?"

He said he only shrugged these kinds of queries because "I didn’t feel I had to explain."

Asked what kept him occupied during his "spaced-out" moments, he replies, "just like any other kid, I once dreamed of becoming a superhero. I wanted to fly."

This is the reason why he is thankful he was tapped for the plum role on ABS-CBN’s hit superserye. "Being part of Super Inggo allows me to live out my childhood fantasies," says Zanjoe.

The model-turned-actor adds that, when he first tried on the harness, he became too excited. "I said to myself, ‘I am flying!’" he says.

He adds that he couldn’t believe that, even for only a few months, he could be the flying superhero he once wanted to be. "It gives me a different high. Aside from flying, seeing kid superheroes-in-training transports me to my childhood. It’s nice to be a child again."

Asked about his role, Zanjoe admits being this generation’s Super Islaw is a feat. He adds that his role epitomizes what a Pinoy superhero ought to be – compassionate, strong-willed, honest.

Zanjoe, however, admits he doesn’t mind being the bad guy sometimes.

To which Brad Murdoch, who plays the Prince of Darkness, jokingly responds, "You want to exchange roles with me?"

Fil-Australian Brad never dreamed of playing the evil guy, but he said, "It’s good to be playing an omnipotent character. Who wouldn’t want to play a role that can do almost everything?"

Empoy, who plays Petrang Kabayo, says he didn’t dream of becoming omnipotent. Rather, he said he dreamed of something simpler – be a teacher.

"I wanted to share a part of myself with younger kids, but you honestly think my would-be ‘students’ would take me seriously," jokingly asks Empoy. "Hindi naman ‘ata."

This is also the reason why he, whose role in the series is one of the teachers in Super Inggo’s Power Academy, considers his part very special. "You see, you don’t need to be good-looking just to be a teacher. You just have to be a beautiful half-horse, half-man."

Upon hearing this, Zaira dela Peña, who plays Jessa of Blusang Itim, agrees that indeed people tend to give so much premium on one’s appearance.

"When I was younger, I never saw myself as someone worthy of others’ attention," says Zaira. "I still get surprised when people tell me I am beautiful."

She clarifies, however, that she has always known that she looks presentable, but "I have seen more beautiful women."

For transforming her into a "magically" beautiful woman, Zaira is very grateful to the series.

With his participation in the superserye, Herbert Bautista believes he has gone full circle, now working with a bunch of the industry’s most promising child wonders.

He is one who, more than living his childhood fantasies, revisits his childhood with this TV project.

After his more than two-decade-stint in showbiz, he finds joy interacting with child actors like Makisig "Super Inggo" Morales, Jairus "Jomar" Aquino and his "son" Sam "Boy Bawang" Concepcion. "I hope I can inspire and instill in these kids the values and lessons I have learned in the business," says Herbert.