Feature: Life Check of GMA TV’s Cast of ‘Makapiling Kang Muli’
Although there is not much competition in program selection here in Negros Occidental, the synopsis online of the upcoming GMA Television series
"Makapiling Kang Muli" is a demand of the serious viewer. For lack of choice, a good percentage portion of the provincial television series’ viewers belong to the critical stratum. This includes the online community which does not leave stones unturned in the internet.
LEADING CAST OF MAKAPILING KANG MULI. (from left) Dominic Roco, TJ Trinidad,
Carla Abellana, Sarah Lahbati, and Richard Gutierrez enjoyed the warm
hospitality of the Bacolodnon fans.* (H. James G. Toga/NDB)
What is usually relegated to the so-called "screaming masa" form part of the critical provincial viewership and apparently their demand for synopsis is unmet. Case in point is this "Makapiling Kang Muli." From interviews, pattern of viewership in urban centers reached by the strengthened GMA TV signal favored Filipino produced "Telebabads" over the cable TV competitors. Tuners of the late night "Saksi" are its market bulk, the glitters and formulae of "Makapiling Kang Muli" should have created this a niche.
Thankful for the special visit to Bacolod City over the weekend of the Kapuso-Makapiling cast, it was thought significant if the PR synopsis which read "is a riveting story about love, family, and dreams, that will surely captivate everyone’s heart" could be stretched a bit further. Initially, such concern was deemed serious thus the "love life check" floated during the Bacolod press conference but none of the cast substantially delved into such question. A challenge was thrown then for anyone of them to interpret the writer-director’s intention of presenting a teaser-trailer where Richard Gutierrez was holding some kind of a book (or Bible) and followed by a kissing scene with lady love Carla Abellana in a horseback riding position. The book held by Gutierrez in slow motion obviously after serving a prison term and the horseback kissing scene is such a great stimulant for a social science reflection.
The "love life check" was received with the simplistic "yes and no" and officially the horseback kissing question was for director Ricky Davao to answer. The most senior of them Philip Salvador could have answered the message of the scene but he missed the press conference for a dental emergency.
TJ Trinidad, in matter-of-factly tone, contributed that the scene in question should be viewed as it is with nothing beneath or beyond. TJ said, it was the return of the lead actor into his meaningful rustic and rural life where a lady love was left. As of this writing, however, "Makapiling Kang Muli" succeeding series of trailers are horseback riding scenes where an anxious Doña Soledad (Gloria Romero) was projected. It appears then that the medium of "Makapiling..." is the old-rich genre out to tell a story.
Will the Kapuso-Makapiling drama series be showing the horseback riding Ilustrados of the Zubiri turf Bukidnon? This cultural lifestyle is still alive in that part of Mindanao. Will it be true to form this time after "Amaya" disappointed the Kinaray-a speaking Ilonggos?
No one can predict if Mr. Ricky Davao is about to present a pseudo-cowboy genre long condemned by the Caucasians saved that of "Dances with the Wolves" back in the late 80s and the goose pimpled "Broke Back Mountain"? Abangan...
Five Kapuso Stars attended the Bacolod press conference. The only "entertainer" cum documentary narrator, everybody’s darling Richard Gutierrez led the cast of "Makapiling Kang Muli", a Silay descendant Carla Abellana, lovable antagonist role player TJ Trinidad, Starstruck survivor Sarah Lahbati who had a good laugh when asked "Rosary ka ba?".
The most quiet among them is the son of a Lino Brocka discovery (Bembol Roco) - Dominic Roco. His honesty about the absence of his father was touching and lonely. Philip Salvador came in late but was very apologetic.*
