Enchong Dee admits playing Efren Penaflorida made an impact on him
Enchong Dee played CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida for the latter’s life story in Maalala Mo Kaya. Enchong was overwhelmed not only because it was his first time to play a lead role in the said drama anthology, but he also felt a great deal of pressure knowing that Efren is one of the most respected people in the country and in the whole world. “Yung MMK, sobrang kinakabahan ako hindi ako makatulog. Kinakabahan ako kasi first time, and hero siya. Kasi kung baga kapag nakikita ko siya, anlaki-laki niyang tao kung baga I look up to him very much tapos nabigyan ako ng chance ma-play yung life story niya, privilege [yun] sobra.”
He admitted that he did not know how to approach Efren during their first meeting. “Alam mo pareho kaming na-star struck sa isa’t-isa. Kasi nung nakita ko siya from afar, napakaway lang ako [sa hiya.] Tapos nung kinakausap na niya ako sabi niya, ‘Ang pogi naman nung gaganap sa akin.’ Sabi ko, ‘Magkamukha nga tayo, e, pareho tayo chinito (Chinese looks). Wala naman siya in-advise sa akin, basta he’s very, very quiet. He’s very humble tsaka [he told me] naninibago siya sa lahat ng mga intriga na binabato sa kanya dito sa showbiz.”
Even before he learned about Efren’s life story through MMK, Enchong said that Efren is really one of the people who inspire him to be a man of virtue and to have love for the country and for the people. “’Yung nagbibigay siya ng hindi humihingi ng kapalit, kahit gaano kalaki or kahit gaano ka kahirap. There is always something that you can give to other people, yun yung sana magkaroon ako ng time to do it and sana mas maging generous pa ako katulad niya. At sa sobrang bait niya siya yung bumisita sa amin sa set. Morning pumunta siya then umalis siya kasi nagtuturo nga siya sa school then bumalik siya kahit gabing-gabi na para makita lang niya kung paano tumatakbo yung taping, ayun nagkwentuhan kami.”
Taping in locations such as depressed areas served as an “immersion” for Enchong, making him appreciate the good life that he has. “Totoo pala yung dagat ng basura. Tsaka totoo pala yung dagat nagkaroon na ng land because of the garbage tapos meron nang mga nakatira dun. Binigyan nga ako ng mask pinapasuot sa akin kasi nga sobrang alikabok pero sabi ko ayoko gawin kasi andami nakatira dito so bakit pa ako magma-mask. It’s another memorable experience in my life.”
When it comes to love life, ABS-CBN.com asked Enchong if he can relate to Efren on being an “NGSB” or no-girlfriend-since-birth. “Hindi naman. Siguro lamang naman ako ng konti sa kanya pagdating dun pero sabi ko nga yung taong yun very genuine, kung ano yung intention niya dun sa babae talagang [totoo.] Tsaka sabi nga niya palagi niyang yun pinagdadasal. And hindi naman dun naka-focus yung story ng MMK, kung baga [it revolves around] kung ano yung pinagdaanan ng family niya, yung hirap ng pagtuturo niya tsaka yung pagtutulak ng kariton and how [his heroism] started.”
source: ABS-CBN
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