Rita: I’m an old soul and I love APO songs

Up to now, Rita Daniela couldn’t believe that she beat veterans and, as she put it, “respected theater actors” during the auditions for the role of Anna in Eto na! Musikal nAPO (directed by Robbie Guevarra) which is on extended run at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater (BGC Arts Center, 26th St. corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City) on Aug. 31 (8 p.m.), Sept. 1 (3 p.m. exclusive to Globe At Home Subscribers; and 8 p.m.) and Sept. 2 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

Anna, the love interest of Rick (played by Mark Bautista), “is a responsible person and a responsible girlfriend” but Rick can’t seem to balance his time with her and his barkada. 

“I got emotional when I learned that I would be playing one of the lead roles,” Rita, the granddaughter of the late comedian Teroy de Guzman, told Funfare. “It was a close fight during the auditions because I knew that I was up against established actors. I’ve been playing kontrabida at GMA and to play a role in this memorable musical is a big thing for me. I consider it a reward for me since I started acting when I was 11. I am singing Tuyo Ng Damdamin and Nakapagtataka, a duet with Mark, and other beautiful APO songs with the whole cast, and it feels great!”

Before the staging, Rita recalled that they did some call backs and there were several revisions of the script.

“Also,” added Rita (who is co-manage by Anna Puno with GMA), “Joe Caliro, senior advisor for Creative Marketing of Globe Telecom, told us during the auditions that they would be strict with time and the look  of the musical because we are living in a 1975 era. I am excited to ‘live’ in that era.”

Rita was not yet born when the APO (Jim Paredes, Buboy Garovillo and Danny Javier) rose to fame.

“But I’ve been hearing a lot of APO songs when I was a kid because I am an old soul and I’m in love with OPM songs,” she said. “When I heard When I Met You, it stole my heart. I remember I was watching a rerun of a Dolphy film on PBO and he was singing the APO song Batang Bata Ka Pa to Kuya Vandolph. That was how I was able to memorize the song.”

Besides Tuyo Ng Damdamin, Rita’s favorite APO songs are When I Met You which she described as “so wonderfully made.”

She recalled having first heard Tuyo Ng Damdamin with the rendition of Silent Sanctuary. 

“And it kept on playing in my head,” said Rita. “It’s full of pain with beautiful melodies. During the rehearsals, I did some background research on APO. I heard Sir Danny’s version and I cried because I knew the story of how the song was made. I kept on playing it before I slept and it made me cry every time. 

“Yes, Love Is For Singing. I love the rendition of The Bloomfields. I’ve been a fan of the band. I really thought that was their song, and found out that it was APO’s.” 

Theater is not alien territory to Rita who had her debut in Kalikasan staged at Aliw Theater, followed by a play for the Gantimpala Theatre Foundation.

“I did Snow White with Ivan Dorschner, direk Tony Espejo’s last musical before he died. The next was Katipunan: Andres Bonifacio’s Story with Sandino Martin. He was Andres and I was Gregoria De Jesus, also known as Oryang.” 

After the APO musical, Rita will be seen in the new GMA soap My Special Tatay (with Ken Chan in the titular role), airing starting on Monday, Sept. 3.

Asked what her dream theater role is, Rita said, “I am just starting my theater journey, but I’d love to play Kim or Gigi in Miss Saigon. 

(For tickets to Eto Na! Musikal nAPO!, call TicketWorld at 891-9999.)

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Sarah scores a big hit

Even without a leading man, Sarah Geronimo has scored a big hit in her latest movie, Viva Films’ Miss Granny which is based on a hit Korean movie. Her co-stars are Xian Lim and James Reid.

Aside from getting good reviews, Sarah likewise made a record when Miss Granny earned P21M in one day, said to be the highest single-day gross for a 2018 release.

Among those who heaped praises on the movie were election lawyer Romy Macalintal and his wife Mila.

Here’s Romy’s letter to Funfare:

Mila and I just finished watching Sarah Geronimo’s Miss Granny movie. I invite all senior citizens to watch this movie that will take them down memory lane and recall those great moments of our youth with songs and music of yesteryears. Had I known that Viva Films was producing this movie, I could have contributed some information that would attract more seniors to watch it. 

Pero alam mo naman, basta movie ni Sarah Geronimo, it’s always a fun and great experience to watch. Sayang that I never had a chance to invite her to read love poems in my former radio program over dwBR, but would gladly have her in my new radio show at dzRH, Mga Alaala at Paala-ala ni Mr. Senior Citizen to talk about her Granny movie.

I am sure senior citizens like me will enjoy this movie as it serves as a great inspiration to all elderly to stay alive and enjoy this privilege of being seniors because many people had been denied of such privilege. – Romy Macalintal Advocate for rights of Senior Citizens

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)