Holiday talk with Keempee

Naka-chika namin si Keempee de Leon sa set ng "LaLola" at ibinalita ng aktor na well-adjusted na sila ng cast ng show, thanks to their acting workshop. And since it’s the Christmas season, ikinuwento na rin niya ang kanyang plans for the holidays. "At first medyo nangangapa kaming lahat kasi first time namin magkatrabaho," sabi ni Keempee about Rhian Ramos , the star of the show. "Well, [si] Wendell [Ramos] nakatrabaho ko for quite some time [sa Bahay Mo Ba 'To], [pero] halos lahat [ng kasama ko ditto sa La Lola, first time ko makatrabaho." Kaya naman it was a big help when the cast attended a workshop to get to know each other better before the show started taping. "Noong workshop, nag-open forum na kami just to break the ice, na eto, ganito ako, ganito yung pagkatao ko, ganyan. Then may one-on-one kami. So kung baga para maging kampante [kami sa isa't-isa]." He continues, "And syempre may mga exercises na ipapagawa sa inyo para maging comfortable kayo sa isa't-isa. Naka-circle yun, [tapos] one-on-one [sa] iba’t-ibang partner. Boy-girl or boy-boy, girl-girl para lang magkakilanlan [ang] lahat. I guess that's a big help. Kaya ngayon pag sa taping, wala kaming ginawa kundi nasa isang kama kaming lahat, nakahiga kami, nagkukuwentuhan! Usually yun lang yung ginagawa naming—kulitan. Masaya yung set!" Keempee shares na natutuwa siya maging comic relief ng show bilang si Gary, na in love kay Lalo, ang male counterpart ni Lola, played by Wendell Ramos. But aside from Lalo, may iba pang crush si Gary, like Pato (Jay-R)! "[Si Gary] yung kakaibang character lang doon, and at the same time I guess, yun yung pinaka-comic part," paliwanag ni Keempee. Like most of his co-actors, Keempee will enjoy the holidays abroad this year. "Kasi every year we travel, me and the family. Right now dito kami ngayon sa Manila pero I think after Christmas we’re leaving for I don't know kung States or just Hong Kong. Then balik before New Year. Ewan ko, depende sa tatay ko—siya masusunod, e. Mahilig mag-travel yun!" Since we were talking about Christmas, we asked Keempee what he'd give Lola if he were in character as Gary. "In character as Gary? Boys!" sagot ni Keempee with a grin. E kung si Pato (Jay-R) ang bibigyan niya? "Kay Jay-R, siguro yung sarili ni Gary!" he answered with a laugh. Watch Keempee every weeknight on La Lola during GMA Telebabad! --Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Interviewed with Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio.