TV5 is revitalizing its daily primetime viewing with the premiere of new shows this week. From Monday to Friday, viewers will be treated to new programs. One of them is the sitcom Hapi Together, which premieres tonight, September 7.
TV5 hosted a press conference for Hapi Together last September 1 at Max's Restaurant on Scout Tuazon in Quezon City. Present were the show's cast: Leo Martinez, Soxie Topacio, Nova Villa, Carla Humphries, Jon Avila, Princess Ryan, and Keanna Reeves.
Cast members not present at the press conference were John Estrada and Kean Cipriano. Hapi Together is directed by Al Tantay, with a script written by Joey Reyes.
In Hapi Together, veteran comedians and directors Leo Martinez and Soxie Topacio play brothers engaged in a long drawn-out family feud.
"Magaling pala kami mag-away!" Soxie Topacio commented on working with Leo Martinez. "Actually ngayon lang kami nag-work together. Ngayon lang, first time. Nagkikita kami sa mga meetings, sa mga plays, pero ngayon lang. So, yung mga eksenang nag-aaway kami, alam mo, maganda. Maganda ang mga away namin."
Leo described their brand of comedy: "Ang comedy namin, kinukuha lang namin sa script at sa character. Hindi sa mga nangyayari sa mga buhay namin sa tunay na buhay namin. I guess hindi namin gagamitin yung aming private life para lang makakuha ng laughs."
Nova Villa, also a veteran comedian, was all praise for Long Mejia.
"Si Long, matagal ko nang kasama. Kahit sa kabilang istasyon [ABS-CBN]. Long is Long. Hindi ko siya nakitaan ng pababago. Ganun pa rin siya. Isang mabait na tao, gentleman. Comedian, bastos, manyak. Andun na lahat. Pero, masasabi kong mabait na kaibigan, napakamatulungin. That's Long," said Nova with a smile.
Carla Humphries played a joke on John Estrada: "Siya ang may crush sa akin! Talagang hinahangaan ko si Kuya John bilang artista. Guwapo naman si Kuya John, pero siya ang may crush sa akin. Joke lang. Yun po," she said.
"MAJOR MAJOR" MISTAKES. With beauty queeen Venus Raj's famous line in mind, reporters asked the comedians to reveal their "major major" mistakes in life.
Nova Villa remembered her long career in showbiz, and how she had mistakenly given it up years ago.
"I've been in showbiz for 40-plus years. On the 30th year, dumating sa akin yung pagod na pagod na ako. Yung ganun," she said. "Hanggang dumating na talaga yung pagod na pagod na ko. Na sabi ko, 'Lord...' Tip ito sa inyong lahat, ha? Sa mga artista rin. I prayed and sabi ko, 'Lord, I'm so tired na. Puwede kaya kahit isang show na lang?' Yung ganun."
Her prayer was answered when she lost her shows in ABS-CBN. But she eventually regreted her wish.
"Until I found out, na-discover ko sa sarili ko bilang artista, I miss acting, I miss showbiz. Yung ganun. Aside from, I need money. Yung ganoon. So pala, 'wag mo palang dasalin yun. Naku, 'wag na 'wag!" Nova said.
Director Soxie Topacio remembered his bout with gambling.
"Ako nagkaroon ng major major," he said. "There was a day in my life when I found out I was addicted to gambling. Bingo lang ito, pero almost every day, nasa mall ako. I spent around P3000 to P5000 a day. Yung mga meeting, hindi ako um-attend kasi may bingo ako. Nagbubukas ako ng mall, e. Nagbubukas ako ng mall hanggang sa ako rin ang nagsasara ng mall."
He said he struggled with the habit for two to three years. He gave it up after he had to sell his car.
