Multi-awarded actor Aga Muhlach portrays the role of a retired boxer named Jimmy Boy in his first movieserye on television entitled "Suntok Sa Buwan" on TV5 which started on July 18 at 7:15 p.m.
Many may not know it, but Aga got into boxing in early 2000.
"Kinarir ko yun, mga early 2000. Lumalaban po ako may mga ganun but hindi ako nagpo-post dahil wala namang social media at that time. I got into the sport. But that was before. That was a long time ago. Andun pa rin siya pero yung resistensya talagang mahihirapan na ako," said Aga during a Zoom with the entertainment press recently.
"Suntok" also stars Gawad Urian Best Actor Elijah Canlas, Maris Racal, Matet de Leon, and Rez Cortez, among others.
In the series, Aga was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer which deeply hinders his son, Dos (played by Elijah), from fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional boxer like his father. The two will be faced with conflicts and life-challenging experiences that would lead one of them to make the ultimate sacrifice and alternatively strengthen their bond as father and son.
"Hindi po ito puro boxing lang. Backdrop lang po namin ito. May mga eksenang boxing pero bukod dun, mas malalim pang storya na umiikot sa support na yan," said Aga.
Geo Lomuntad, director of the series, recalled how boxing became the background for the project.
"Naiisip namin na boxing kasi since childhood, mulat na ako sa boxing. Yung tatay ko, every fight ni Manny Pacquiao, siya lang ang puwedeng manood ng TV at bawal siyang istorbohin. Kaya kung manonood kami, tabi lang kami sa kanya. So isa yun sa mga naging inspiration for this," said Geo.
Aga admitted that he seldom accepts serye. But when he was told Baguio would be the location, he took the opportunity.
"Marami noon nago-offer sa aking ng serye. Ang lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko, pag sa Baguio ang location (tatanggapin ko), para malamig. Kasi mahirap ang trabaho ng serye. Long story short, nag-offer na nga sila sa akin via Zoom. At nang inoffer nga nila sa akin, nagandahan talaga ako. Bagay sa akin at kaya kong gawin. At the same time, Baguio pa 'yung location. Unbelievable talaga na this is gonna happen. I'm gonna say yes, and the rest is history. We're here now. I'm really excited, and we're really doing our best and ginagawa namin s'yang parang pelikula," he said.
One more thing. Baguio holds a special place in his heart because he and former beauty queen Charlene Gonzalez got married in the City of Pines on May 28, 2001.
- Natural chemistry
Geo believes that on-screen chemistry is present in both Aga and Elijah because they are comfortable with their characters. "I think yung paglalabas nila ng chemistry is not about my direction. Kasi kahit na pagtabihin mo sila sa isang upuan, lumalabas talaga yung chemistry nila kahit hindi magsalita. Sa isang car scene, naguusap sila about pag-aaral, boxing and dream. Tapos hinayaan ko lang sila. One take and napakaganda. Hindi namin kailangan ulitin kasi lumalabas talaga yung chemistry nila kahit magtinginan lang silang dalawa. Very little help lang talaga yung ginawa ko."
On Elijah, Aga said: "Magaling sya. Lahat naman ng nakakasama natin sa industriya, marunong umarte. Pero naniniwala talaga ako, na kapag maganda ang proyekto, maganda ang pagkakasulat, madaling ibigkas ang linya, mas madali para sa aming mga performers. I see also na naghahanda talaga siya. Hindi ko naman sinasadya na iparamdam sa kanya na relax lang, madali akong katrabaho. Kumbaga ganun lang talaga ako. Wala naman akong feeling na 'ako ang kasama mo dapat ganito ka.' Wala akong ganun. Kahit ako nag-iisip din mismo paano ako mag-a-adjust or makikisama. O baka ang galing nito mapahiya ako. Meron akong ganun at hindi naman nawawala sa aming mga artista yan. Elijah is only 21 years old. Ang haba pa n'yan. If at 21 he performs this way already, as long as mahal talaga niya itong ginagawa niya, he will do more. Sana lang mahalin niya talaga ito."
"Nakikinig lang ako kay Elijah dito. Ang iniisip namin palagi is not awards, but the project. As an actor naman, never kaming bumilib sa sarili namin. Parati kaming kinakabahan, palagi pa rin kaming nagpapaturo sa director namin. Naniniwala pa rin kami na kung gaano man kagaling ang artista kung pangit ang proyekto mo, pangit din lalabas ang arte mo. I'm just happy working with Elijah. I just met him when we did a loop test. Napakabait na tao.
Elijah said that he was really pressured and challenged when he found out Aga would star in the series.
"I'm gonna say the same thing. Nung nalaman ko na ikaw (ang makakasama ko), sobrang kaba and pressure. S'yempre I want to deliver. But when I met Kuya Aga, he's a humble guy. Most grounded dude. Sobrang fun to do scenes with him. Direk Geo just allows us to do whatever we want," Elijah said.
Aga also lauded Geo for his skills as director in "Suntok."
"Sa tagal ko sa industriya, kapag may bagong director, parang alam niya na gagalingan niya talaga. Hindi siya nagkakampante, which is yun na nga ang nangyayari rito. I just wanna say thank you for your good direction," he said.
- Showbiz advice
Aga also shared some unsolicited advice for young stars on longevity in show business.
"When I was just starting, it's just work. It's fun. Importanteng magsaya kayo sa ginagawa ninyo. Kung ginagawa lang siguro ninyo ito para sa pera, or sa kasikatan, siguro dapat hindi ganun. Dapat hilig mo rin umarte talaga plus napaka importante na mahal mo ang publiko. It's important that you have to think of the public. People who support you. So kung grabe ang suporta nila sa'yo, parang mas gusto mong ibalik sa kanila yun ng mas madami pa. Minsan aakyat kami sa entablado, nagsisigawan yung mga tao and you will think why? Ano po ang nakita ninyo sa akin? Pero nakakatuwa at maraming salamat. Basta bilang artista, just choose your projects, have fun, and when it's time to work, work. When it's time to play, play. And then live life. Just like that. Smile and always be happy," Aga said.
Aga, 52, said he still enjoys acting despite the age. "I still hangout with the same circle of friends. You think hindi naman nagbabago until you work with the younger ones, that's when you realize parang tumanda na ako, when they start calling you tito, kuya and yun na yun. Sabi ko sa sarili ko nuon pag dumating yung time na I'll be playing father roles I'll stop na talaga. And I'm sticking to that. But I'm grateful I was offered a father role, but it's a lead. Hindi ito yung tipo ng drama na tatay, anak na walang nangyayari. Maraming action dito. Even in my 30s, 40s, I've always been ready na. As long as people want me, may proyekto pang dumarating sa akin na magaganda, I'll still be there. Pero kapag nawala na yun, I will exit quietly. Parang gusto kong iwan yung pangalan ko na magaganda yung mga ginawa ko."
TV5 proudly introduces another top-notch entertainment offering that is bound to inspire its viewers to overcome the challenges that life throws at you through love, hope, and sacrifice.
“We are glad to finally share this newest movieserye to our Kapatid viewers and we would like to thank the creators, cast, and staff behind this series that will soon be available on TV5. Suntok Sa Buwan teaches an interesting take on values in terms of family and love so we really hope that our viewers will support this new movie series we have in store for them,” shared by Cignal TV and TV5 President and CEO Robert P. Galang.
Produced by award-winning tandem Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas, Suntok Sa Buwan is co-produced by Project 8 Projects and Cignal Entertainment.