Eugene Domingo: "Fame hasn't changed me"

This is the season of Eugene Domingo! There’s no doubt that she’s now the hottest thing on Philippine TV (even in the movies). Since her launching film “Kimmy Dora” made good at the box-office (for which Eugene also won the Best Actress Award for Comedy at the 7th Golden Screen Awards last May), Eugene’s star has not stopped shining. She’s probably the busiest comedienne in town. She has two shows on GMA 7 (“Whatchamakulit” which is aired every Friday and “Jejemom,” a new show that premieres on Saturday, Aug.14). She also has a new show on TV5 titled “Inday Wanda” that is airing next month.

But Eugene is fully aware that she won’t forever be a hot property. As the showbiz adage goes, you’re only good as your last project. But Eugene is really having the best of both worlds—TV and movies. Both her last two films, namely, “Working Girls” and “Here Comes the Bride,” also made good at the box-office.

Despite her newfound fame and popularity, Eugene insists that she hasn’t changed, contrary to the claims of other people. Talk to her friends, and they would definitely say that Eugene’s success hasn’t gone to her head. Her feet are very much still on the ground and she remains level-headed, her friends would attest. And these are the same people who knew her since she started her career as a stage actress back in UP until she found her way into showbiz.

“Ang mga friends ko ang family ko eh. Pag nagkita-kita na kami, para lang kaming mga normal na tao. Ang trabaho ay trabaho, ang kaibigan ay kaibigan, ang normal na tao ay normal na tao. So far wala pa naman sa mga kaibigan ko ang nagsabi sa akin na nagbago na ako. Ang sinasabi lang nila ay parang gumaganda na raw ako,” said Uge when Star Circuit got to talk to her at the presscon of her new GMA sitcom titled “Jejemom.”

Maybe your friends are also saying that you’ve gotten rich? “Ay, that’s not true. I was only joking when I said mayaman na ako. Maybe those who heard me took my word seriously. But had I said that I am in dire need, the people won’t believe it as well. I’m working every day and I am really very busy. But I do share my blessings. Besides, I am working hard and I am saving for the rainy days, too. That’s why I can say that my assets are improving,” said the comedienne with a laugh. “That’s why I am really thankful to God for all the blessings.”

Eugene is very happy at the rate things are going in her career and it seems there’s nothing more that she can wish for. “I am very, very happy. I am very, very thankful. Araw-araw, bago ako matulog at sa paggising ko, ang ipinagdarasal ko lagi ay ‘Lord, dalhin mo ako sa lugar o kahit na anong trabaho na kailangan ako.’ Hindi naman ako greedy, eh. Ang lagi ko lang ipinagdarasal is dalhin ako ni Lord sa mga trabaho or tao na kailangan ako.”

We can say that Eugene is now at the prime of her career, but she also recognizes that she won’t be forever popular. That’s why she cites valuable lessons she learned from veteran stars like Dolphy, Ms. Gloria Romero and Ms. Maricel Soriano, whom she has had the chance to work in TV and movies.

“The first lesson that they will tell you is to love your job because it will love you back as long as you live,” said Eugene. “Even if you’re already old and gray, your job will help tide you over your needs. Popularity is suspect. It will end, just like anything that has a beginning, there will be an ending. We should always be prepared for the inevitable. Maybe at present, parang pakiramdam mo hindi ka malalaos pero darating ka rin sa point na bababa ang popularity mo. One good lesson to note is that you ought to be humble, just like the veteran stars who had been here before you yet they’ve remained level headed, talagang humble pa rin, despite their success.”

Eugene said she felt her heart overflowed with joy and gladness when she got the chance to work with Tito Dolphy, the Comedy King no less, who had spent more than half of his lifetime bringing entertainment to many people. “I was not only thankful for the opportunity but I was truly inspired with his humility and kindness. All of us will grow old but if you will follow Tito Dolphy’s example, like he didn’t change despite all his accomplishments and hasn’t lost his zest for life and for work, you will really go a long way in this business.”

Isn’t the single Eugene hoping for someone special to share her joys and triumphs with?

“Oo, sa palagay ko. Kasama ko siguro ‘yung mga baklang mga kaibigan ko. Sabi ko, mga bakla, magtrabaho tayo nang magtrabaho. Magpagod tayo nang magpagod. Tapos bibili tayo ng malaking bahay sa isang island. Doon kayo, mag-mahjong kayo roon. Ako ang tiyahin ninyo,” Eugene said with a laugh.

Seriously, no love life? Perhaps, guys are intimidated by her. “Wala talaga, promise. Kung mayroon, ililihim ko ba? Sana naman kung feeling nila ay intimidated sila sa akin, please, ipamalita ninyo na huwag naman silang ma-intimidate. Huwag naman kasi friendly naman ako at hindi naman ako nangsosopla ng tao,” she said.

Asked if there are guys sending feelers, she said: “Wala eh, kasi ‘yung paramdam, at this point na busy ako, huwag ka nang masyadong magparamdam. Klaruhin mo na. Kasi baka di ko masyadong maramdaman kasi marami akong iniisip. Kung mayroon man magpaparamdam diyan, klaruhin ninyo. Kung kailangan na kuryentehin ninyo ako para maramdaman ko, go!”

In “Jejemom,” Eugene plays the lead character Gigi AKA “The Jejemom,” a single parent with an outrageous sense of humor. Usually clad in multicolored outfits while fiddling with her cellphone, Gigi juggles her time between her parental duties to her only son G-Boy (Robert “Buboy” Villar) and her younger sister Lovely (Jennica Garcia) and her responsibilities as the trusty barangay secretary. But Gigi’s life and their family change when she becomes the star witness to a kidnapping case. Her life threatened, Gigi is put into a witness protection program.

The new sitcom also stars Wendell Ramos (as Dindo, the hunky policeman), Gelli de Belen (as Bunny), Ricky Davao as (Winston), Bayani Agbayani (as Chief D. Marangya), Chariz Solomon (as Yasmin), and Carl Guevarra (as Jhong, the internet-addict boyfriend of Lovely).

Aside from shedding light on the jejemon culture, “Jejemom,” directed by Dominic Zapata and originally written by Denoy Navarro-Puno, also touches on significant topics such as motherhood, parenting and neighborhood spirit—but with a quirky, comedic twist.

It airs on Saturday, Aug. 14. For Pinoy TV subscribers, Jejemom will air on Aug. 15 in the United States and on Aug. 16 in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.