Joshua Garcia

Intimated but well-adjusted. Rising actress Gabbi Garcia says she was initially afraid of her ‘Unbreak My Heart’ co-star, Jodi Sta. Maria, known for being such a fine actor. Yet, as filming went by smoothly in Switzerland, Italy and Metro Manila, the bucket of ice between them melted. “I found out she was such a wonderful woman,” the GMA actress gushed. xxx The same sentiment was shared by Joshua Garcia, whose first time was also to act in a project with the award-winning Jodi. Joshua had an even more anxious experience as he shared a love scene with the veteran actress, whom he fondly calls Ate Jodi. Unbreak tells a May-September affair between the characters played by Joshua and Jodi.

Jodi Sta. Maria

For her part, Jodi says doing the love scene was the most difficult part, “yet Joshua made it bearable.” The cast and crew of UMH filmed in Europe for five weeks straight in quite cold weather. Unbreak is now streaming on GMA, TFC, Viu, and other platforms. The drama series marks a historic first collaboration between GMA Network and ABS-CBN.

Gabbi Garcia

xxx PASSERBY: Jodi Sta. Maria says it felt surreal entering GMA’s All-Out Sunday studio to promote UMH. “I had goosebumps, asking myself, “Is this for real?” Joshua Garcia admits it usually takes him a long time to move on from a failed relationship. His face dropped when Boy Abunda asked him the question on Fast Talk. The young actor also said he’s open to working again with former partner and heartache, Julia Barretto. Nora Aunor is set to do two new films. This month, she’s set to fly to Siquijor in Central Visayas to shoot a horror picture, Ang Mananambal, for BC Entertainment Productions. “Mananambal,” about islanders practicing traditional medicine and sorcery, is directed by Philip Daffon.

Nora Aunor

The National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts is also said to be doing a reunion film, Bukod Kang Pinagpala, with Manila Vice-Mayor Yul Servo. They earlier co-starred in Naglalayag (2004). In the middle of all this talk about jeepney modernization (beautiful, comfortable but expensive for drivers to afford) comes this suggestion by Dr. Carl Balita to convert them into food trucks. A company called Eggluck can transform old jeepneys into rolling stores. Preserving jeepneys is fine, but I can’t afford to romanticize them when I see them as street pollutants. Those with engines that are older than the potholes of our towns and cities must definitely be removed from our streets. Designers of modern jeepneys should also consider comfort and convenience of passengers going in and out of the vehicle. Let’s put an end to all that bending and tiptoeing as we alight, get in or out of jeepneys. The practice makes Filipinos perpetually in a state of subservience. Bending one’s knees, almost like carabaos genuflecting in Pulilan, Bulacan, lowering our heads, inching our way ever so carefully, full of respect and compliance, so as not to step on the toes of other passengers, all the more reminds us we are a people colonized and ruled over. Ganito tayo noon, hanggang ngayon ba naman?