JAO MAPA was launched in “Matrikula”, a sexy drama in 1997 where he did love scenes with Rosanna Roces as his mentor.
This time, in Vivamax’ “Paraluman”, the tables are turned since he is now the one who plays mentor to Rhen Escano in this story of a 16-year old girl who has a torrid affair with a 40 year old man.
“Yes, nabaligtad ang sitwasyon,” he says. “Ako ngayon ang magtuturo kay Rhen sa kama in my role as Peter.”
So how is his experience making a movie comeback?
“Siempre, medyo ako nung una kasi ngayon lang ako uli nakagawa ng pelikula,” he says.
“I left showbiz then to go back to my studies at nakatapos ako ng fine arts sa UST. I started selling my paintings and it helped me put food on our table.
"But now, niloob ng Diyos na makabalik ako at during the shoot, madalas, nawawala ako sa character ko so our director, Yam Laranas, has to keep on reminding me to stay with my character.”
How is it working with a much younger actress like Rhen?
“Okay naman ang naging working relationship namin kasi very professional siya and she’s a very good actress. She knows her craft and she’s very dedicated sa trabaho niya so walang naging problema kahit sa love scenes namin. Siya pa nga nagtuturo sa’kin kasi matagal akong nawala. It also helps that Rhen and I have the same manager, Tita Aster Amoyo.”
Didn’t he have a hard time doing intimate love scenes this time?
“We had an acting workshop and Direk Yam helped us a lot kasi detalyado ang blocking na ginagawa niya para sa bawat eksena, so sinusundan na lang namin yun.
"Also, siya rin kasi ang cinematographer ng movie kaya relaxed kami dahil siya mismo ang may hawak ng kamera. Run through muna kami and then take na.
"We’re proud nga kasi lahat ng love scenes namin, take one lang. Wala ng ulitan.
"Actually, bukod kay Rhen as Mia, may bedscene din ako with Gwen Garci as Giselle, who plays my live in partner na nagselos kay Rhen.”
He’s very thankful to Viva for giving him a second chance as an actor.
“I got excited when they offered the project to me. Blessing din ito from the Lord na nabigyan uli ako ng pagkakataong umarte. Before shooting started, I had to trim down and diet to be in better shape.
"We shot this lock in shooting sa mountains in Tanay, Rizal kasi ang setting is a small rural village na kakaunti ang mga tao.”
Now 45 years old and married to his wife Cecille, they have two sons, Ben and Caleb, and a daughter, Amber.
In real life, would he really fall for a much younger woman? Didn’t his wife put her foot down when he told her he’d do some steamy love scenes?
“Hindi naman. I will not do the movie without her blessing. Also ng mga anak namin.
"But yung falling in love with another woman, lahat tayo, vulnerable sa tukso but I’ve been there, done that na ako diyan. I’m now more devoted to my beautiful wife.
"Supportive naman siya kasi she knows that I really missed acting. Bukod dito, sinama rin ako ng Viva sa TV series nilang ‘Puto’ with Mayor Herbet Bautista. Nakatatlong episodes na ako roon.
"And I’m also doing another movie about the Balangiga Massacre. So, sana, magtuloy-tuloy na nga ang pagbabalik kong ito."
"Paraluman" starts streaming on Vivamax on September 24. Vivamax is available at web.vivamax.net. You can also download the app and subscribe via Google Play Store, App Store, and Huawei AppGallery. For only P29, you can unli-watch all Vivamax titles for three days. You can also subscribe for P149/month and P399 for 3 months for bigger savings. You can also cast your screen from your device to Smart TV with Google Chromecast or Apple TV.
You can pay through GCash, Globe, Smart, Visa/Mastercard, PayMaya or PayPal account that’s linked on your Google or Apple account. You can also subscribe at web.vivamax.net, select a plan and you can pay through EC Pay outlets: 7 Eleven, and All Day, or through PayMongo, GrabPay, and GCash or through PayMaya. For payment thru E-commerce, you may choose from Lazada, Shopee, GCash, ComWorks Clickstore, PayMaya, or Globe One. For payment thru authorized outlets, you may choose from Load Manna, ComWorks, and Load Central partner outlets: Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express. You can also call your local Cable Operators to subscribe to VIVAMAX: Sky Cable, Cable Link, KCAT Fiber, Air Cable, Aklan Cable Television Co., Inc. Cebu Cable HD, Cotabato Cable Television Network Corp., Concepcion Pay TV Network Inc., BCTVI, Paradise Cable Television Nework, Inc., Wesfardell Connect, Z-energy Cable TV Network Inc.
