PHILLIP SALVADOR says he’s enjoying being a mentor so much. “I’m taking this seriously. Early on, I want to instill discipline in my four protégés. They’re not that used to talking in Tagalog kasi Visayan is their main language, so lumalabas yung accent nila kaya I remind them to talk in Tagalog all the time para masanay sila. Bawat isa, may magandang kuwento. Si David from Cagayan de Oro, na-Sendong ang bahay nila. They lost everything and they had to rely on relief goods so he really wants to help his family. Apple is from Dipolog and took the audition in Davao, then wala na siyang pamasahe pauwi. Stef is the daughter of a taxi driver and she worked as lavandera to help her family. Si Ruru lang nakakaangat ang buhay sa kanila but he’s the youngest at 14. One time, nagalit ako kasi they keep on talking in Visayan pa rin kahit sinabi kong to practice their Tagalog. Sabi ko, huwag nyo isiping laro lang ito. Kung puro kalokohan kayo, umuwi na kayo. I really want to help them kaya isinasama ko sila sa taping ko ng ‘Makapiling Kang Muli’ para makita nila ang actual work ng mga artista. I told them to call me Tatay dahil anak talaga ang turing ko sa kanila.”
How’s it working with Richard Gutierrez in “Makapiling Kang Muli”? “I’m so glad to help him in our scenes together. For the first time daw, tumulo talaga ang luha niya in a scene with me. May ilalabas si Richard. His dad, Eddie Gutierrez, won his first acting awards in a movie with me, ‘Uubusin Ko ang Lahi Mo’. I told him let’s remake it with him playing my role and with me playing his dad’s role this time.”
