In her latest vlog, Jodi Sta. Maria took a trip down memory lane to a spot in Pagsanjan, Laguna, where the iconic coming-of-age TV series Tabing Ilog was shot many moons ago.
Airing from 1999 to 2003, the show was Jodi's first regular TV show with ABS-CBN where she played Georgina "George" Fuentebella.
Joining Jodi in the main cast of Tabing Ilog were Kaye Abad, Desiree del Valle, Paolo Contis, Baron Geisler, Patrick Garcia, Paula Peralejo, and John Lloyd Cruz.
She said in her vlog entry dated January 30, 2021, “Papunta ako sa isang probinsya na malapit na malapit sa puso ko because I remember when I was starting back in 1997, 1998, iyong pinaka-unang regular show na ginawa ko with ABS-CBN ay dito namin shinoot for four years.”
The first time Jodi took a sentimental journey to the show's location was in 2006, three years after Tabing Ilog ended.
Jodi continued in her vlog, “Nae-excite ako kasi it’s been more than 15 years since huli ako nakatapak sa Pagsanjan, Laguna.
“Ngayon, hindi ko alam kung anong ie-expect ko—kung pareho pa rin ba iyong lugar, pareho pa rin ba yung mga bahay na pinagshoot namin or nagbago na, nandoon pa ba, nag-iba na ba.
“I really don’t know but I’m very excited na bumalik sa Pagsanjan. I’m sure maraming memories ang magbabalik.”
One of the places Jodi visited was Cosme St., where the houses of Tabing Ilog’s main characters were located.
Jodi showed the house of her character, George, as well as the houses of cousins Gerry (Mylene Dizon) and James (Patrick), Rovic (John Lloyd), Badong (Paolo), and siblings Corrine & Fonzy (Baron).
The 38-year-old actress recalled, “So four years kami nandito. Every Wednesday kami nagte-taping, every week iyon for four years.”
Here’s how the houses in the series look now:
George's house
Rovic's house
Fonzy and Corrine's house
Jodi also went to Pagsanjan Garden Resort, where the iconic dock of the barkada as well as Eds’ (Kaye) house were located.
She shared in her vlog, “Kung natatandaan niyo iyong dock na merong gulong, dito kami nag-i-stay noon, standby area namin ito dati. It used to be a resort and malapit rin dito iyong bahay ni Eds.
“If you go straight, meron diyang ilog kung nasaan nandoon iyong dock namin before.
“So iyan iyong nilalakad namin kapag kailangan namin pumunta sa set. Ito iyong world namin noong time na ginagawa namin ang Tabing Ilog.”
Proceeding to the dock area, she said, “Let’s see kung nandoon pa rin siya because, normally, kapag malakas ang ulan malakas din ang lagaslas ng tubig ang nangyayari, laging tinatangay iyong dock namin.
“So let’s see if the dock stood the test of time.”
Indeed, the dock is no longer there but the tree seen in the title card of Tabing Ilog is still standing.
Jodi recalled, “That’s the tree, nandiyan dati iyong dock and then everytime, makikita namin na maraming nagbu-boating kasi dito dumadaan iyong mga turista na nagshu-shoot the rapids.”
Tabing Ilog jumpstarted the television and movie careers of its lead stars who all became household names.