Bubble Gang cast get up close and personal about their experiences

The country's longest running gag show, Bubble Gang, is celebrating its 18th anniversary this Friday, and GMANetwork.com had the chance to chat with some of the cast members about their most memorable experiences in the show and how it has changed their lives and career.

For Betong Sumaya, who has been in the show for almost two years, his stay in Bubble Gang can be summed up in one word: Amazing. "Ay grabe, sobrang amazing talaga! Pero ang nakakatuwa dun, andami mong natututunan. Kung iisipin ko 'yung unang una kong ginawa, para kang nasa school. andami mong matututunan every year, sa every sketch at gag na ginagawa. At 'yung challenging doon, ang daming role. Nanay, anak, lolo, kumakanta, sumasayaw. Kumbaga hindi siya nakakahon. At the same time nabibigyan ka ng mga bagong challenges and opportunities para mas lalong gumanda 'yung craft mo."

Kapuso actress Andrea Torres says the show has helped not just her career, but her social skills as well. "Mas naging open, mas naging komportable ako sa presence ng mga tao. Kasi siyempre ang dami niyo dito tapos nagkukulitan kayo, 'yung ganyan. Ang dami rin kasing nanonood ng show so ang ganda na nakikita mo sa Twitter na nagre-react sila doon sa mga ginagawa niyong mga scenes."

Lahat daw ng taping days nila ay memorable para sa kanya. "Every taping day naman talagang na-eenjoy ko. Parang every taping day nafi-feel mo rin na nagiging mas close kayo."

Ibinahagi naman ni Sef Cadayona ang technical side ng kanilang pagpapatawa. "Sobrang saya! Kasi ito 'yung masasabi mo na magaan siya pero it doesn't mean na hindi siya technical. Ang pagpapatawa po ay hindi basta biro-biro lang. Marami po kaming iniisip at mga inaalalayan na salita para hindi kami maka-offend o hindi kami makatapak ng ibang tao o hindi maka-asar. Ginagawa lang po naming katatawanan ang sarili namin, at saka mga pangyayari sa buhay. Masarap 'yugn ganung pag-iisip kasi gagawin mong nakakatawa 'yung mga nangyayari sa buhay mo, sa pamilya mo."

As for his relationship with the rest of the cast, this is what the young comedian had to say. "'Yung maganda dito, well bonded ang grupo. Ako, kahit nung nagsimula ako dito, hindi ko naman na-experience na na-left out ako kasi bukas-palad naman kasi sila sa kahit sino pang guest."

Ayon naman kay Roadfill Sparks, one-half of the duo Moymoy Palaboy, hindi natatapos sa taping ang kanilang bonding. "Bukod sa nagkikita kami sa taping, nagkikita rin kami sa labas, kami-kami lang. Lumalabas kami nina Rufa Mae, pupunta kami kung saan-saan. Nina Sam, nagkikita-kita kami. Masaya, masaya silang kasama, ang kukulit."

Binalikan naman ni Kapuso leading man Mikael Daez ang naging umpisa niya sa naturang programa. "First it was out of curiosity. It never crossed my mind that 'Oh, mag-Bubble Gang guest kaya ako?' Parang na-offer lang, so I told myself 'Okay, let's try it out.' And I'm so happy I took it because it was a huge blessing in disguise."

Dagdag pa niya, "Ever since my first taping day, I told myself I want to work as hard as I can to be part of this gang, this team, and it has been a beautiful experience so far. I've made some of my closest showbiz friends while working in this project, and I'm so thankful. The work's great, the people get serious pero kapag fun, fun, pag-work, work. Ano pa ba ang hihilingin ko?"

He echoes the same sentiment as everyone else pagdating sa naging takbo ng career niya ngayong regular na siya sa show. "Very different! People know now a bit more of me, my personality, na may pagka-kengkoy naman talaga ako, may pagka-bibo, may pagka-kulit. I know ang alam lang nila 'yung very serious side of myself na nagsusulat ako, graduate ako. Natutuwa ako that Bubble Gang has opened a lot of doors for me. Sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng tao dito."

Huwag palampasin ang special 18th anniversary episode ng Bubble Gang on Friday, October 18, pagkatapos ng GMA Telebabad. -- Text by Michelle Caligan, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com