Dina Bonnevie learns comedy acting from Vic Sotto

Dubbed the “drama queen of her time,” Dina Bonnevie did not hesitate to take on a comedy persona on TV5’s Kalye Kweens, along with Alma Moreno.

In the sitcom, Mandy (Alma) and Telly (Dina) are former best friends, who became rivals after the latter married the former’s ex-boyfriend Roy (Jeric Raval). Kalye Kweens highlights relatable and realistic scenes involving the funny rivalry between two women, two families, and two communities.

“I’ve done television shows in the past that were a bit light, but not exactly comedy. But this is the first time (that I’m doing) all-out comedy, sabi ko kakaiba,” she said in a media conference held recently in Quezon City.

She actually learned valuable advice on how to make people laugh from her ex-husband, TV host and veteran comedian Vic Sotto. “Vic would always say that if you’re doing comedy, ‘wag kang magpatawa. Kailangan matawa yung tao sa sitwasyon… Just be the character. That’s what I always remember when I get to the scene.”

“My character is fierce, (I’m always in fighting mood). Palaban din siya (Alma), pero nagpapaka-alta sa siyudad siya even if she’s not. So lagi ko siyang sinusupla. Minsan sa suplahan, nakakatawa yung bangayan namin,” described Dina of their warring characters. “We also have touching moments because we were best friends. Our friendship turned sour because Jeric Raval (Roy) became my husband, who is Alma’s ex. She married Jojo Abellana (in the series).”

Although this is Dina’s first time to essay a comedic role, she finds it “natural” to execute the scenes. She recalled, “Sometimes, I’d say something… Then, si Ness (Alma) matatawa sa akin tapos biglang (direk Temi Cruz Abad would say) cut! Eh direk natatawa ako dito eh. Ako naman, I just snap what’s in the dialogue. Bitaw lang as if it’s my character.”

Dina and Alma Moreno are bestfriends-turned-rivals in the sitcom.

“Pero hindi ako nagpapatawa tapos sasabihin ko tingnan mo, I got that (acting) tip from Vic. ‘Wag magpatawa. O, tingnan mo, natawa ka because that’s really my character. I just played my character. (Alma would say) mga banat mo kasi. I’d tell her, that’s in the script but hindi halatang script yung sinabi ko kaya tawanan kami ng tawanan,” she added.

The veteran actress admitted that people would get the impression that she is “snobbish” and “strict”  in person, but on the contrary, she is “kalog” in real life, “even funnier than Vic.”

Vic in real life is “very serious,” she disclosed. “Alma said, ‘Why is it that comedians are like that? Dolphy (the late comedian and Alma’s ex-partner) was also like that. In real life, he was quiet. Serious.’

“Vic is also like that. I asked her, ‘Nagpapatawa ba si Dolphy sa bahay?’ She said no. Sabi ko, si Vic din. Sabi niya mas natatawa pa nga siya sa akin. I’m also like that. Sabi nga ni Vic, ‘Loko ‘to ah.’ Lagi niya akong ginaganun. Because in real life, I’m kalog pero siya hindi. Baliktad nga eh.”

Dina and Vic are friends. They have two children, Danica and Oyo Boy. The World Between Us actress is now married to Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano, while Vic is married to Pauleen Luna.

Dina and Vic recently attended the christening of Oyo and Kristine Hermosa’s son Isaac where they met their respective partners.

“Pauleen was there, she introduced (their daughter) Tali to me. Nakilala ko naman. Shake hands naman sila ng husband ko. Hindi naman si Pauleen yung reason ng hiwalay namin eh. At ‘tsaka hindi din naman yung asawa ko ang reason kaya kami naghiwalay, so no bad blood. OK lang. We’re friends.”

Dina also said she’s at peace now as compared to before. One thing that she learned from her past is that, “There’s really no perfect man. You have to make him perfect for you. So makisayaw ka, sumabay ka sa kumpas ng buhay. Minsan sabayan mo yung kumpas ng buhay. Kung ngayon, may test ka, accept it as a wife.”

“I’m not saying all the days of your life… there are times na meron kang test, may times na malungkot ka. You cry. But it’s up to you if you give up. Parang ang natutunan namin pareho (is) ‘wag kang sumuko. You have to fight,” she added.

Asked what type of a grandparent she is, she said she is a disciplinarian to her seven grandkids. She would see them almost every week. “The way I disciplined my children, yun din ang disiplinang binibigay ko sa mga apo ko but on a different level. Kasi siyempre yung mga anak ko nuon ‘pag may mga ano, pwede kong paluin. Eh ‘yan hindi ko anak, so hindi ko pwedeng paluin. Pero sasabihin ko ‘Oyo o.’ But Oyo’s kids are super disciplined. ‘Pag sinabihan ko lang, ‘Oyo, binalya yung ano, Vin Vin (loud voice) takot yung bata.”

Meanwhile, Kalye Kweens is also the first series where Dina and Alma get to work together.

“It was fun. I thought she was strict at first. Kala ko hindi game pero super game. She likes to share stories. I was surprised to discover that she likes horror movies na yun naman ang ayaw na ayaw ko because I can’t sleep at night. Yun pala gustong-gusto niya,” Dina said of her co-star.

While in taping, both would share endless life stories and reminisce about their heyday years ago. Dina told Alma that it was in the ‘70s film Paraisong Parisukat where she first saw her when she was still a student in Bicol.

She also recalled how she used to be the “second option” back in the day when some of the popular actresses couldn’t be on a project because of health issues. “Ako yung dakilang pinch hitter. ‘Pag may sakit si Ness, ako, ‘pag may sakit si Vilma (Santos), ako, kung may sakit si Nora (Aunor), ako, kung may sakit si Maricel (Soriano), ako,” she said.

“Never pa kaming nagkatrabaho (Alma) as in now lang although madalas ko na siyang makasama before, di ba kami ni Alfie (Anido). Leading man niya si Alfie before so dun ko lang siya nakilala nun,” she added.

Nevertheless, being the “pinch hitter” was no issue for Dina because it paved the way for her to be discovered as a host.

Also in the cast of Kalye Kweens are Marissa Delgado Giselle Sanchez, Marissa Sanchez, Jairus Aquino, Vitto Marquez, Aubrey Caraan and Lyca Gairanod.

(Kalye Kweens airs Saturday nights at 8:30 on TV5 and Sunday nights at 8 on Sari Sari Channel.)