Veteran actor Nonie Buencamino has worked in both the two leading TV networks, ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
He made his first teleserye appearance in Ikaw na Sana, which was aired on GMA-7 from March 1997 to April 1998 and starred Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, and Gladys Reyes.
The following year, Nonie was cast in ABS-CBN’s primetime drama series, Saan Ka Man Naroroon, starring Claudine Barretto and her now-deceased leading man, Rico Yan.
When that Kapamilya show concluded in March 2001, Nonie took on a new project on the Kapuso lot, Habang Kapiling Ka.
Nonie went on working alternately on the media conglomerates for the past 17 years or so.
He was last seen in GMA in the 2015 teleserye of real-life couple Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado, My Faithful Husband, before doing a string of projects for ABS-CBN.
Those Kapamilya projects were Ningning, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, My Super D, The Greatest Love, The Better Half, Asintado, and Maalaala Mo Kaya’s February 9 episode.
In his recent interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Nonie weighed in on the strengths of the two leading media networks.
“Ang GMA, marami silang I would say unusual stories and concepts,” he told us at the presscon for Dirty Old Musical (D.O.M.), in which he plays one of the lead roles.
“Ang ABS naman, they are strong sa technical. Oo, yung production values are very high. Good cinematography.”
Nonie feels lucky to be able to cross over from the Kapamilya to the Kapuso network, and vice-versa, as he enjoys working in both stations.
His wife and fellow actor Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, who’s currently seen in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, enjoys the same arrangement.
Nonie recalled that there had been times when their respective shows competed on the same timeslot.
But he made it clear that they were never affected by the network wars.
“We don’t get involved with that because we’re just actors,” he pointed out.” We’re just getting paid for our work, di ba?”
Work these days for the versatile and awarded actor revolves around D.O.M., an original Filipino musical written by Rody Vera and directed by Dexter Santos (who also choreographed the production numbers), with musical direction by Myke Salomon.
Joining Nonie in the main cast are Robert Sena, Bo Cerrudo, Carlo Orosa, and Jett Pangan.
Their characters are members of an all-male musical group that was popular in the 1980s but eventually disbanded due to personal reasons.
While trying to put together a reunion concert, they confront past issues and face new challenges as middle-aged performers in the millennial era.
Nonie remembered having had the chance to join a band back in his high school days, but he opted to venture into acting in stage plays instead.
Aside from the fact that he has no experience playing in a band, he also doesn’t share his character’s medical condition.
“Ang character ko dito, may erectile dysfunction, e,” he said, laughing. “Wala pa naman akong erectile dysfunction.”
Overall, he’s enjoying his stint in D.O.M., which uses both original and new compositions as well as past OPM hits.
He mentions the Hagibis medley as his favorite number in the musical.
“Dahil medyo nakakapagod siya,” he explained. “Challenging yun. Nag-e-enjoy ako do'n. Enjoy naman akong sumayaw.”
Nonie has an impressive background in dance, including a stint with Ballet Philippines in its original 1996 production of the critically acclaimed ballet piece, La Revolucion Filipina.
Aside from D.O.M., Nonie is also part of the upcoming movie, Sunshine Family, along with Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Sue Ramirez, and Marco Masa.
The Spring Films production is a family comedy shot in South Korea and directed by Korean filmmaker Kim Tai-Sik.
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Now on its third run, Dirty Old Man (D.O.M.) will have 12 shows starting on February 22, 2019 at the Music Museum. For ticket inquiries, call Ticketworld (891-999), Music Museum (721-6276), or Spotlight Artists Centre (776-4487/0919-9114444).