Reality Icons

When you hear the names Ariel and Maverick, the first word that comes to mind is ‘retro’. And then, you remember who they are, where they started, and what they’ve become. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco and Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Ariel and Maverick have gone a long way since they started in Totoo TV. Now the two are part of the powerhouse cast of Joaquin Bordado, and they have their first movie in the works. But neither of the two have forgotten where they came from—and they’re very willing to share their journey with you and I. Chatting with Ariel Ariel imparts that he takes the initial intimidation he feels when working with veteran actors as a challenge. “Dapat ganoon ang mindset mo. Kasi pag na-intimidate ka, masisira lahat. E sanay naman kami [sa bigwigs, tulad noong sa] ‘Totoo TV’ namin—presidente nga ininterview namin, di ba?” “[At] syempre gaganahan ka at kailangan sumabay ka sa pro!” he adds. “Mind over matter —dapat ‘pro’ din ang feeling mo. Para makasabay ka sa kanila.” His most memorable taping with Maverick was the sequence with Jimboy (played by Renz Valerio), where they reenacted a famous Home Alone (1990) scene. “Nakuryente kami, lumubog mukha namin muna sa cake, nadulas [kami] sa holen, tapos yung ending may bintilador tapos [nalagyan kami ng] feathers!” Ariel shares that he’ll definitely miss the Bordado team’s bonding time after the show ends. “Masaya kasi, e! Alam mo, minsan depende rin pala sa production [yan]. Yung production kasi dito, cool e! Halu-halo kami dito, parang pamilya lang kami, walang stress.” But even if Ariel had fun doing his first primetime show on GMA, he says his first love is still reality TV. “Mas maganda reality [para sa akin] dahil mae-express mo [sarili mo at] hindi ka nakakahon. Yung scripted kasi nakakahon ka, e.” He adds that one of his dreams is to someday direct an unscripted television show. “Alam mo, kung magdi-direk ako, pwede naman yung sitcom na reality ang dating. Bigyan ko lang kayo ng skeletal na script, and the rest, basta [may guide kung saan] ang pupuntahan ng pag-uusapan niyo. Kasi pag scripted, nag-aabang yung isa, yung isa [naman] parang nagpapa-picture lang. Pinaka best talaga, reality.” He cites his past stint with Maverick in Pinoy Meets World where they traveled to Nepal. “Sana nga kung magkakaroon kami ulit ng show, reality din, e. Di ba, parang sa Nepal, sa Pinoy Meets World? Spontaneous lang.” He continues, “Ang gusto ng tao natural—spontaneous, hindi yung scripted. Di ba kahit sa acting naman? Kaya kung ako magdi-direk, mapa-drama man [o hindi], gagawin kong reality ang style. I want the audience to feel na [whoa], hindi scripted ito. There’s a thin line between scripted and reality. Totoo ba ito, o hindi? Maganda na pinag-iisip mo rin yung audience. Hintayin niyo ako pag nagdirek ako baling araw! Haha!” Maverick Only Maverick is very proud of being part of Joaquin Bordado, his and Ariel’s first fantasy soap—their first soap ever in the Kapuso Network. “And we’re proud kasi medyo mataas ‘yung level ng billing namin: [with] Robin Padilla, Director Mac Alejandre, Iza Calzado, Eddie Garcia, Ian Veneracion— “Maverick and Ariel’s in the house!” The ever chatty and candid Maverick shares that they learned a lot from working with a script: “Kasi sanay kami sa reality-based na concept and this is our first time to be in a scripted series. So it’s pretty good.” But, he adds, that they didn’t really have many difficulties in their first foray into the scripted world. “Nung umpisa nangangap kami,” he admits. He explains that they weren’t used to the camera angles used in the show, and they had to learn to trust their director. “[And] working with Robin is amazing. [He] does everything: script revisions, directing, holding the camera, nag-stunt director din siya,” He finishes. Maverick does admit that he and his partner want to foray into drama as well. “We were the comic relief in every scene that we have [in Joaquin Bordado]. Gusto nga namin magdrama, kaso nga lang ayaw pa kami bigyan ng break ni Direk Mac. “Kasi ‘di ba they say good comedians are good dramatic actors also, like Dolphy. Para maiba naman,” The comedian concludes, before adding as a joke: “Napansin ko pag comedian ka katulad ko, marami akong kwentong walang kwenta, pero sa chikas mabenta.” It can not be denied that the two comedians are certainly characters. And though they’ve been celebrities for quite a while already, it’s only now that they’re getting noticed by the masses. Maverick jokes, “hindi na ako makabili ng ¼ kilo na baboy, dapat laging limang kilo, 'di na makatawad.” But he added seriously, “mahirap kasi kung medyo kilala ka na, hindi ka makagawa ng kalokohan. You always have to represent [network], you have to be very careful.” Still there are always perks, and Maverick says that he loves making people smile. “You get noticed, recognized by people. Sometimes they don’t know my name, they just say Joaquin Bordado. Then hahanapin nila si Robin sa’yo, or hahanapin ‘yung partner mo sa’yo. Kasi with our character its light and its comedy, so every time they see us, they always smile. I think that’s the perk of it.” Talk about Ariel and Maverick at the iGMA Forums! If you’re not yet registered, register now! You might even get the chance to chat with your idol! And be sure not to miss the two in the finale week of Carlo J. Caparas’ Joaquin Bordado, part of GMA’s Telebabad block of programming.