ERIC QUIZON, RICKY Davao, Perci Intalan and Jun Lana, the four directors of TV5’s special Christmaserye, “Paano ang Pasko” (Jun is also the show’s scriptwriter), are featured in a special zoom presscon and all of them expressed admiration for their actors as they’ve been on a lock in taping in San Pablo City for over a month now and they have yet to finish the whole series.
So how did the project come about?
Jun Lana replies: “TV5 asked us if we could come up with a Christmas drama series when the -ber months started. Our company, IdeaFirst, will be the showrunner and naisip agad namin, we will be pressed for time as it will start airing on Monday na, November 23, and will run for one month.
"It’s good I already have a project na reserved sana for a movie, so we thought of adapting it as a soap opera. The title is ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ because it happens right now, while there is a pandemic going on, and we’re all wondering kung paano nga ba ang gagawin nating pagdiriwang ng Pasko.
"How will Filipino families celebrate Christmas in the midst of crisis, tapos nagkabagyo pa? ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ will make viewers feel inspired na puede pa rin namang ituloy ang Pasko sa kabila ng mga hindi magandang nangyayari sa atin sa ngayon.”
How come they have four directors?
Perci replies: “Kasi nga, we’re pressed for time, so it’s a big challenge for us. Bayanihan ito, e. Kailangang magtulungan kami kasi malapit na ang start ng airing. E, sumagupa pa kami sa tatlong bagyo. Nasira yung mga daan patungo sa location. Nabagsakan ng mga puno.”
Inspite of all the difficulties, they persisted. Perci continues: “Tapos, we have such a big cast, as this is the story of a family who have a big reunion because of the ongoing health crisis in time for the Christmas season. Ricky Davao came here as an actor, playing the family driver who knows the secret of most family members. But in the course of our lock in taping, pinagdirek na namin siya ng ibang eksena.”
How did they cast the show?
Perci says: “We have to be careful in choosing the actors who’d breathe life into the characters. The show marks the comeback of two good actresses on TV drama. Maricel Laxa plays Faith, the family’s matriarch who is about to discover a long kept family secret.
"Julia Clarete plays Love, her eldest daughter whose past is coming back to haunt not just her, but their entire family. Beauty Gonzales plays Hope, the second daughter, na may nakaraang relasyon with her sister’s husband, Ejay Falcon.
"Kasama rin dito sina Devon Seron as the third daughter, plus Matt Evans, John Lapus, Allan Paule, Cedrick Juan and newcomers Ace Ismael and Justine Buenaflor. Playing a very important role is recent Urian winner Elijah Canlas as Noel, the troubled grandson who is about to discover the truth about his lineage.
"Lahat sila rito, may kanya-kanyang pasabog. Kasi wide ang range ng mga eksena. May humor, may drama, may mga matitinding confrontations and awayan.”
Eric Quizon adds:
“The story is really very relevant today kasi nga kasali rito ang pandemic. It shows how important the family is in such trying times. All families encounter problems, but if all family members will share and cooperate, they can find the solutions together.
"Iyon ang pinapakitang important message dito sa ‘Paano ang Pasko?’ Tayong mga Pilipino, kahit may mabigat na problemang pinagdaraanan tayo, may masasandalan tayong pamilya natin to help us out.”
“Paano ang Pasko?” will air Monday to Friday night at 9 PM, starting this Monday, November 23, on TV5 and Cignal Entertainment. DOn't miss the exciting pilot episode!
