HERBERT BAUTISTA reprises his film role as Puto in the new TV5-Cignal fantasy-comedy series, “Puto”, in collaboration with Viva TV.
The movie “Puto” was a blockbuster hit when shown in 1987, with Herbert playing the lead role of, Ivanhoe, a nerd who sells puto and bullied by his classmates, but he turns out to have special powers given by his “duwende” friends.
How does he feel reprising his role as “Puto” in the present time?
“Very memorable ang ‘Puto’ for me as this is my first solo picture after I did ‘Bagets’ and ‘Hotshots’,” says the former QC mayor.
“After ‘Puto’ became a big hit, sunod-sunod na ang projects ko like ‘Captain Barbell’ at yung ‘Kumander Bawang’ na sana gawin din namin.”
How different is “Puto” then and now?
“Direk Leroy Salvador did ‘Puto’ then. Yung comic beat niya at ang puso niya as an actor in the 60s, naipasok niya as director sa ‘Puto’ in the 80s.
"Now at 53, ako na ang pinakamatandang member ng cast and crew sa show namin. Dala ko naman yung 80s beat, mixed with the flair and off beat comic timing na galing naman ngayon sa director namin, si Direk Raynier Brizuela.”
“Ang mga punchline na pinabitaw sa’kin ni Direk Rayn dito, kakaiba. 21st century comedy ito na pasok dito sa series. Hindi mabubuo ito without Direk Rayn na fan ng 80s and 90s comedy at naituloy niya sa ngayon in the 21st century.
"Kulang pa nga and tools niya dito like drones, lights. Kung kumpleto, mas mabubuo pa niya nang tama ang mga gusto niyang gawin para sa project na ito.
"At ang special effects noon sa movie, very 80s, now, mas maganda na. But the story about bullying remains very relevant up to now in this era of bashings.”
His character now has a son, played by McCoy de Leon as Uno.
“Puto is now both nanay and tatay, a single parent to his son, at ang hanapbuhay niya, puto pa rin.
"Pero hindi na siya naglalako ng puto like before kundi may factory na siya ng puto at may mga kasama na siya, yung Beks Battallion.”
How is it working with Mccoy de Leon as his son in “Puto” and what advice has he given to him?
“It helps na ang personality namin ni McCoy, hindi nagkakalayo, pareho kaming masayahin, may good sense of humor.
"My advice to him is to always remember to remain being a gentleman sa mga katrabaho mo, sa actuations mo.
"Kahit mag-snap ka at mawala ka, pero bumalik ka uli sa pagiging gentlemanly. I saw myself in him, although at his age, iba ang naging karanasan ko kaysa kanya.
“I’d say na mas na-enjoy ko ang journey ko.
"I started as a child star sa Regal when I was 10, then as a teenager, kinuha naman ako ng Viva sa ‘Bagets’, tapos, teenager pa lang ako, napunta ko sa public service sa Sangguniang Kabataan then as a councilor.”
Why didn’t he get his real sons, Harvey and Race, for the show?
“Harvey is with Star Magic at may project daw siya roon. Si Race naman is with Viva at may project din siya sa Viva na baka nasimulan na next month.
"For Harvey, I want him sana to do the TV version of ‘Ninja Kids’ na balak gawin ng Viva. Ka-age ko siya when I did the movie and mabuti yung he appears muna in a group, para walang nakawan ng eksena at mag-shine silang pare-pareho.”
We notice that original cast members of the movie like Janno Gibbs, Gelli de Belen and Bing Loyzaga are also in the TV show.
“Yes, magbabakarkada kami noon sa original movie. Now, friends ko pa rin sila pero may kanya-kanya na kaming racket at iba-ibang buhay na kami. Janno is my best friend, si Juanito, at may matinding spin sa character niya rito.
"Gelli is my classmate Mindy na ngayon, cook na sa school canteen nina McCoy. Si Bing naman is Tere, now a life insurance agent and a certified plantita. We now talk about the challenges of being parents today.”
After being QC mayor, what are his plans for next year’s elections?
“As of now, nothing definite. Malayo pa naman yan. Malalaman na lang natin kung ano mangyayari within the next few months.
"As of now, focus muna tayo rito sa ‘Puto’ na siyang priority ko ngayon. I’m just so thankful na kahit may pandemic, busy ako.
“Marami akong kasamahang naghahanap ng trabaho. I consider this as a blessing na binigay ng Panginoon kasi after my term, nakabalik agad ako sa pag-aartista.
"ABS-CBN got me and I did shows with their young love teams like LizQuen, KathNiel and Kycine ng Gold Squad. Now, sa TV 5 naman ako.
"I’m really proud na galing ako sa showbiz kasi this industry really grounded me. It taught me the importance of being well prepared kasi may pre-prod dito, may planning bawat project, na kailangan nating lahat sa buhay.”
“Puto” starts airing this Saturday, June 19, on TV5 at 5 PM, and on Sari-Sari Channel on June 20.
It’s also available on Cignal Channel 3, SatLite Channel 30, and livestream on TV5 at Cignal Play app, available for iOs and Android users for free.
