“Tailor made sa kanya pagiging go-getter and bubbly ni Billie,” he says. “Meron din siyang all-out dedication sa trabaho. I admire yung attitude niyang ‘I will give you my very best today, bahala na bukas.’ Kaya naman minamahal talaga siya ng viewers. Sobrang hyper yan, bungisngis pa, akala mo naka-drugs, kaya naman nakakahawa ang energy niya sa set.”
To which, Barbie butts in: “Excuse me, Direk, I don’t do drugs. Malinis na malinis po ako. Natural lang sa’kin ang pagiging hyper.”
So how is it working with younger actors after directing Heart Evangelista and Dennis Trillo in “Juan Happy Love Story”? “I love working with young actors kasi nakakahawa yung energy nila sa trabaho,” adds Direk L.A. “Si Barbie and her four leading men, wala silang reklamo anuman ang pagawa mo sa kanila. Kahit puyat na sila, sige pa rin. But I also love working with the more senior members of our cast, like Tita Gloria Romero at sina Manilyn Reynes, Tina Paner, Sheryl Cruz and Keempee de Leon. I feel so fortunate nga to be given the chance to work with different generations of stars. Priceless yun for me.”
That the show is truly very popular these days can be seen at the overwhelmingly warm reception given to the cast when they attended the recent Sinulog Festival in Cebu and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo. “Kahit saan sila magpunta, grabe talaga ang tilian sa kanila,” says Direk L.A. “Yung mall show nila sa Robinsons Iloilo, dinumog talaga kaya hindi mo na maintindihan ang sinasabi nila on stage dahil sa sobrang lakas ng sigawan ng fans. And to think kasisimula pa lang noon ng show sa ere.”