JASON ABALOS is so fortunate as he’s one actor who’s busy during the pandemic.
He has a new soap on GMA-7, “Las Hermanas”, opposite Yasmien Kurdi and Thea Tolentino, and he has a new movie, “Silab”, directed by Joel Lamangan and starring newcomers Cloe Barreto and Marco Gomez.
He plays Emil, a farmer, and Cloe as Ana is his wife.
Marco as Rod is his best friend. He invites Rod to stay with him and Ana to help him in his farm, but Rod ends up tending Ana’s own personal “bukid”.
They are supported by Chanda Romero, Lotlot de Leon and Jim Pebanco. He has daring scenes with Cloe. Would he ask his sweetheart, Vicky Rushton, to watch the sexy film with him?
“Naku, sabi ko kay Vicky, huwag na lang niyang panoorin kasi baka ma-shock pa siya dahil no holds barred ang mga eksena sa movie,” he says.
Didn’t he have any hesitation doing the sexy love scenes?
“No. I’m just happy to work with Direk Joel Lamangan again, kasi may unfinished business kami ni Direk Joel, e.
"Siya ang una kong direktor sa isang teleserye, 'Vietnam Rose', noong nagsisimula pa lang in 2005. And that time, hindi pa ako handa, e. Na-starstruck pa ako sa mga kasama kong artista.
"Pagod din ako, wala akong energy. Lagari kasi ako sa movie and teleserye. Nagalit siya. Natakot ako sa kanya. Sobrang tinalakan niya ako.”
He got scared when Direk Joel ordered someone to get his belt.
“Sabi niya, ilabas nyo yung sinturon! Akala ko hahampasin niya ako. Yun pala maghihilahan kami dun sa sinturon. Technique pala niya yon. Binuhay niya lang yung energy ko.
"Paraan niya para maibigay ng isang artista ang hinihingi niya sa eksena. Sabi niya, ang lakas mo palang humila.
"So, blessing na ibinigay itong chance na makatrabaho ko siya uli rito sa ‘Silab’, kasi gusto ko talaga siya uling makatrabaho. And I felt so happy when he told me that he’s proud of me sa trabaho ko ngayon.”
Since ‘Silab’ is about infidelity, what does he think causes and has he ever been unfaithful?
“Iba-iba naman ang factors sa infidelity. I admit, naging unfaithful ako noong araw, but now na nagkakaedad na, dapat sa isang relationship, huwag ka magkulang para hindi rin maghanap ng iba yung partner mo.
"Alamin mo kung ano ang mga kailangan niya and you should serve her well.”
Didn’t he have a hard time working with first time actors?
“Surprisingly, parehong napakahusay nina Cloe and Marco. Hindi mukhang mga baguhan. Laging take one lang. Nakatulong din na lock in shooting kami, so concentrated kami totally sa trabaho namin.
"Also, with the guidance of Direk Joel, they did really well. Malayo ang mararating nila at puede silang makipagsabayan sa kahit sa kaninong artista.
"I always ask them after each scene we did: okay lang ba kayo? Kasi mahirap talaga ang mga ipinagawa sa amin, and I think they did fine.”
What does he think is the message of “Silab” for married couples?
“Actually, baliw yung movie, e. Dumating sa point na masasabi mo... ha? Ganun? Maraming twists, e. I think ang message niya is huwag mong papasukin ang isang bagay na hindi ka sigurado.
"Very challenging yung mga eksena namin sa movie, but since may tiwala kami kay Direk Joel, kaya from the start, handa na kaming ibigay ang lahat ng ni-require niya sa amin.”
