Medyo na-extend ang workshop namin. So, nakarating ako sa Studio 4 at around 3:00 na.
Pagpasok ko ng studio, naka-ready na ang set, meron ng lights, marami ng tao, at ready to take na. In fact, tapos na silang mag-script reading for Sequence 7 where Tessie, Manilyn, Roderick P. (guest) and Jolina were involved. Soon, nag-take na sila. I learned that this was the first sequence they took at hindi pa dumadating si Marvin.
At 3:30, Marvin arrived. He started making beso-beso to the casts and was ready to take Sequence 5. I looked at the sequence guide and saw halos lahat ng sequences, nandoon sina MAJ, or at least one of them. So alam kong mukhang mahirap makausap nang masinsinan sina MAJ kasi kakaunti ang break nila.
As usual, nandoon ako't nanonood ng taping. Humahanap ako ng proper timing. Tiningnan ko agad sina MAJ, parang may tampuhan sila. Mukhang Jolens is giving Marvin the "cold treatment" again. To think, dalawang araw silang magkasama sa Baguio, no!
Sequence 5 involved all the cast plus extras kaya medyo magulo ang set. While Direk Bert was blocking, napansin ko na "tumakas" si Jolens at natulog muna doon sa sofa sa bahay nina Baby Girl. Mukhang pagod at puyat si Jolens. That's the reason kung bakit hindi siya "jolly" that day. Wala naman sigurong tampuhan.
After about 10 minutes, Direk Bert was ready. Wala pa rin si Jolens. Napasarap ang tulog. I went to her and said "Mag-ta-take na yata kayo!". OKS BA? I got to talk to her at last. She said "Thank you." O di ba? At least may development na.
Mukhang 95% sure na for real sila. Kasi, hindi nakikipag-sweety si Jolina kay Marvin. Tapos may instance pa na Marvin was trying to massage the back of Jolina and trying to hold her hand, but Jolina shoved him away.
What made me 95% sure is the fact that in-between/during takes itself, John Estrada was teasing the two. I overheard him saying to MAJ, "O malamig ba sa Baguio? Masarap ba ang may kayakap? May nangyari bang hindi dapat mangyari?" Marvin smiled but Jolina stared at him. Tapos during the takes, meron ding mga adlib si John Estrada such as:
1. when Gordon had a line that went "Paano ang magiging mga anak namin ni Babygirl?", John said loudly "WITH CONVICTION!" and
2. when Gordon and Babygirl had a scene where they were hugging each other, John again said loudly "O hindi showbiz yan, totoo yan!"
Do not forget to watch OIDP this coming Sunday. Malamang maririnig niyo ang mga hirit na iyon ni John Estrada. Just keep your ears open.
Going back to my quest, mahirap makakuha ng timing para makausap sila kasi lahat ng eksena, nandoon sila, may costume change pa. Pagbalik sa set, blocking and script reading na agad.
Finally, I convinced myself na that was the time to talk to them. I waited anxiously at the entrance of the studio (after they went to the dressing room for costume change). When Marvin entered, naunahan ako ng isang tao, ayoko naman mag-butt-in. When Jolina entered, I finally had the courage to say "Jolina, excuse me..." pero may nakita siyang kakilala at kinausap niya ito.
Then, the stage director announced, they will finish the sequences of Streetboys coz they have to leave early for a show. Now I have the chance to talk to Marvin.
I waited for Marvin to get out of his dressing room. After 5 minutes, he did so and I waited for him at the hallway. FINALLY, I GOT TO TALK TO HIM. Here was how the conversation went:
VV: Marvin, excuse me, puwede ba kitang makausap? (he looked at me)
MA: About what?
VV: I have something to give you (showing Gretz's e-mail message for MAJ) and... (medyo kinakabahan ako noon kaya humina ang boses ko at nanginig)
MA: Ano iyon? (mukhang hindi niya narinig)
VV: I have this e-mail message for you. By the way, I'm VICE.
MA: Vice? Oh yeah? The one who is paging me. (he smiled and then shook my hand) O, kumusta na?
VV: Ito nga, I have this e-mail message for you and Jolina. (giving it to him)
MA: Wow, naman. (he starts reading the e-mail) Ok, ha, MAJ!(Jolina interrupts him) Uy, may e-mail para sa atin.
VV: Hi, Jolina! (she shakes my hand) I'm Vice. Do you still remember Gretz?
JM: Ay, yes, yes. Kumusta na siya?
VV: Ito nga, may e-mail siya sa inyo. (Jolina whispers something to Marvin something like 'halika na')
MA: Sige, kailangan na kami sa susunod na take, eh. Basahin ko na muna. (Then, they went off to their dressing rooms)
At least, that's how I remembered the conversation.
I continued to watch the next sequences. Ngayon, pinapansin na ako ni Marvin. OK ba? Tinatanguan na niya ako, at tumataas na ang kanyang makapal na kilay (as if saying hi) whenver our eyes meet. Isang beses pa nga, noong "nagkekengkoyan" sila noong floor director, sinabi niya, "Uy, wag kang magulo, nandiyan si Vice, oh." at the same time looking and smiling at me.
Habang bino-block ni Direk yung ibang artista, nakita ko na binabasa ni Marvin yung e-mail ni Gretz. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa kasi a couple of times, I saw him smiling.
Finally, when I had to leave for home, I went to his dressing room and here was how our conversation went:
VV: Marvin, mauuna na ako. Medyo gumagabi na, eh.
MA: O sige, ingat pare.
VV: Kumusta yung e-mail? Nabasa mo na ba?
MA: Kaunti pa lang.
VV: Kasi sa dulo, may response na hinihingi.
MA: O sige, i-pa-page ko na lang sa iyo.
VV: Do you still have my pager no.?
MA: Oo, naman.
VV: Sige, hintayin ko na lang ang page mo. Ingat kayo ni Jolina sa Baguio. Sana makapag-usap tayo next week. Nandito ulit ako next week.
MA: O sige, ingat ulit.
That was it. At least, nalaman ko for myself na talagang friendly si Marvin. Marami lang talaga siyang sequences for that day kaya hindi niya ako gaanong nakausap.
Oo nga pala, do not forget to watch Onli in Da Pilipins this coming May 10. It's an election episode. Nakakatuwa talaga kahit na walang eksena sina MAJ lang.
Oo nga pala. Tuluyan ng umalis si idol Jolina sa Esperanza. Ewan ko lang kung hanggang matapos ang movie o permanently na. I'll try to ask MAJ personally next Wed.