Joko Diaz (Facebook)

Award-winning actor Joko Diaz imparted invaluable advice to aspiring individuals yearning to succeed in the world of show business.

"Magbaon kayo ng mahabang-mahabang pasensya. Kailangan natin ng mahabang pasensya sa buhay natin. Noong kabataan ko wala ako nun eh. Naturuan lang ako ng misis ko ng mahabang pasensya," said Joko during a recent media conference for the film "Litsoneras" which premiered on Vivamax on July 28.

(Have a lot of patience. We need a lot of patience in our lives. When I was young, I didn't have that. My wife only taught me to have a lot of patience.)

Joko added: "Kaya noong nagkaroon na ako ng mahabang pasensya, yung outlook mo sa buhay, nag-iiba. I won't be forever here. Sila mas matagal pa ang journey nila dahil bata pa sila. Ako apat na dekada na."

(So when I had a lot of patience, your outlook on life was different. I won't be here forever. They have a longer journey because they are young. I'm four decades old.)

Joko, son of former actor Paquito Diaz, recalled about the time when Viva Group of Companies' Chairman of the Board and CEO, Vic Del Rosario, personally urged him to lend a helping hand to the budding actors in their movie scenes.

"Noong bumalik ako sa Viva, nag-usap kami ni Boss Vic. Ang sabi sa akin ni Boss Vic, Jo, alalayan mo yung mga bagong pasok, bahala ka na. So I'm just doing my job. S'yempre utang na loob sa boss natin na lahat ng ito," said Joko, two-time Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) winner and three time FAMAS nominee.

(When I returned to Viva, Boss Vic and I talked. Boss Vic told me, Jo, take care of the young stars, it's up to you. So I'm just doing my job. Of course, I owe all of this to our boss.)

Joko has generously provided additional guidance for aspiring young stars.

"Ang advice ko sa kanila, pag-gising pa lang sa umaga, habaan na agad ang pasensya. Dumating ng maaga sa set, huwag masyadong magre-reklamo kung kailangang gawin at umuwi kayo pagkatapos. Enjoy the ride."

(My advice to them is, as soon as you wake up in the morning, be patient. Come early to the set, don't complain too much if you have to do it, and go home afterward. Enjoy the ride.)

Asked if he has plans to become a director in the future, Joko answered: "Ang trabaho ko talaga is artista. Yung pagiging director, sa kanila na pong trabaho yan. Okay na po akong artista ako. Kasi pwede naman po ako mag-suggest. Pagkatapos ko magsuggest uuwi na po ako. Uwi na po ako sa pamilya ko na naghihintay sa akin. I want to spend with my family. I don't want to keep them waiting. After work, I go home and I has fun with them. Okay lang po ako."

(My job is really an actor. Being a director, that's their job. I'm okay with being an actor. Because I can suggest. After I suggest, I'm going home. I'm going home to my family, who are waiting for me. I want to spend time with my family. I don't want to keep them waiting. After work, I go home and I have fun with them. I'm okay.)

Joko's co-stars in the movie also praised him for his professionalism and companionship.

Yen Durano, lead star of the movie, said Joko cares for his co-stars on the set.

"Meron kaming lunch pero lagi siyang may pakain," said Victor Relosa.

Elmo Elarmo Jr. added: "Si Kuya Joko sobrang sarap kasama sa set lalo na kapag nasa tent kayo. First time ko makasama si Kuya Joko Diaz so baka hindi ka kausapin. Siya pa yung unang mag-a-approach. Makwento talaga siya sa set. Tinuturuan niya kami ng mga experience niya kung paano gagawin."

(Kuya Joko is very nice to be with on set, especially when you're in the tent. It's my first time with Kuya Joko Diaz, so maybe he won't talk to you. He's the first one to approach. He teaches us how to do things with his experiences.)

Director Roman Perez Jr. commented: "Favorite ko si Joko Diaz. Naka-anim na kaming pelikula. Boy Negro pa lang. Importante rin sa Vivamax stars na masuportahan ang isang poste. Parang basketball team din yan eh. Kailangan ang veteran is reliable na ma-support ang mga young stars.

(Joko Diaz is my favorite. We've done six movies together. Boy Negro is one of them. It's also important for Vivamax stars to be able to support a veteran. It's like a basketball team. We need a veteran who is reliable to support the young stars.

"Nakita nila ang kultura ng pag-gawa ng pelikula. At maipasa sa kanila kung paano sila before. Ganito ang kultura na dapat bumabati ka muna sa mga tao sa set. Even mga values. Bumati ka muna sa mga seniors bago ka umupo sa upuan mo. Yung ganung mga kultura. Yung mga ibang bagay dapat aralin mo ito.

(They saw the culture of film making. And pass on to them how they were before. This is the culture...that you should greet people on the set first. Even values. Greet the seniors first before you go to your seat. Those cultures. You need to learn these things.)

"Hind dahil sa kaibigan ko si Kuya Joko. Siya talaga ang nagdidikta ng pace sa scenes. Ang laki ng epekto nito sa mga young stars. Maaalala nila yun kasi ganun din sila Kuya Joko noong araw. Sila Tito Eddie Garcia. Ganyan din yung kultura noon na sana mapasa-pasa sa iba't iba pang generation na tinutulungan yung mga nakaba-bata," Direk Roman said.

(It's not because I am friends with Kuya Joko. He really dictates the pace of the scenes. It has a big impact on the young stars. They will remember that because Kuya Joko was like that back in the days. Like Tito Eddie Garcia. That's the culture that should be passed on to different generations, helping the younger ones.)

The cast of 'Litsoneras.' From left: Elmo Elarmo Jr., Victor Relosa, Yen Durano, Joko Diaz, and director Roman Perez Jr.

Challenges on the set

Most of the scenes were shot in the pigsty where the roasts are made. The stars talked about their struggles and challenges while doing the movie.

"May amoy po sa set namin. Dahil sa babuyan ang set nami, amoy baboy na rin kami. Yung tent namin katabi ng mga baboy so may adjustment period talaga kami kada umaga. Pero kailangan yun sa scene para ramdam mo yung character. Struggle din sa akin yung bugbugan scene kasi yung lupa hindi pantay-pantay. So noong ginawa naming yung ending scene ang daming sugat ng katawan ko," said Victor.

Yen shared: "Ang struggle ko rin is yung mga baboy. Hindi talaga ako kumakain ng pork. Ang setting is sa babuyan, how ironic. May scene doon na kailangan kong ipasok yung kamay ko sa loob ng baboy na kapapatay lang. So umarte na lang ako pero medyo nandidiri po talaga ako."

"Ang struggle ko is napaka-init noong lugar. Pero yung certain area na yun, ang owners noon, kaibigan ng tito ko, ng father ko. Doon po ako lumaki sa lugar na yun. Bata pa ako nun. Hindi mo naman maramdaman ang init nun. So mainit na at mabaho pa talaga. Tapos araw-araw kayo nandun. Minsan kapag umuuwi ako nahihiya ako tumabi sa misis ko. Talagang naliligo ako dahil amoy baboy kami. Yung fight scene naman ni Victor, nahihirapan talaga s'ya. Pero sinabi ko sa kanya, pelikula ninyo ito. Talagang may ganyan. May isang scene doon, dumumi yung baboy sa kanya. Ramdam niya yung init sa likod n'ya. Sabi ko ganyan talaga. Pero trooper itong mga ito. They come to work early and we go home late. Walang nagre-reklamo. It's a fun set."