A role close to Ryan’s heart

MANILA, Philippines - Ryan Agoncillo has landed the lead role on GMA 7’s newest sitcom Ismol Family.

In Ismol Family, the TV host/actor plays bicycle shop owner and “househusband” Jingo, who is practically left to his own devices raising a son and running a crazy household because his wife Majay (played by Carla Abellana) is an overseas worker.

It’s the third sitcom for Ryan and it should be interesting to watch Ryan taking on this project, after viewers had been used to seeing him tackle similar roles or themes — like in the sitcom for the rival network about newly-weds, George & Cecil, and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo movies, still about romance/family/relationships — with his wife Judy Ann Santos by his side.

“All my fears were put to rest on the first day with Dominic Zapata,” Ryan says of Ismol Family’s director, who apart from helming the network’s biggest hit in 2013, the primetime drama My Husband’s Lover, was also behind such Kapuso comedy shows Beh Bote Nga, Nuts Entertainment, Jejemon and Comedy Bar.

He adds, “Dominic knows his game... I like being a part of a set that runs very efficiently. And with Dom, it’s not just efficient, it’s fun. I don’t mind working straight the whole day, and Dom has the energy to match the actors’.”

According to Ryan, there is a possibility that his wife will guest on the sitcom because Jingo and Majay are Judy Ann fanatics.

He talks more about his character: “I play Jingo (who’s) basically in a houseful of crazy people. When I say crazy, I mean that with all love. Mama A (played by Carmi Martin) is my mother in-law and she’s a hoot. Bobong (Pekto), my brother-in-law, leaves his child in our care, and visits only if he wants to. My bestfriend Bernie (Mikael Daez) is a chick-boy — parang pwede sa chick, pwede sa boy (laughs).”

The rest of the cast are Kevin Santos as Lance, Mama A’s young boyfriend; Natalia Moon, the foreigner/techie househelp; Bianca Umali as Yumi, the daughter that Bong entrusts to Jingo and Majay; Miguel Tanfelix as Tantan, Yumi’s classmate; and Marc Justin Alvarez, Jingo and Majay’s only son.

Asked how he can identify with Jingo besides being a family man himself, Ryan says, “If there’s one thing I can relate to Jingo, it is yung pag-bibisikleta but everything else is alien because I live in a pretty normal household. The craziest we get maybe is the work that we do. With Ismol Family, there’s a lot of crazy antics on the set. We’re always laughing. It’s hard to contain the laughter whenever we’re taping. So, not a lot I could personally relate to (in terms of characters). But I’m sure the issues though, like pakikisama with in-laws, that’s a universal thing, and dealing with extended families. Another one is raising kids.”

On the subject of kids, Ryan wouldn’t mind growing his real-life small family. “We have two kids now (Yohan and Lucho). I’m okay already with two because I came from a family wherein there’s only two of us (siblings) but the missus wants three or four. I’m game, I won’t complain.”

When it comes to fatherhood, he doesn’t have to go far for pointers and inspiration. “I learn from the best. My dad is an excellent dad. I have 35 years of tutoring and still learning from him. So, for me, (being a father) comes as second nature but the (effectiveness) as a dad, maybe we can see that as my children grow up. I can only hope to give them the best because the true effect we will see when they’ll have to deal with life already. I’m fortunate that I can afford to send them to school and feed them three meals a day, but being a father doesn’t end there. The real test of being a dad is when my kids have to face the real world, and I hope (I’m preparing) them very well.”

Ryan manages to balance his family time with his busy workload through teamwork with his other half. “Everything that we do and we need to do have to be factored in, including playtime with our dogs is well-planned. Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (hosting) Eat, Bulaga! po yun. In the morning, while my kids are not up yet, that’s the time Juday and I exercise. We wake up at 5 a.m. By the time we get home, pagising palang si Yohan and Lucho. Habang naliligo sila, I play with our dogs. Up until our bedtime, every hour counts. So, it’s just a matter of budgeting time and spending quality time. Even Judy Ann and I, we are very conscious with the time we spend together kasi di kami nagsisinungaling sa mga anak namin. For example, the other night, Yohan asked where did we go. I really have to say that mommy and daddy have to go out on dates, because you want another brother, di ba? (laughs).”

Meanwhile, Ryan’s weekly game show Picture! Picture! has ended after seven months on air, but its host said that it might make a comeback. “Hopefully, we get another chance. When we got moved to the Sunday slot, gumanda lalo yung ratings. According to the marketing of GMA, it was easy sales for them. With the ratings, with the sales and with the recent award from an award-giving body in America (the US International Film and Video Festival), there’s a big chance it might return. Hopefully, the bosses of GMA will think favorably.”

Ryan also doesn’t deny his interest to host the Philippine edition of Survivor should GMA 7 decide to bring it back. “I’ve been asked so many times (if I want to) by different people, not by the bosses. The idea thrills me. Hopefully, (the bosses) will think of it. Because I’ve done Philippine Idol (for TV5), Pinoy Fear Factor (for ABS), if Survivor comes along…I hope to do it.”

(Ismol Family starts airing tonight from 6:45 to 7:30 after Vampire Ang Daddy Ko.)