Doc Dennis is in

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Trillo is no Dr. Derek Shepherd of Grey’s Anatomy or Dr. Gregory House of House in his latest TV assignment Sa Puso Ni Dok. The Kapuso actor will play a young head resident physician named Dennis De Vera stationed in a government-run hospital. And beginning tonight on GMA 7 after Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Doc Dennis is definitely in — and on call.

“It is my first time,” says Dennis of playing the role. “I watched different medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy to prepare for it. We have medical experts who are on standby. They tell us if we do the right stuff or procedures or if we pronounce the terms correctly. This is to make what we do believable.”

The six-part weekly series will see Dennis’ character manning the ER and other key departments with Bela Padilla’s character Doc Gabrielle dela Cruz, an idealistic fresh graduate.

Although the love angle is evident in the story, Sa Puso Ni Dok will present to televiewers issues that concern public health and the state of public hospitals, particularly those in urban and far-flung places. These are malnutrition, brain drain (medical workers finding greener pastures abroad), accessibility and availability of health services (like medicine) and the lack of health care for Filipinos. It also reminds one of the struggles and realities doctors to the barrios encounter and experience.

“We do medical missions,” Dennis relates of the mundane activities doctors Dennis and Gabrielle engage in day in and day out. “(And) we go to the mountains. (Doc Dennis’) approaches are unconventional. He is ‘new school.’ (Being a doctor) is not just a profession, it is a commitment. My character is a rugged doctor, who prefers to be in T-shirt only. (Doc Dennis and Doc Gabrielle) are different. She is uptight and by the book. Mine is unconventional with his work. (But) the dynamics of our characters is maganda, dahil magkaiba kami. They’ll clash in the beginning.”

To “spice up” the Sunday series, the brains behind it will introduce new guests and different health and medical situations each week. In the pilot episode, a bus mishap happens and the doctors will try to save more lives as they can.

“I just want people to see me in different roles,” replies Dennis when asked about the variety of characters he has so far portrayed on the small and big screens. “I’ve been in showbiz for quite a long time and I’ve done a lot of characters. If I will do the same roles, baka magsawa sila (the public might get tired of me). And I don’t want to get tired of what I do. That’s why I always look for something new everytime — a role I can experiment with and explore.”

Even though his body of work is diverse, Dennis says he still has dream roles like doing a “full-on kontrabida, na matatakot ang tao. Kontrabida na kaiinisan at mag-i-iba ang pagtingin nila sa akin.” It will be a character similar to that of Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men.

For Dennis, the experience of taping Sa Puso ni Dok is different since he has worked with the same group led by director Adolf Alix Jr. behind the award-winning GMA News TV series Bayan Ko and Titser. Dennis shares that the feel of the show is “ mainstream but ang materyal niya ay iba. It is not (formulaic) in terms of story and plot.” If I may add, Kapuso viewers will see interesting — and not stock — characters.   

As an actor, Dennis says, he is “like a clay. I have high respect for my director. Masunurin talaga ako.” He adjusts to the different storytelling styles and processes of directors. There’s a “word-for-word” kind and there’s the independent one. It is rare that Dennis suggests on how to approach every character and every scene. Perhaps, this is the reason why Dennis is able to deliver an authentic performance. Aside from Sa Puso Ni Dok, the Intenational Studies graduate from Miriam College will also be seen in the movie Now and Forever with Maja Salvador.

“I have matured a bit,” concludes Dennis. “And I have become more optimistic. (Before) Lagi akong kinakabahan at na-te-tense. I have overcome it already. I’m shy in person. Now, I’m more comfortable (with what I do) and my outlook is more positive.”

(The medical drama also stars Anita Linda, Menggie Cobarrubias, Maey Bautista, AJ Dee, Gigi Locsin, Stephanie Sol, Elijah Alejo, Flor Salanga and Sunshine Teodoro.)