HOW would two actors of different molds portray dramatic roles on screen?
Joey Marquez has been a comedian in his entire career, although occasionally he plays drama.
Meanwhile, Levy Ignacio is popular if not as a character actor, as an action star.
This time newscaster and TV hostess Mel Tiangco has already convinced the two veteran performers to venture in tearjerkers as “Magpakailanman.”
“Magda-drama kami ni Joey (Joey and I will act out in drama),” quipped Levy in our phone chat when I greeted him with a late birthday.
Leytenos and Leytenas must await this momentous depiction of two brothers from Tacloban City who were torn apart by fate as their parents split up. When they were still kids, Joey went with their dad while Levy was with their mom. But because of poverty no matter they were harmoniously together with their respective parents, the lives of the siblings went astray.
When they were already adolescents, they went to Manila to try their luck in any work they could lay their hands on. Joey, according to Levy, based on the script given to him, became a taho (soya bean) vendor in Luneta while was jobless and had to spend the night—sleeping in benches—in the same park.
And then serendipity worked wonders one day. Without them knowing it, they bumped into each other in Luneta and got to talk with each other about life. Their conversation led to the filial roots that finally got the better of them as actual brothers looking for each other in any space and time that caught them.
“Grabe ang kuwento. Nakakaiyak. Imagine, mga taga-Tacloban City kami at maliliit pa ay nagkahiwalay pero sa Luneta lang pala kami magkikita? Kaya madali kong nagustuhan ang script (The story is great. It’s a tearjerker. We’re from Tacloban City and we were separated early in life only to each and recognize each other in Luneta? I instantly liked the script),” chuckled Ignacio who woke up very early on the day of his taping.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Mel Tiangco sa pagkakataon na makaganap sa kanyang show (I would like to thank her for the chance to act in her show),” Levy beamed with pride.