Ruru Madrid and Miguel Tanfelix, two young teen actors from GMA-7, are set to star in this weekend's Magpakailanman episode.
Ruru, fresh from a weeklong successful run on the mini-series Seasons of Love and the primetime teleserye My Destiny, shares that this episode is going to showcase him and Miguel in a way that viewers have never seen before.
Titled Kalakal Boys: The Cedric Macdon and Joven Santos story, this episode pits Ruru against Miguel Tanfelix in a moving story of adoptive siblings that addresses the age-old question: whose love is stronger, the one who gave birth to you but left you or the one who nurtured you even if you are not of her blood?
PEP asked the GMA Artist Center talent what it was like working with former child star Miguel Tanfelix who is now a certified teen leading man.
Ruru answered, "Si Miguel talagang nakaka-impress, di ko in-e-expect na talagang ganoon siya," referring to Miguel on-set as opposed to off-screen.
"Kasi pag magkasama kami, makulit lang, tapos nung magka-eksena kami, talagang nakita ko yung puso, yung pagmamahal sa trabaho niya, yung pagmamahal niya sa craft niya."
He heaps praises on his co-star for this episode which will air October 25, "kapag gusto mo yung ginagawa mo, mailalabas mo yung totoong emosyon, yung kinakailangan sa eksena, so every time na nag-te-take kami, nakikita ko si Miguel na binibigay niya yung best niya."
How does he use the passion Miguel has for his work in his own work?
"Ako, as a kuya niya dito sa series na eto, hindi sa totoong buhay ah, as a kuya, talagang ramdam ko siya na nakababatang kapatid ko, na nagtatampo, sa bawat eksena na nangyayari, ramdam na ramdam ko siya, talagang dala-dala ko yun sa puso ko talaga," he admits unabashedly, even as Miguel just walks into the room we've been using.
He says that working with Miguel has challenged him to level up as well, "sa pamamagitan palang ng mata niya pag tinitigan niya ako, nakikita ko yung pain na nararamdaman niya or kung anong saya nararamdaman niya, nakikita ko lahat yun, so habang tinitingnan ko yung mata niya, pumapasok sa isipan ko, nararamdaman ko lahat, na totoo ko siyang kapatid."
THOUGHTS ON ADOPTION. He adds that what makes this October 25 episode extra special is the fact that episode director Maryo J. Delos Reyes told him and Miguel, "dito lang niya kami pagsasamahin ni Miguel, kasi yung next namin na pagsasama, matagal pa yun mauulit, gagawin niya sa pelikula na lang."
Direk Maryo is no stranger to the 16-year old actor, having directed him in the 2013 indie film Bamboo Flowers.
The GMA Artist Center talent shares, "nakakaexcite din, at dahil din sa story, maraming bagay at aral na mapupulot dito sa episode ng Magpakailanman."
Ruru portrays the role of Cedric, an orphan who rebels against his adoptive mother played by Celia Rodriguez.
He explains what he believes viewers will like about this episode, "isa na diyan yung, kahit na sabihin natin na ampon ka, parang huwag ka dapat mag-rebelde kasi yung pag-aalaga sa iyo ng magulang na lumaki ka ng ganyan edad, isang malaki, kung baga, nakatulong sa sarili mo yun,"
He says that parents who choose to adopt and take care of children not their own deserve respect, all the more because, "yung iba, hinahayaan na lang, mamamatay na lang, so eto hindi, e, inalagaan ka, kinupkop ka bilang isang anak."
In this episode, Cedric gets adopted by Celia Rodriguez's character Manay at a time in her life when her own children have all grown up and she is left all alone. Cedric, whose biological mom Sheila is played by Maybelyn Dela Cruz, gives him up because her husband wants to kill him.
Cedric grows up thinking he is the real son of Manay. Ruru describes the kind of relationship they had, "yung pagiging anak, hindi naman yan nasusukat sa pagiging magkadugo kayo, e, masusukat yan sa pagmamahal ng isang ina sa tinuturing niyang anak, hindi dahil magkadugo kayo or dahil siya nagluwal sa iyo."
Ruru is proud of the hard work he and Miguel and the cast of Magpakailanman have poured into this project, especially because it's heavy drama work for him and Miguel. He quickly adds, "makikita dito na magka-clash din kami."
ON INDIE FILM ABOVE THE CLOUDS. Right now, Ruru is getting ready to promote his indie film Above the Clouds in the international film circuit starting with Japan, then Singapore and next year in Europe.
Ruru is slated to attend the world premiere of Above the Clouds
at the Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan.
Above the Clouds is competing in the Asian Future section of the 27th Tokyo International Film Festival. Ruru is expected to attend the event that is ongoing until October 31.
Ruru is cast as Andy, a young boy whose parents died because of a great flood. He is forced to live with his estranged grandfather (played by Pepe Smith) in the cold northern parts of the Philippines.
Inspired by photos of Andy's parents hiking up a beautiful mountain, the grandfather takes his grandson to this place against his will. As they trek together, tensions rise between the two but they eventually come to terms with their grief.
Above the Clouds, which was shot in Mt. Pulag, is directed by Pepe Diokno.
Ruru adds, "hindi naman ang habol ko diyan na makapunta sa iba't-ibang bansa, pero yung ma-represent yung country as a Filipino, yun nakakaexcite yun."
With all these blessings coming his way, Ruru is wisely investing what he is earning for the future, and even if "kaka-one year ko pa lang sa showbiz, yung house namin, rent to own, then nagka-kotse na ako, condo, siguro para sa akin, pag hindi ako doon nakatira, pwede kong paupahan."
The young actor declares, "siyempre, gusto ko muna ipon ng ipon lang, kasi gusto ko makabili ng isa pang sasakyan na mas malaki, para mas relaxed, kasi kailangan ko daw yun, sabi ng manager ko, kailangan ko daw magtrabaho ng magtrabaho para rin sa sarili ko."