As I went back to the canteen, I passed by Studio 4. Here, I saw that the sets of Onli in da Pilipins (OIDP) (e.g., plaza, houses of Babygirl and Gordon) being assembled. I asked if there's a taping. To my great surprise, the answer was YES!!! It was supposed to begin at 3:00 p.m. I wondered why Marvin still had to leave.
So, medyo matagal-tagal pa ang hihintayin ko. I took my lunch and watched SLNS. Then proceeded to Studio 9 to watch Cristy Perminute. Finally, off to Studio 4.
I was there at around 2:30 p.m. They were still repainting and assembling the props. It was obvious that taping won't start on time. I looked at the sequence guide and learned that telecast date is on May 3, 1998. It had 17 sequences which were all to be taped inside the studio. Gordon & Babygirl had two sequences alone.
I waited 'til about 4:00. Then, all artists entered the studio. They feasted on puto and dinuguan which was the blowout of birthday celebrant-Manilyn Reynes. The casts, other than Jolina, were already there. While they were eating, Marvin offered us (watchers) some of the dinuguan. Sabi niya, "KAIN KAYO!". I obliged. Pero, hindi pa rin ako nagpakilala sa kanya.
I soon learned from the cameramen that Jolina will be late. Thus, making her the cause of delay. At 4:30 p.m., she arrived and taping started. OK na siya. Walang serious injury due to her fall in the staircase while taping Esperanza.
Napakasaya ng atmosphere. Ang saya manood ng OIDP taping. Halos first takes dahil ang gagaling ng mga artista mag-adlib (lalo na sina Tessie at Leo). At walang star system, walang pa-importante sa kanila.
I wasn't able to watch all the sequences kasi 7:00 na, nakaka-limang sequences pa lang sila. So baka madaling araw na sila matapos. I had to leave. Sayang. Yung KILIG sequence nina MAJ hindi ko napanood.
For the sad part. Sising-sisi ako dahil I wasn't able to introduce myself to MAJ! Not that hindi sila approachable, it's more on my part. A couple of times, they would glance my way, at ako naman, iwas-tingin. I didn't have the guts to talk them yet. Ilang beses pa akong tiningnan ni Marvin. Siguro nagtataka kung bakit aali-aligid ako sa kanila. Pero hindi ko pa rin siya nilapitan.
For the juicy part. After watching that taping, I'm about 80% sure that MAJ are for real! Alam mo bang kahit hindi nila eksena, sweet pa rin sila sa isa't-isa? Jolina would sit beside Marvin and he will caress her back. Nung isang break pa, kumain sila ng noodle at nagsusubuan pa sila! Talagang nakakakilig!!! Tapos lagi pa silang nagpupunta sa isang tabi at nag-uusap nang masinsinan. Well, I was able to see it with my own two eyes. Mukhang for real talaga sila dahil wala namang press people or fans na nanonood ng taping, kaya kung pa-epek lang 'yon, bakit pa?
For the trivial part. Isa pang dahilan kung bakit medyo nag-alangan akong lumapit particularly kay Marvin, napansin ko, noong bandang huli, medyo bad trip siya. Mukhang nagkaroon sila ng LQ dahil lagi silang nag-i-intimate conversation pero nakasimangot si Jolens. Baka may pinag-awayan sila kaya may tampururot si Jolina. Isa pa'y natapilok si Marvin while playing around, kaya pipilay-pilay siya kung maglakad.
When I was determined to leave, hindi talaga ako makaalis without introducing myself. Hindi ako makasingit dahil may intimate silang pinag-uusapan. Tapos, may tumawag sa kanila at kinuhanan sila ng video sa hallway. Nang matapos iyon, nakita ko na naman na nag-i-intimate talk na naman sila. Hindi ako makasingit. Then naghiwalay sila. Si Jolina, kinausap ni Nikki Valdez. Si Marvin, may kausap na lalaki. Mukhang naghihingahan ng sama ng loob yung dalawa, mukhang may problema. Sayang, I wasn't able to stay. Whatever that tampuhan was, sana maayos nila. Hindi ko napanood how they will handle their kilig scene lalo na't may tampuhan sila.
For the news. I overheard Marvin telling his co-stars they will be leaving for Baguio on Sunday night (May 3). Hindi totoong walang babaan. MAJ will be back every Wednesdays for OIDP taping. Other than that, tuloy-tuloy sila sa Baguio. Sa Esperanza, mawawala sila during the duration of the shooting. From what I heard, pag-alis ni Jolens, that will be the last we will see of her in Esperanza.
Well, that's my LONG adventure with MAJ on that very fulfilling day of April 29, 1998.
Please watch that episode this Sunday (May 3). It's about (1) someone planning to assasinate Chairman Sixto; (2) Sixto courting Precious again the hip-hop way; (3) kilig scenes of MAJ dahil nagkapikunan sila.