Angel Locsin, Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo bid farewell to Only You

Who will be the groom of Jillian (Angel Locsin) in the much-awaited wedding scene of ABS-CBN's Only You? Will it be her childhood friend Jonathan (Diether Ocampo) or the cocky yet charming TJ (Sam Milby)? Only You runs until this Friday, August 21. It airs weeknights on ABS-CBN right after May Bukas Pa.

Now that the Philippine remake of the hit Korean drama is down to its last four episodes, lead stars Angel and Diether share their experiences while working on the primetime TV series under director Rory Quintos. Theyalso share their future plans after doing Only You.

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was present during the last taping day of the series at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City.


72-HOUR TAPING DAY. The last taping day was on a Friday, August 14, but Diet says that they have been on it non-stop since Wednesday, getting only almost two hours of sleep in between shoots.

"Pero sulit naman kasi isa ako sa mga artista na nangarap makatrabaho si Direk Rory," he says. "Pumila ako ng ilang taon. Ilang taon ako naghintay."

In showbiz circles, Direk Rory is known for following a strict schedule. While the crew is setting up for the afternoon shoot, she tells entertainment reporters that she's more forgiving to inexperienced actors who come to the set on time than with seasoned actors who do not conform to her strict timekeeping.

"Mas patient ako sa mga hamonado [inexperienced actors] na mga artista kaysa sa mga artistang laging late," she says. "May temper kasi ako."

Diet recalls the time when he had to use all his charms to prevent Direk Rory from blowing her top at his tardiness.

"No'ng na-late ako, niyakap ko agad," he laughs. "Sabi ko, Direk, sorry talaga."

An amused Direk Rory says, "Diether is malambing talaga."

Diether quipped, "Siyempre, sabi ko, hindi naman yata kumpleto kung hindi mo mae-experience 'yong mga award," he says, using the showbiz term for being reprimanded.

Angel herself had a story to share about a close brush with Direk Rory's legendary temper.

"Actually, noong nag-shoot kami sa Korea. Hindi ako nagising agad!" Angel shares. "Bumababa pa lang ako ng hotel tumutulo na 'yong luha ko! Siyempre, malaki ang respeto ko kay Direk Rory, Ayaw ko naman isipin niya na ‘Ay, binabastos ako ng artista ko.' Tapos hindi ako makalapit noon kay Direk!"

Despite the hectic taping schedule, Angel says she draws her strength from the camaraderie of stars on the set.

"Grabe kasi 'yong bonding namin dito," she says. "Lahat kami close talaga dito. Kahit 'yong mag beteranong artista, kung magbarubalan kami, nakakatawa talaga! So kapag pagod na pagod na kami bigla kaming magkakatinginan tapos magtatawanan. Siguro natatawa kami sa mukha ng isa't isa."

"Masaya lang ako na nakagawa kami ng series na tinanggap ng mga tao," she adds.



LIFE AFTER ONLY YOU. After finishing the ABS-CBN TV series, Diet now has more time for two things he is passionate about: his charity foundation for kids (which he started in 2006) and his plan to go into film production.

K.I.D.S Foundation plans to have an outreach in Benguet and Banaue from October 23 to 26. Last Sunday, the group had an outreach in Payatas.

"Gusto naming maabot 'yong mga bundok," he shares. "'Yong mission namin sa Pampanga, we had 100 volunteers," he says proudly. "May doctors, nurses, dentists, and foreign volunteers. 'Yong mga foreigners kasi, kailangan nila ng immersions [in charities] kasi kasama 'yon sa mga courses nila. Nagpupunta din sila sa ibang mahihirap na bansa gaya ng Africa, Cambodia, and Vietnam."

The young actor also announced that he is eyeing to produce a remake of Dolphy's 1978 movie Ang Tatay Kong Nanay, which was directed by the late Lino Brocka.

"Gusto kong magproduce kasi kapag producer ka, you are more of a leader," he says. "Ngayon, ginagather ko na ang resources ko. Ang dami kong contacts, e, ang daming taong puwedeng tumulong sa 'kin. Pero sa ngayon, ayokong pumasok diyan na hindi ko mapaninindigan. Gaya ng K.I.D.S Foundation, noong pinasok ko 'yan, more than five years, ginagawa ko na."

He shares that in a party hosted by Senator Jinggoy Estrada in San Juan, he asked the King of Comedy himself for his blessing to remake the film.

"Doon ko hiningi kay Tito Dolphs 'yong Ang Tatay kong Nanay. Sabi niya ‘Talaga?,'" he shares. "Sabi ko, ‘Tito Dolphy, sobrang fan ako ng pelikulang 'yon.' Sabi niya, ‘Alam mo bang hindi ako nanalo 'don'?"

He continues: "Sabi ko naman ‘Tito Dolphy, Kung sino man ang nandoon 'nong mga panahon na 'yon, I'm sure nagsisisi na 'yon.' Kinuwento pa niya na 'nong binigay sa kanya ni Lino Brocka 'yong script, sabi 'daw niya ‘tama ba talagang akin ito? Kasi drama ito e.'"

"Kaya noong sinabi ko kay Tito Dolphy, dalawang beses pa niya ako tinanong. Umalis na bumalik pa. ‘Gusto mo ba talaga?' tinanong niya. Wala pa namang confirmation pero at least alam na niya.

As for Angel, she's also continuing her own charity programs in between engagements here and abroad. From August 21 to 25, she, Sam, and Diet, are touring Florida after which, she will be flying to Korea to shoot a TV commercial.

"May mga bagong projects na pinag-uusapan," she says of new shows ABS-CBN has lined up for her. " Sana matuloy pero sana kakaiba naman. Sana action naman this time. Mahilig ako sa action. Gusto ko sa character ko fighter talaga."

In between projects, she continues to come up with news disguises for her "anonymous" charity works, which she shares, was encouraged by her sister.

"'Yong ate ko talaga ang nag-eencourage sa 'kin sa mga advocacies," she shares. "Mahilig lang ako mangulat ngayon. Pero minsan nakikilala pa rin ako. Nakapustiso na nga ako 'yong mga bata nakikilala pa rin ako."


POLITICAL ENDORSESEMENTS? Angel also shared that as early as now, candidates for the May 2010 elections, some of them running for President, have already asked her to be their official endorser.

"Actually may mga lumalapit an mga pulitiko pero medyo mahirap ngayon kasi pang Presidente ang pwesto na hinahangad nila," she says. "'Yong iba senators, 'yong iba mayors."

In the 2007 Senatorial elections, Angel was the official campaign endorser of Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar who was ousted as House speaker before running for the Senate. Angel says the senator has not yet asked her to be his official endorser as he runs for the presidency in the coming elections but she hinted that Villar can count on her support.

"Wala pa naman pero kaibigan ko naman sila [Villars]," Angel says. "Ang trust ko naman sa kanya [Manny Villar] is okay. I will support him. Tignan muna natin."