Nine weeks after being Joey, a transgender woman on the GMA soap Destiny Rose, Ken Chan started playing a real woman effective yesterday’s episode.
“My character underwent sex change,” Ken told Funfare.
The series has made Ken realize the plight of trans-women.
“Mas tumaas ang respeto ko sa LGBT group,” confessed Ken. “I appreciate the group all the more. Hindi ganun kadali ang pinagdadaanan nila sa buhay. I’m learning a lot from them.”
Every shot, the GMA management sees to it that an LGBT representative is invited to the set to guide Ken in his portrayal.
“Maselan ang issue about trans-women, so we are careful not to hurt anybody,” added Ken. “My acting should be nothing more and nothing less. Dapat sakto lang.”
His transformation from trans-woman to a “real woman” was physically challenging.
“Just putting on my make-up and fixing my hair takes more than two hours,” revealed Ken. “First, they set my hair into tirintas before they put on my wig. Then, I have to hide my private part by wearing a pair of tight panties, ‘yung pambabae hindi panlalake. After that, I have to put on a kadera to make my hips prominent, another tight outfit, girdle and stockings. Finally, mayroon pang isang isinusuot so that my body will appear like that of a woman.”
Now as a real woman, Ken said that he has to closely observe celebrities.
“They told me that Destiny Rose is glamorous, sophisticated and charming, and that I should not use gays as pegs,” explained Ken. “Ang peg ko hindi lang isang celebrity, but many of them. I copied the way Marian Rivera cries, how Heart Evangelista laughs, how Lovi Poe walks. I make Destiny Rose a composite character.”
Isn’t he worried that Destiny Rose might take over his real self as Ken Chan?
“No naman,” assured Ken who has his body hair waxed including his eyebrows and pubic hair. “I’m sure about my sexuality, secure ako sa gender ko. Even my girlfriend is amused. Siya pa ang nagbibigay sa akin ng pointers how to make my character credible.”
Once the Destiny Rose soap is over, Ken plans to take a vacation with his family in Hong Kong and at the same time undergo some kind of a “de-briefing” under a psychologist to free himself from the Destiny Rose character.
“According to Michael de Mesa (member of the cast), who is very good in playing gay, it’s really hard to get out of the character,” said Ken. “That’s what happens daw to actors playing that kind of character. Michael said that it’s normal. I have to learn daw how to unlearn the mannerisms and the nuances of the character. Mahirap daw talaga.”
Once is enough. So after Destiny Rose, Ken said that he wouldn’t play any gay role anymore.
“I don’t want to be typecast,” he stressed. “If ever they assign me a similar role, baka matagalan pa.”
Jack Jones coming for shows at Big Dome
BREAKING NEWS: Jack Jones is set to headline a two-night concert on Dec. 29 and 30 at the newly-opened KIA Theater (formerly New Frontier Theater) in Araneta Center, Quezon City.
In the concert titled Jack Jones Sings Songs From The Heart and produced by ManCo Productions, Inc. and Royale Chimes Concert & Events, Inc., Jones will not only perform his signature songs but also some well-loved covers and tracks from his recently-released album Seriously Frank which pays tribute to what would have been the 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra.
When Jones learned that Jose Mari Chan will be appearing on the show, he immediately called Joe Mari and both agreed to do a very special production number. Another guest is Asia’s Got Talent (AGT) second runner-up Gerphil Flores whose most-applauded song on AGT was the Jones classic The Impossible Dream.
(Tickets to Jack Jones Sings Songs From The Heart are available at the Ticketnet box office and online. For sponsorships, special ticket discounts and block buyers, call 0918-4972121 or 0906-4180786, look for Murphy.)
All set for ToFarm Filmfest
It’s a go for the ToFarm Film Festival which is set for July next year, with director Maryo J. delos Reyes and Dr. Milagros How (a biochemist, executive vice president of Universal Harvester, Inc.) behind the project.
“I admire Dr. How’s advocacy for farmers,” said Maryo who manages the family farm in his native Bohol, “that’s why I’m passionate about this filmfest.”
ToFarm Film Festival promises to be the most exciting and unique festival that would create great interest for film enthusiast, farmers and the public.
The filmfest was launched earlier this year, with the theme “The Plight of the Farmer: His Trials and Triumphs.” Six films will be selected by the filmfest committee from the entries and each will be granted a P1.5M grant. Deadline of submission of screenplays is Monday, Nov. 16, and for the completed full-length film on April 22, 2016.
The awarding ceremony will be held on July 16, 2016. Trophies will be awarded to: Best ToFarm Film 2016 (plus P500,000); Second Best ToFarm Film (plus P400,000); Third Best ToFarm Film (plus P300,000); Best Director; Best Actor/Actress; Best Supporting Actor/Actress; Best Child Performer; Best Screenplay; Best Musical Score; Best Production Design; Best Editing; and Best Cinematography. Winner of Best Special Jury Award will get P100,000.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com.)