Bayani’s ‘trademark’ is wholesome comedy

If there’s one thing you can say about Bayani Agbayani, it’s his being a wholesome comedian.

"I am a family man," said Bayani, topbiller (along with, among others, Vhong Navarro) of Star Cinema’s wacky musical-comedy offering Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela One, the first comedy work of director Jerry Lopez-Sineneng. "I want my children to watch my shows and movies and feel proud of me. Ayokong ikahiya nila ako o kaya kantiyawan sila ng mga kaklase at kalaro nila."

Good clean fun is what moviegoers can expect from Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela One, which is inspired by Bayani and Vhong’s hit novelty songs (the former by Bayani and the latter by Vhong).

"I never expected to end up a singer," said Bayani, and neither did he imagine himself acting before the cameras. "I thought I’d be a scriptwriter forever," he added.

He began in showbiz writing gags and funny lines and situations for sitcoms after finishing Masscom in college. It turned out that he was meant to make people laugh on-cam and not just through actors delivering wisecracks and giving life to rib-tickling situations from his fertile imagination.

"My background as a scriptwriter helps me a lot as a comedian," said Bayani. "I feel like a composer who sings his own compositions. Iba ang approach kaysa sa ibang singers singing his compositions."

In Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela One, Bayani and Vhong play outcasts in their respective families. Bayani comes from a family of mestizos while Vhong is an underachiever in a family of over-achievers. During a party which they gatecrash, the two introduce the Otso-Otso dance which opens doors for them and leads them to a series of (mis)adventures generated by cases of wrong/mistaken identities.

"How did it happen?" asked Bayani. "Find out for yourself."

Bayani perfectly jibes with Vhong because they’ve been working together in ABS-CBN shows. They don’t steal scenes from each other–"Mortal Sin," said Bayani–and they try to synchronize their moves.

Described by direk Jerry as "a happy film," Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela One also stars Cherry Lou, Angeline Aguilar, Michelle Bayle, Denise Joaquin, Pinky Marquez, Karl Marquez, Robin da Roza, Jaboom Twins, Roco Twins, Dexter Doria and Tessie Tomas.

The movie’s screenplay is by Mel del Rosario.