David in the land of Goliaths

It’s 3 p.m. Tuesday and David Remo, in his school uniform, is trying to finish his plateful of merienda at the King Bee restaurant in Fisher Mall, revealing four missing front teeth when he smiles. Between bites, he continues drawing figures on a piece of paper.

Accompanied by his father, Don Remo (who’s in advertising), David catches the attention of shoppers and mall rats as they make their way to the restaurant at the second floor, with his fans calling him Niño which is the character that he plays in the top-rating GMA soap Niño (with co-star Miguel Tanfelix’s character also named Niño so he and David call each other Tukayo). Directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, the trending feel-good soap imparts such good values that even the priests are, during their Sunday sermon, reminding the faithful to encourage their children to watch it, and learn from it.

“He’s picky with food,” volunteers Don. “His favorites are Jollibee, kaldereta, adobo and sinigang.”

As he was in his first soap, Binoy Henyo (also on GMA), David is a natural actor. “He’s talented and bright/smart,” says direk Maryo, “but he has to be controlled and disciplined. He has very short attention span, which is common among kids, so he easily gets distracted. But his cuteness and flair easily make up for it.”

It’s that cuteness that wins the hearts of televiewers, so infectious not only in soaps but also in commercials (the recent ones with Marian Rivera for a fabric conditioner, directed by Dad Don and for a spaghetti product). David is big in his own little way, standing tall among giants. David in the land of Goliaths.

In school (Grade 2 at La Salle Greenhills), seven-year-old David is a second-honor pupil, with good grades in all subjects except in Language. His favorite subject is Math.

“He’s in school from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday,” says Don. “We schedule his shoot after classes, usually from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. mostly in Pagsanjan, Laguna. Very considerate ang production people.”

David is a spaghetti lover so it was but fitting that his first commercial starrer is for a spaghetti product. After a few more commercials, David passed hands-down the audition for Binoy Henyo.

“He enjoys dancing,” says Don. “As with other kid actors, to him shooting is like play, not work. Early on, mahilig na talaga siya umarte. He was barely one year old when he started talking. Derecho na ‘yon; hindi na siya nag-baby talk. You know why he calls me Tatay? He got it from watching the Kapamilya show with Carmen Soo (Malaysian actress).”

His popularity hasn’t sunk in yet.

“He’s surprised when people make a fuss about him when he’s in the mall or when the girls have their pictures taken with him,” relates Don. “When he watches himself on TV, he reacts as if he’s watching somebody else. When his character cries, he also cries; when his character laughs or is happy, he also laughs and is happy.”

Don is doing a movie about Dr. Jose Rizal, with David cast as the kid Rizal and possibly Dennis Trillo as Rizal’s father. He’s also finalizing a kiddie show to be shot at Fisher Mall which now features, among many others, a Playland.

“One portion of the show is something like IQ7, La Salle vs Ateneo, with pupils Grade 3 and below competing,” says Don. “The participants on the show will be known as the Fisher Kids.”

It’s useless to ask David what his early Christmas wish is — yes, to have his four front teeth back!

Tacloban First Couple renews friendship with the movie press

From the way she smiled, Tacloban First Lady/City Councilor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez seemed to have recovered from the trauma caused by Yolanda 10 months ago, the supertyphoon that erased Tacloban from the map and almost took her life and that of her husband, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and their daughters Sofia (14) and Diana (10).

“But our daughters sometimes still show signs of the trauma,” revealed Cristina. “Mga bata pa kasi, eh.”

The couple, with daughters in tow, hosted a reunion dinner Thursday night with the movie press at the family-owned Patio Victoria (which offers, among other services, wedding packages; call 526-1953 for inquiries) along General Luna St. in Intramuros, Manila. Mayor Alfred joined the get-together upon his arrival from Tacloban, direct from the airport.

“Yolanda devastated Tacloban but it didn’t destroy the spirit and the hearts of Taclobanons,” assured Alfred. “With the grace of God, Tacloban and our people are on the rise again.”

The Romualdezes are themselves victims, losing most of their properties just like majority of the Taclobanons but, as mayor, Alfred rose above the ruins and pumped his constituents with hope. Hundreds of residents still live in tents and Alfred hoped that the government will soon fulfill its commitment to purchase more land so that the permanent resettlement sites could be completed soonest, although maybe not in time for Pope Francis’ visit in January next year.

“Wherever the Santo Papa wants to go,” said Alfred, “the city government will support him.”

In a light vein, the movie press wondered when Cristina, still as beautiful and as flawless as ever, will return to showbiz (she politely turned down an offer to star in a soap due to her work as councilor).

“She can go back anytime she wants to,” said Alfred. “After all, when I met her she was already in showbiz.”

“Our daughter Sofia is a good singer,” said Cristina. “If, after she’s done with her studies, she decides to be a singer, then Alfred and I will support her.”

To cap the dinner, some members of the movie press posed with Tacloban’s First Couple for posterity.

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