Wendell Ramos On Working With Nora Aunor And BB Gandanghari In 'Enchanted Garden'

WENDELL RAMOS was missed by the viewers in the last Bench fashion show who expected he’d be doing another daring exposure on the ramp. Did he really choose not to participate anymore? “No, I was ready,” he says. “But a week before the show, my manager (Perry Lansigan), told me hindi na raw ako tuloy roon. But I told him sa next show, dapat nandun ako as my farewell performance.”

We got to talk to Wendell on the fabulous set of “Enchanted Garden” at 800 plus-hectare Roosevelt Forest Park protected by the DENR at Dinalupihan, Bataan. There was tree planting last Monday, led by TV5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation headed by Menchie Silvestre, with several elementary schools participating. This is the second time they did it. They first planted trees in Pampanga on the birthday of TV5 boss Manny Pangilinan to show their concern for our environment.

In “Enchanted Garden”, Wendell plays Arbutus, who’s once a lover of Michiko, played by BB Gandanghari. Is he willing to do a love scene with BB?

“I don’t think we’ll be asked to do that kasi pambata itong show at 6:30 PM. I’ve worked with him before noong Rustom Padilla pa siya in ‘Happy Hearts’ sa movies and ‘Vendetta’ on GMA-7, kaya nanibago akong tawagin siyang BB. Binantaan nga akong pag tinawag ko pa siyang Rustom, sasampalin na niya ako. Nabago lang ang pangalan niya, pero ganun pa rin naman siya, pati kulitan namin sa set.”

Nora Aunor will join the show this week. “Yes, at sana, maging magkaeksena kami. Magkasama rin kami sa ‘El Presidente’, but we don’t have a scene together. I’d really like to work with her. I play the role of Gen. Mariano Noriel, one of the three generals who had a hand in the execution of Andres Bonifacio. The others are Gov. ER Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo and Emilio Garcia as Pio del Pilar. This is just one of three films I’m doing now. I’ve also just finished ‘Menor de Edad’ for Direk Joel Lamangan, launching film ni Meg Imperial who’s also part of ‘Enchanted Garden’. Ako yung professor niya who’s accused of sexual harassment. Then I’m doing ‘Bayang Magiliw’ for Direk Gil Portes. This is about the RH Bill and I play a mayor na maraming inanakang babae. It has a big cast at kasama ko sina Jackielou Blanco, Luis Alandy, G Toengi at marami pang iba.”

We thought he’d be joining ABS-CBN’s “Be Careful with My Heart”? “Hindi natuloy. I’m now with Derek Ramsay in ‘Kidlat’, I play one of the villains na makakalaban niya.”

We heard his eldest son is being offered to join showbiz. “Yes, but sabi ko, sa TV commercials na lang muna siya. He’s in the Jolibee chicken wings commercial. But I told him magtapos na lang siya ng pag-aaral kasi I can support naman his education.”