Zanjoe feel mag-ala Angelica kung mabubuhay uli

May katuwirang mag-cry me a river si Angelica Panganiban. In her gag show kasing Banana Split: Extra Scoop on ABS-CBN, now on its fourth year, ay binigyan siya ng tribute on the occasion of her 26t birthday.

Everyone involved with the show, its actors and staff, headed by former actor Edgar Mortiz, who conceptualized the show and now produces and directs it, had good words for Angelica.

From Direk Edgar, we learned that she was not originally part of the show, na ang mga original mainstay ay sina Cristine Reyes, RR Enriquez, Valerie Concepcion, at Niña Jose.

‘‘When I conceptualized Banana Split, I wanted it to be the female version ng Goin’ Bananas, which Peque Gallaga directed and had me, Boyet (Christopher de Leon), and the late Johnny (Delgado) and Jay (Ilagan) as mainstays,” paliwanag ni Direk Edgar.

‘‘Naisip naming kuning guest si Angelica, when Niña left the show.’’

For Angelica’s first ‘‘salang’’ in the show, she was asked to mimic Kris Aquino, sa segment na Hot Issue: Lumiliyab, where she had for partner Jayson Gainza as Boy Abunda naman.

At that time, part of the talk show na The Buzz pa si Kris.

Angelica proved a natural, so much so na nabura sa isipan ng director na good lang sa drama si Angelica.

And he told her so. Then, in passing, he asked Angelica if she would consider being a ‘‘permanent’’ in the show.

She agreed. The rest is history.

When John Prats joined her naman and Jayson in the Hot Issue segment, naging comfortable kaagad siya kay John. Not only because, as child stars, they both became mainstays as well of Ang TV, kasama rin si Camille Prats, nakababatang kapatid ni John at best friend ni Angelica.

Kaya close sila sa mga Prats.

Ryan Bang, the comedian from Korea, admitted na may crush siya kay Angelica. Pero inamin niyang alangan siya sa dalaga. Although, hirit niya kay Angelica, sana in their next life ay sila nang dalawa.

Melai Cantiveros said she and Angelica take to each other as best friends naman. Queenie (for queen abviously) ang tawagan nila.

Pooh said that, for a time, ‘‘kahingahan’’ niya ng sama ng loob si Angelica. Pero ’di na raw ngayon. And no need for Angelica to explain why.

Obvious nga na ’di lang siya ang in love kay John Lloyd Cruz, her current boyfriend, kung hindi in love na in love rin ito sa kanya.

For the number of years na nakilala namin si John Lloyd as an actor, never pang we saw him guest in a TV show to greet somebody he loves and present her with a bunch of flowers.

Ah, love!

Zanjoe Marudo, who was an original in Banana Split was for a while missing. For what reason, he never bothered to explain.

Kung sabagay, who cares? Ang mahalaga, he is back in the show.

And guess who invited him na bumalik sa grupo?

‘‘Si Angelica. One time, I bumped into her. At sabi niya, gusto ko pa raw bang bumalik sa Banana Split… sagot ko, oo naman,” tugon ni Zanjoe.

‘‘Before I knew it, I was asked to report sa taping ng show. Kaya ngayong birthday ni Angelica, masisisi n’yo ba kung ang wish ko para sa kanya ay maging ako siya, kung totoong may pangalawang buhay?’’

No kidding, but it’s obviously Zanjoe’s stint in the gag show that prepared him for the comic role he is playing in the upcoming movie ng Star Cinema, 24/7 In Love.

Zanjoe gets for himself a kapareha na his real-life girlfriend, si Bea Alonzo. But, alas, do you know what role he is playing in the movie?

‘‘A gay,” Zanjoe volunteers. ‘‘Pero mai-in love sa akin si Bea. How? Well, one reason iyon why dapat n’yong panoorin ang 24/7 In Love.”