US-based actor co-develops ‘aswang’ episode for hit NBC series

It may not be apparent with his name, but the sergeant snarking his way through a monster-filled Portland, Oregon, is actually a Filipino.

Reggie Lee (real name Reggie Valdeza) plays Sargeant Wu in the hit NBC police procedural-fantasy TV series “Grimm,” after an audition impressed the show's producers enough to write a part specifically for him in the series.

“Something that a lot of people don't know is that Reggie actually auditioned for the role of Hank. Although the part went to Russell Hornsby, we were all so impressed with Reggie that we decided to write a part specifically for him," said executive producers David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf in a joint statement published on the web magazine Positively Pinoy.

The onscreen detective was, at one point in his life, Harvard-bound to become a doctor and inherit his father's medical practice.

“I think my parents were reacting in the best way they knew how. I do believe a lot of the Asian cultures base their life choices on stability and security. And why wouldn’t they?” Lee told Positively Pinoy.

Although they set him up as a paragon for Rhoel and Nathan, his younger brothers, Lee couldn't be stopped from taking all the classes and auditions he could in Ohio.

For him to apply the passion he showed with his "hobby" to his studies, his parents—Jesus and Zeny— took him to every classes and auditions he signed up for to wear him out.

“My parents always took me to these activities, though they thought I’d grow out of it. But eventually, I wanted more," said Lee.

In the late 90's, Lee moved from Ohio to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. For more than 15 years, he worked in various TV series and movies, landing roles in "Tropic Thunder" in 2008 and "Crazy, Stupid, Love" in 2011.

Name change

Because he changed his last name to make himself more marketable, he was only able to play a Filipino in 2012, when he played Charice Pempengco's father in "Here Comes the Boom."

“I thought wow, for the first time in my career I get to play a Filipino. It’s only taken 15 years," said Lee.

As obscure as his roots may be, the next episode of “Grimm” will finally shed some light on his heritage, as an aswang will be featured in the show's next episode, "Mommy Dearest."

The episode will revolve around Sargeant Wu's first encounter with a Wesen, a shapeshifter, in form of an aswang out for a pregnant friend. The episode is ground-breaking for “Grimm” fans, as Wu's first name will finally be revealed after three seasons, and the detective will finally know of the existence of supernatural creatures.

Aswang

In an interview with sci-fi news website Three If By Space, Lee said he was part of the development of the episode, as both writers and creators consulted him for the accuracy of the episode.

"They actually came to me and said, 'Do you know any Filipino folklore?” I said, “Yes. We have actually quite a bit.' And so I gave them a list and it included the Aswang, which is probably the most popular one in Filipino folklore," he said.

"How often do you get a Filipino storyline in a show? Not very often. I can't think of any. So how great for them to really focus on that," Lee added.

Lee told Positively Pinoy that working on the latest episode brought back memories of his short time in Quezon City, his birth place.

“They centered the aswang tale around my character, and boy, did I relate! All those memories of sleeping in my bed with the kulambo over me, afraid of monsters, came flooding back," he mused.

Although he keeps in touch with his family, Lee told Three If By Space that he hasn't been home since he was 10 years old. However, he knows how important his representation of the Filipino people is to some, and hopes he'll be able to reach out to his countrymen soon.

"For me, there’s something about it now as I get older, that I’d just love to touch that Filipino soil. I think I’d love to get more in touch with my heritage. It’s just a kind of time where I want to know where I came from. I really want to know," said Lee.

"Mommy Dearest" will air March 7 in the United States. — KBK, GMA News