Sunday PinaSaya cast keeps the good times rolling

“Just like yesterday.” This is how the team members of Sunday PinaSaya (SPS) describe how they feel as they looked back on the show’s humble beginnings.

Since its launch in 2015, Sunday PinaSaya remains to be undisputed and it has now become the country’s No. 1 Sunday noontime habit. And through those three years, the friendship among the cast, the SPS management and production staff has blossomed, treating each other as a family.

Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, Julie Anne San Jose, Ruru Madrid, Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix and Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera are happy for the three years they have spent together.  

Adding a unique brand of comedy to the show are Jerald Napoles, Valeen Montenegro, Joey Paras, Lovely Abella, Boobsie Wonderland, Gladys Guevarra, Kim Last, Taki Saito, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Mike “Pekto” Nacua, Kyline Alcantara and Andre Paras.

Directed by Louie Ignacio and Noel Cabacungan, Sunday PinaSaya’s unparalleled comedic stints and exciting production numbers sealed the type of entertainment that hooked the viewers.

Team Wally

The SPS stars related how the show honed them to be spontaneous comedians and well-rounded performers. They also discovered among themselves a whole new definition of happiness — one that is as simple as togetherness. For them, how you tackle your characters and how much time and effort you give are what really matter.

Here are some of the cast members’ take away from the three beautiful years they have worked together in Sunday PinaSaya:

Marian: Nakikita ko yung dedikasyon ng bawat artista sa bawat ginagawa nila. Ibibigay ko din yung credit nyan sa mga tao behind the scenes. Kaya talagang nakaka-inspire.

Ai-Ai: God is good. This is a great blessing that our show has been (airing for) three years now. Iba na ‘yung panahon ngayon. Para tumagal ang show mo napakaswerte mo na so it’s a blessing and it’s in good faith na ‘yung show namin is three years na. This is my family every Saturday and Sunday.

Alden: If you last long in this show, you will grow as a person because of the people that you work with and you will grow as a performer and as a comedian. ‘Yun yung hindi ko ine-expect na maaabot ko.

Jose: Mas lumawak ‘yung pag-unawa at experience mo doon sa mga batang kasama mo at kung papaano mo sila tuturuan. ‘Yung mga bata kasi ngayon maharot pero alam mo ‘pag nakikinig sila alam nila kung seryoso ka na. Malaki ‘yung natututunan kapag nakikipagkaibigan ka at syempre yung pakikisama natin and of course, ang pagmamahal sa grupo na kailangang ingatan ng bawat isa.

Team Marian

Wally: Sunday PinaSaya helped me in my personal life. Marami akong nakilalang ibang artista, at marami akong ibang nakasama kaya marami akong natututunan sa kanila. At the same time, I also give them advice sometimes.

Barbie: Natutunan kong ‘wag mabablanko sa ere, gawin ang lahat — mag-adlib ka or magpatulong ka sa iba, pero ‘wag na wag mong ipapahalata sa mga tao na nabablangko ka or better yet, memorize the script. Go with the flow and enjoy the show. For me, I don’t see it as work, it is really my No. 1 Sunday noontime habit.

Julie: Our rapport is so much better. Sobrang close na kaming lahat. We treat each other like family. Like, for example, pagkatapos ng show, kumakain kami or may nanlilibre ng food tapos sabay-sabay kami. I also learned that each one of us has a funny side. It’s just that iba-iba tayo ng way on how to execute it.

Valeen: Having the feeling that it’s okay to make mistakes and it’s okay to make fun of yourself comes out naturally, especially kapag yung mga kasama mo makukulit din.

Andre: One thing that I’ve learned is to be open and understanding. Akala ko kasi kapag SPS, dapat makapal yung mukha which is actually wrong. It’s more of becoming confident. Behind all that fun and games, we also respect the veteran comedians we work with because they are the people we want to be imitated. We want to be as long as them in the industry kaya we learn a lot from them.

Taki: I learned that you need to work on your craft and you need to be focused in order to succeed. I also learned a lot from my co-stars because they always give me advice.

Team Jose

Ryzza: I am learning a lot as a comedian in Sunday PinaSaya. Natuto akong mas maging mahusay sa pagpapatawa, sa mga jokes, sa mga banat dahil yung mga kasama ko ay totoong komedyante. Now I don’t really rely on prompters, that’s what I learned from them. They are my ate and kuya and as the youngest, I learn a lot of life lessons from them.

Bianca: Ang mga natutunan ko is yung pakikisama talaga, hindi lang sa mga katrabaho ko pero pati na rin sa mga taong napapasaya ko. Marami akong natututunan sa kanila lalo na ‘yung mga simpleng bagay, like being with the people you love. It’s already something to be thankful for, the people who are there for them all the time.

Miguel: I learned the value of being one as a family. Kailangan kasi pag nasa stage kayo meron kayong rapport sa isa’t-isa kasi nakikita talaga yun sa TV. Nakakatulong din sa pagbawas ng problema yung pagiging masaya.

Kyline: Even though there are problems, you need to find a way to laugh or stay positive in life.

Ruru: All I can say that our role models here are Kuya Jose, Kuya Wally, Ate Yanyan and Ma’am Ai. Sila yung nagpapakita sa amin na dapat maging professional kami at gawin namin yung tungkulin namin bilang mga artista. For example, we should always be prepared with our script, so we could be confident on stage. Nakakatulong yun para hindi na kami masyadong kabahan.

As Sunday PinaSaya begins another chapter this year, viewers can only expect that SPS will only deliver nothing less than fun and inspiration every Sunday.