Andre Paras looks forward to work with dad Benjie again

MANILA, Philippines — After a year of hiatus from the limelight, Andre Paras has resumed his showbiz career. His way of re-entering is via the drama-fantasy show, Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, whose fifth anniversary special is titled Bida Kontrabida and airs the finale episode on Sunday.

“Yes, I am,” replied Andre to the question about him concentrating on acting (and hosting) this time around after pursuing his interest in basketball in a recent virtual group interview. The Kapuso talent became a part of AMA Online Education and Blackwater Bossing for PBA D-League and PBA, respectively. He also played for the UP Fighting Maroons.

Doing showbiz and sports is in his blood since dad Benjie Paras was a professional cager before he caught the entertainment bug.

“It does (run in the family) and it’s hard to resist,” added Andre, “and whatever happens, you know what, ‘Kobe, sa’yo na yung basketball,’ nahati yung talent ni dad, OK, dun na ko sa showbiz, and sa pag-aartista, sa pagiging isang aktor.” Kobe is Andre’s younger brother, who has played for UP Fighting Maroons, the Philippine national team and a Japanese team.

“Well, I was gone for a year, if I’m not mistaken. I guess you can call it a break,” said Andre, whose last project, prior to Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, was co-hosting the GMA News TV-GTV show Game of the Gens, directed by Rico Gutierrez, with Sef Cadayona.

“I’m just very thankful,” shared Andre of being a member of the Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko ensemble cast. “With its title Bida Kontrabida, akala ko magiging mabigat siya kasi kontrabida nga ako, it was my first time… to play kontrabida… (but) it (was) very light dahil nga po para sa mga bata po ito.”

Featuring familiar antagonists Rumpelstiltskin, Sea Witch and Evil Queen and protagonists Sleeping Beauty, the Prince and Little Mermaid from fairytales and children’s books, the show tapped Andre to play the Big Bad Wolf, who tries to be good. Portraying the role allowed him to reminisce his childhood memories of reading stories and characters about like Hansel and Gretel that catch a young mind’s attention and imagination.

“Yung feeling na nagiging bata ka ulit in a way, you feel young because it’s about a fairytale,” said he, who had fun time working with fellow stars Jo Berry, Cai Cortez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Beverly Salviejo, Barbie Forteza, Rocco Nacino and Thea Tolentino, and director Rico Gutierrez. The latter also helmed Andre’s Game of the Gens. Playing and looking the part required him to wear make-up, which was a test of patience. “Yung pagiging patient means (being) on the make-up chair.”

“As of now, I’m here, back home in GMA,” shared Andre and expressed excitement over upcoming projects. “I will be wholeheartedly here with them to learn and to just enjoy my stay. To be honest, ako lang po, tanggap lang ako nang tanggap (I will accept whatever comes my way)… I would just be willing to accept anything, but if you were to ask me about my dream (projects), I would really love to work with my dad again… I would really love to work with my dad in the future.”

Andre would love to see himself and dad Benjie sharing the screen for a game show, a movie or a series.

“I think the last time I worked with my dad was (for) The Half-Sisters na nag-guest siya for, I guess, a month (where he guested for a month),” recalled he. “And then after that, there were other shows and series that we did under GMA in which I guested in his shows. Just being able to work with him, of course, it doesn’t feel like work, but I get to learn from him as well kasi my dad is someone I look up to when it comes to comedy.”

Since acting is a lifelong learning and commitment, Andre said, “Ako nga po, obviously, there’s a lot of work that I need to do. Kung may workshop man, kukunin ko yan… I still want to better my craft.”

Watch Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko every Sunday night at 7 after 24 Oras Weekend.