Nino' Director Maryo J. De Los Reyes Glad To Have A New Inspirational Show After His Award-Winning 'Magnifico'

DIRECTOR MARYO J. DE LOS REYES says he originally studied for the priesthood at San Carlos Seminary for four years. He put up a theatre company and directed plays starring his co-seminarians. He was advised by their prefect to go out and put his directorial skills in the real world. He did and eventually won many awards here and abroad for the inspirational film about a boy who brings hope to people around him, “Magnifico”.

He now helms GMA-7’s new inspirational drama, “Nino”, about a mentally challenged boy befriended by the Sto Nino. “I’m really very thankful to GMA for giving me the chance to do a show like this on TV that is about love, hope and faith,” he says. “We really need something like this especially at a time when our country is facing problems of corruption in high places that can be demoralizing for our people.”

Since the story is about the Sto. Nino changing people’s lives, won’t it come out as too preachy? “We’ll make sure it won’t appear like that. But I’m really a devotee of the Sto. Nino. Ilang beses na kong nagpunta sa Sto. Nino of Cebu. Before I started this, I went to the Sto. Nino ng Tondo na miraculous daw talaga. At the back of the altar, you can go up to pay your respect sa Nino, but there’s also a crypt there full of Sto. Nino images which were rejected by Catholics who became born again Christians. One Sto. Nino is so dirty and has a missing hand. Yun daw ang Sto. Ninong gala. We incorporated that in the story. Babalik dito yung kamay ng Sto. Nino. He will come to life and be played by child actor David Remo of Binoy Henyo. Siya ang magiging kaibigan ni Nino, the mentally challenged teen played by Miguel Tanfelix.”

How did they choose Miguel for the role? “It was originally meant for Ruru Madrid. Kaso, Iglesia ni Cristo siya, so he’s not allowed to do role. Kaya nagpa-audition kami. Si Miguel, nadirek ko na when he was a child actor. His dad came to me and said i-manage ko raw. Pinag-audition ko at siya ang nagustuhan ng GMA. He’s very good, very effective siya in his role. At maganda ang chemistry niya in his scenes with both David Remo and Bianca Umali. I’m praying magustuhan ito ng viewers like what happened to ‘Munting Heredera’ that ran for more than six months.”