August 22 - September 7, 2016
Philippine Showbiz Today
11
Aga is balik-Kapamilya
Aga Muhlach returns to ABS-
CBN after several years of living “a
normal life,” meaning away from the
rolling cameras, glaring klieg lights
and, of course, showbiz rumors and
controversies. He feels excited to be
back and get himself comfortable
again in front of the cameras.
“When I arrived earlier, I had felt
I never left home. It was so normal to
see old faces, friends you’ve worked
with for 19 years,” said Aga during the
presscon last Thursday night. “FYI, I
was in ABS for 19 years. But the only
difference now is I was gone for six
years and I didn’t work for three years
and I stopped. So this is my first day
na makahawak uli ng mikropono,
first day ko makunan ng picture, first
day ko ma-interview kaya medyo
naiilang ako. But it’s nice to see old
faces here who are my friends from
the press and the new ones.”
That same day, prior to the
presscon, Aga inked a deal with the
Kapamilya network with ABS-CBN
president and CEO Carlo Katigbak,
COO of Broadcast Cory Vidanes
and Aga’s manager Ethel Ramos in
attendance. The actor’s comeback is
marked with the task of sitting as one
of the four jury members of Pinoy
Boyband Superstar, the Kapamilya
network’s newest talent search for the
Pinoy boyband that is set to premiere
soon. It will be the first time for Aga
to be a judge in a show.
Aga shared that his wife Charlene
Gonzalez and, former leading lady
Lea Salonga were among those who
convinced him about working again
in the network. His twins Atasha and
Andres also persuaded him to accept
the project. Atasha, Aga added, even
went with him during his meeting
with the network executives and on
his first taping day.
Business unit head Lui Andrada,
on the other hand, related how Aga
turned out to be the best choice to
be a judge. “We are all aware that
with the search for a boyband, you
are looking for a heartthrob. So when
we’re doing the casting, (we have)
Vice (Ganda, who) is a performer,
Yeng (Constantino), a songwriter
and Dara (Sandara Park), a member
of a girl group. So may kulang na
element which is the epitome of a
heartthrob.
“It so happened we bumped
into Charlene and Aga in Hong Kong
who were celebrating their wedding
anniversary and that moment gave
me the idea that it was him who I was
looking for. Si Aga, s’ya talaga yung
heartthrob.”
Aga admitted that it took him a
couple of weeks to decide whether to
accept the offer or not. His passion
to do films remains. That’s why
he always keeps in touch with Star
Cinema executive Malou Santos. But
doing a TV project was among his
reasons for feeling burned out that
he decided to lie low in showbiz.
“I was living and enjoying the
normal life, and then one day it
dawned on me, I was 46 then, that
I was too young to retire but at one
point, I don’t mind. I just turned 47
recently. But there are still many
things that I’d like to do, yet I’m
clueless what could they be. Then I
got a message from Lea, then my
wife was also convincing me and Tita
Ethel Ramos about the show so sabi
ko it’s light, it’s different and there
is not much pressure because there
are four of us in the show. Then, I
decided that it’s the best way to make
a comeback in ABS.”
Besides, Aga believes Pinoy
Boyband Superstar is a good avenue
to give back by mentoring and
giving aspirants pieces of advice
on becoming artists and at the
same time sharing the ABCs of the
entertainment scene.
Asked about the qualities he
looks for in a boyband, Aga said
being in a boyband is not just all
about singing. One also needs
charm and character, adding, “lahat
kailangan di ba (meron nun), hindi
ka naman masyadong presko at bilib
sa sarili mo.”
Recall that Aga also came up
with a record during his younger
years. “’Yung tenga ko talaga matalas
because I grew up listening to jazz. I
often go to live shows and live bands,
it’s easy to tell who can sing well or
not.”
What is the first advice would he
give to a contestant?
“Well, just relax first, know and
learn your song, look your best and
go for it, as simple as that, you just
have to be relaxed. I remember my
good friend director Joey Javier
Reyes that every time may bagong
artistang kasama ko, direk was able
to make the newcomer perform well
because he would allow him to make
himself at ease first with everyone.
So it’s very important to be relaxed
to be able to give your best.”
Aside from Pinoy Boyband
Superstar, a movie will certainly
follow.
“Malapit na, naamoy ko na.
When I got here, Star Cinema was
there to welcome me also and
handed me a script right away. So
there’s a script now that I will have
to read when I get home. So within
a week or two, we will know. Hindi
mawawala yung passion ko sa pag-
gawa ng movie and ABS knows
that.”
Pinoy Boyband Superstar will be
hosted by Billy Crawford.•
- Bot Glorioso, PS
Aga Muhlach (center), with ABS-CBN COO of Broadcast Cory Vidanes and
president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, returns to ABS-CBN Kapamilya Network