Floods, floods, floods in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the suburbs these past few days.
Movie stars or not, showbiz denizens and ordinary people were affected by the torrents of rains during the height of Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi) and southwest monsoon (habagat).
Visayan actor from Bacolod City, Rey “PJ” Abellana, was almost stranded in Tandang Sora where he stays going to the shoots of his movie in Barangay Bukal, Pansol, Calamba, Laguna.
According to Efren Reyes, Jr., director of the biopic “Idol: The April Boy Regino Story” which Rey has been doing for him, PJ got caught in a horrendous traffic in the afternoon of Wednesday en route to Laguna.
“Naku, hapon pa raw siya sa kalsada sa may Tandang Sora. Hindi makaalis ang kanyang sasakyan sa taas ng baha sa paligid. Buti na lang at hindi sa kalsadang dinadaanan niya mataas ang tubig. Anong oras na ngayon, pasado alas siyete na ng gabi (Oh! According to him, he was already in Tandang Sora in the afternoon. He said he cannot get through because there were floods all over his vicinity. It was good that the floods were not on the streets he was passing. What time is it now, it’s past seven in the evening),” said Efren while having dinner break from the shoot of the film.
On the dining table were actresses Tanya Gomez, Irene Celebre, Dindo Arroyo, directors Jose “Kaka” Balagtas and Armando Reyes, Production Designer Cyrus Khan, Water Plus Productions’ producer Marynette Gamboa, Reyes and the new actor-singer playing April Boy Regino whose screen name is still undisclosed.
“Kukunan ko pa naman ngayon si PJ with Irene. Paano kaya ito (I would shoot him with Irene. What would happen if he is completely stuck in traffic caused by floods?),” Efren Jr. wondered.
The production gave Rey ample time to get over the flooded streets in Quezon City.
“Sana, makalusot si PJ (I hope he slipped through the traffic),” prayed Reyes.
At the time, news of a water world in Metro Manila was flashing in all media outlets from free TV to social media.
Some scenes and sequences of the movie were shot ahead while waiting for Abellana.
In no time at all, Rey appeared looking harassed because of the ordeal.
“Grabe. Lubog na ang buong Metro Manila. Mabuti na lang at may nalusutan akong walang tubig (It’s too much. The whole of Metro Manila is in deep waters. It’s good I got through a side street with no floods),” said PJ, obviously still bothered by the situation although he said his family in Tandang Sora was safe before he went out of their house.
Along the way, informed Abellana, he was also thinking of his daughter Carla Aballena’s safety on stormy nights even if they haven’t talked and seen each other for a long time after her wedding and divorce from former husband Tom Rodriguez.
“Alam mo na naman ako, hindi ako nakikialam sa mga relasyon ng mga anak ko pero mahal ko sila (You know me, I don’t meddle with the relationships of my children but I love them so much),” smiled PJ when he finally settled on the set of the film.
Meanwhile, showbiz folks were indeed not spared of the wrath and high waters brought about by Carina.
Entertainment journalist Erlinda Rapadas T. complained about the heavy downpour and the floods that it brought along Marcos Highway in Antipolo City where she lives. “Shout out! Baha dito sa Marcos Highway…Mayamot, Antipolo! Sobrang stress na naman maglinis/maglaba (Too much stressed cleaning/washing)…Naulit na naman ang habagat (Monsoon rains again),” Erlinda wrote on her Facebook wall.
Gardo Versoza’s house in Cainta was streamed in with waters that reached below his knees while Superstar Nora Aunor abode in Xavierville was threatened to be immersed with floods coming from nearby creek.
Singer-actor Nilo de Castro’s house in Fairview was almost immersed in knee-deep water.
Actress Sabrina M.’s car was submerged into floods. “Yung bubong na lang ng kotse namin aninag nmin kahapon. nakakadurog ng puso pero thank God pa din po at walang masamang nangyari pamilya at humupa na po ang bagyo (The only visible in our car was its roof I saw yesterday.it breaks my heart but thank God we were all safe in the family and the storm left already),” said Sabrina.
She shared optimism about the whole thing. “Hope everyone is ok po,” she noted.
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