Leading men talk

Author: Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor
Column: Life

Currently airing on television as part of their 59th year celebration is the commercial of GMA Channel 7, which features their upcoming programs. The line-up includes Rosalinda, which will star Geoff Eigenmann in the leading man role and will serve as the launching pad of the very beautiful Carla Abellana.

TV viewers may also look forward to Darna, with Marian Rivera this time donning the super heroine’s suit; the second coming of Survivor Philippines hosted by Paolo Bediones; and two Filipino adaptations of hugely popular Korean shows. For the latter, Richard Gutierrez flexes his comic chops in Full House and Dingdong Dantes fills in the shoes of Kwon Sang Woo in Stairway to Heaven.

This writer had the opportunity to chat with Geoff Eigenmann, who will essay the highly-coveted role of Fernando Jose (the role originally played by Latin American heartthrob Fernando Carillo in Rosalinda), and also with Dantes, who will appear as Cholo in the much-anticipated rendering of the phenomenal Koreanovela.

Geoff gets ready to be Fernando

Admittedly “overwhelmed” by the role that has fallen on his lap, Geoff Eigenmann is all set to prove that he can be the Filipino Fernando Jose. “It is definitely a new start for me. I have to prove something here… I’m just taking it slowly, taking everything in, thinking things through. You see, when they told me that I will play the part, I was really surprised — my jaw dropped! This is a very big project and I am quite happy and excited about it. The characters of Fernando Carillo and Thalia were so loved by the Filipino audiences.”

Now that the surprise has worn off, the young actor has been hard at work preparing for his first major television role in GMA 7. “I have seen 50 percent of the 80 episodes of the Hispanic series. Aside from watching it, I’m taking piano lessons since the character I will be playing is a musician and lawyer. I’m also continuously dieting and working out. I’m into boxing lately, since we all know that the one who originally played it, Mr. Carillo, is a very sexy person,” he relates.

The role is the biggest break for Eigenmann since he officially became part of the Kapuso network. It is also his biggest acting challenge at the moment. The role was what made Carillo an international heartthrob. In fact, when the Latin American hunk visited Manila in the heyday of Rosalinda and performed in a packed Araneta Coliseum, the dashing leading man wowed the crowd with his singing talent and charisma.

One thing that is giving Eigenmann more confidence is his screen partner, Carla Abellana. “We’re okay. We’re doing really well, getting to know each other more. We are attending workshops. There are days when we are together the whole day. I’m really happy and very much excited. She’s very beautiful. When I first met her, all I could say was, wow! She stands out in a crowd. She’s very smart, very educated and personally speaking, I believe she is perfect for the role.”

Though he admits “it’s not hard to fall in love with Carla” because of her beauty, Geoff is not about to fall head over heels. “She’s very smart. She’s very sincere. Sobrang totoong tao, but for now, that is not my main business. What is important is to be ready and prepared since the roles we will portray requires so much from both of us, physically and emotionally. We feel some pressure, but I do know that I am not alone here. I have her, and knowing that she’s by my side, we will manage.”

Are they ready to be compared with the team up of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera? “Their shoes are too big to fill, and they have proven themselves so many times. Carla and I, we’re talking a lot, and I promised her already that I will give her my support all the way. Whatever (the challenge) is, no matter how small or big it may be, we are a team and kampi kami dito all the way,” Eigenmann assures.

Dingdong goes Cholo

Experienced in leading men roles, Dantes remains refreshingly candid about his upcoming project. “I learned just recently that I would play the role,” says Dingdong. “Whether that I become the lead actor of an original material or a remake, it doesn’t really matter. I am excited to do this remake because the original material is surprisingly good and it was one of the more popular soaps when it was shown here.”

The character of Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo in the original Korean soap opera was Cha Song-ju, while Choi Ji Woo was Han Jung-suh. How they become “Cholo” and “Jodi” when it was dubbed in Filipino that enamored Pinoy audiences remains a mystery.

What is no longer a mystery, of course, is that Dingdong Dantes will portray the role of Cholo, now that the imported drama from the Land of the Morning Calm is now set for a reincarnation as a primetime Kapuso melodrama.

And we all know how the network defines the genre — expect the unexpected twists and turns from a plotline that has become so muddled it no longer has any semblance to the that of its country of origin. The Filipino version is peppered with the sampalan, sabunutan and agawan, and antagonists whose obsession in life is makapaghiganti.

Despite all these, Dantes welcomes the challenge of being the Pinoy Kwon Sang Woo. “This is also one of the rare moments (when) many people congratulated me (after) they found out (I would be) doing this… they were mostly (one) in saying that I could give justice to the Cholo,” he shares. “Although I am not yet fully aware with what is required of me, it is just a great feeling that a lot of people are excited that I am doing Stairway to Heaven.”

The actor is planning to watch the Korean drama as part of his preparation for the role. “To be frank, the interpretation I plan to do with the role is very Pinoy since this is a Philippine remake. This is my first time to do a character (that) was so loved by all and I know the expectations to be at par with Kwon Sang Woo (are) very high,” he reveals. “I have a couple of months, to do what I want to do, which is basically to do my research, (and) if there is a chance I want to go to Korea.”

When Stairway to Heaven was shown in Manila, one of the most talked about scenes was the shower scene of Kwon Sang Woo, and Dantes is fully aware of that requirement. “Well, I don’t mind being under the shower again,” he quips. “More than the baring, what I like about the story of Cholo and Jodi is that it’s a heartbreaking love story. I have to be in love to fully realize the role. It is important that I know how it is to be in love — you cannot fake it. When I get into this character, feeling in love is top priority.”

Rosalinda, starring Geoff Eigenmann and Carla Abellana, airs on July. Stairway to Heaven, with Dingdong Dantes, begins airing in September.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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