MANILA, Philippines - With their tandem having had proven to work box-office magic on the big screen, Ai-Ai delas Alas and director Wenn Deramas are joining forces anew. And this time, it’s on the small screen via the new ABS-CBN fantasy-themed and child-oriented primetime series Wako Wako that’s premiering tonight before TV Patrol.
Direk Wenn, who is known for handpicking the actors for his projects (his Wako Wako stars jokingly term the roster of artists he regularly works with as the Direk Wenn Pool of Talents), personally insisted on casting Yogo Singh, a kid actor from another network, for one of the lead roles. “I first saw him in a commercial. He has that X-factor that not everybody has. I don’t think I’ve made a mistake in choosing him. He’s good at drama, timing and comedy; he gets instructions right away. He has all the (qualities) to become a popular child star,” Direk Wenn explained.
Because the story revolves around the friendship of a young boy named Muymuy (played by Yogo) and a magical creature named Wako Wako who makes wishes come true, the show will be introducing a wish-granting component for its viewers, according to production manager Raymund Dizon.
At the launch of the show, the media were gamely asked to write down wishes and so, in turn, The STAR asked some of the stars of the new teleserye what their personal wishes are. Read on.
Carlos Agassi: I’ve always dreamt of becoming an international rap star, which I don’t know if and when it will happen.
Markki Stroem: I wish for my father’s safety. He’s based in Pakistan right now because of his work for the Asian Development Bank. He travels in armored trucks every day. There are bombings going on there right now, so I hope he can come back here safely. For myself, I hope to release my own album this year; it’s going to be alternative jazz.
Dennis Padilla: Sana mapatapos ko ng college lahat ng anak ko. I have six kids aged 21, 20, 18, 15, 12 and 8. I have two college students, my eldest is taking hotel and restaurant management while the second is taking up political science in La Salle. The rest are in high school and grade school, so it’s still a long way to go.
Yogo Singh: Sana tumagal ang show ng 26 years. Wish ko rin ng house, car… My father is in heaven. It’s not possible to wish for him to come back. I wish to grow up fast so I can marry and be the daddy.
Ai-Ai delas Alas: Good health for my whole family because health is wealth. And hopefully, when I die, I go to heaven. And hopefully, my relationship now will also last long (laughs).
Gladys Reyes: Safety and good health for my loved ones. Sobra kong na-appreciate yun after my mother was diagnosed with Stage 2 Cancer last year. But she’s cleared now. Sana wala nang magkakasakit ng matindi sa family ko and loved ones. Personal wish? Actually, this show is already a wish granted because I wanted to do something light and play a non-kontrabida role for a change. But since wish lang naman, I want to have a talk show on ABS-CBN. I’m very vocal about that because first of all, I love to talk. Right now, I have Moments on Net25 and Juicy on TV5.
Maricar de Mesa: I wish to have a baby already. My husband (Don Allado) and I been trying pero di pa rin nakatsamba. I am blessed with a great husband, we’ve been married for five years, we have a new home, maayos naman ang career ko so I feel that’s the only thing lacking in my life.
Vandolph Quizon: My wish is that my kids will not grow up like their daddy na magulo magmaneho (laughs)… What I mean is yung accidents ko, yung tigas ng ulo, hopefully, my kids won’t experience that. Ang sarap maging dad, it’s really true that when you go home to your kids, nakakawala ng pagod. I also wish good health for my father (Dolphy) and I wish for my mother (Alma Moreno) to come back to Manila so I can also see her as she’s always there in Mindanao.