"Pieta" creator impressed by Ryan Agoncillo

After showing the lives of people working in local fish ports in Prinsesa ng Banyera and the horse racing industry in Ligaw na Bulaklak, ABS-CBN's Hapontastic slot will now feature the lives of people in slum areas with the TV remake of Pieta.

Created by Carlo J. Caparas, Pieta is the story of a mother's unconditional love and a son's struggles in a world ruled by injustice and violence. Audiences followed the story of Amanda and Rigor through komiks before it was brought to life on the big screen in 1983 with Charito Solis and Ace Vergel in the lead roles.

Twenty-five years later, the Kapamilya Network will mount the television version of this heart wrenching tale of a mother who will do anything for her son who is filled with much anger and thoughts of revenge.


In the grand press conference of Pieta, Carlo J. Caparas narrated that Pieta is based on a true story that he learned from his past neighbors.

"Ang Pieta ay simbolismo ng grieving mother at simbolismo ito ng pasakit ng isang ina. Na conceptualize ko ang plot niyan hindi sa isip ko kung hindi sa kapitbahay namin. Meron akong classmate na sinabi nila, sinuntok yung ina niya. Naging palaisipan sa buong lugar namin kung bakit susuntukin ng anak yung nanay niya. Sabi ng mother ko, ‘Alam mo sinuntok ng junior yung ina niya kasi gumaganti yung bata na yan sa ina niya. Nung bata yan, nilalaglag ng ina yan, e. Lahat ng pampalaglag iniinom ng ina niya, minsan sinusuntok pa yung tiyan niya pero tumuloy pa rin yung bata.'

"Kaya unkowngly, habang lumalaki yung bata, gumaganti siya. Yun ang pinagmulan ng Pieta, pero sa komiks, iniba-iba ko na yung storya."

The komiks creator revealed that he and Direk Toto Natividad were already talking about making a TV version of Pieta way back when they were still shooting Panday. Like most people, Direk Carlo also had some reservations about having Ryan Agoncillo play the wayward son in Pieta.

"Sabi ko nga e, paano niya magagawa yung role ni Rigor, e, under yan kay Juday [Judy Ann Santos, Ryan's girlfriend]. Pero nung mapanood ko na yung mga ilang episodes, aba, wala nang iba. Si Ryan na talaga ang bagong Rigor."

Direk Carlo later added: "Si Ryan ang perfect na Rigor kasi akala mo agrabyado pero kaya rin pala niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili."

Ryan himself had apprehensions about portraying the role of Rigor, which was first performed onscreen by the late Ace Vergel.

"Sa totoo lang, nung binaggit nila sa akin itong project, December last year pa, hindi ko pa naisip kung gaano kahirap. I was in Argentina [shooting for Pinoy Fear Factor] dun ko na-realize kung gaano kalaki yung responsibilidad na binigay sa akin.

"When I got back, kinausap ko sina Cory Vidanes [ABS-CBN Head for TV Production] and Sir Enrico Santos [executive in charge of production], tapos tinanong ko lang sila, ‘Sigurado ba kayo sa desisyon ninyo?' Tapos, sinadya ko rin yung creative team at nilabas ko lahat ng fears ko.

When Pieta director Toto Natividad described Ryan Agoncillo as Rigor, he said that on the first day, the TV host-actor initially had difficulty portraying a tough guy. But on the second day, he could already see the fire in Ryan's eyes. How did he bring out his rugged side?

"Nung first day, hindi ko matanggap kung gaano kasama talaga si Rigor. Pero through Direk Toto, sinasabihan niya ako, ‘Ry, dagdag, dagdag, dagdag pa.' Sa second day, after taking the workshop with Direk Laurice [Guillen], I just learned to let go."

He jokingly added: "‘Pag nasampal ka ni Cherie Gil, magkaka-apoy ka talaga sa mata mo."

EMOTIONAL TOUGH GUY. Ryan is known for his hosting skills so he had to train a lot for this new role as a streetsmart character. Direk Toto, who is in charge of the action sequences, points out that Ryan is an athletic guy because of his jujitsu training. In fact, Ryan's teammates were tapped to provide assistance in the action scenes of the teleserye.

Ryan narrates a typical day on the set of Pieta: "Pagdating sa set, nagre-rehearse kami ng isang oras o isang oras at kalahati para sa fight scenes. Rehearsal pa lang, galos-galos na at kailangan totoo ang mga tama. Meron pa kong tama sa katawan.

"Ang teammates ko po, they're real fighters. Sila po, ginuglupi na nila ako before the taping so pagdating ng taping, manhid na ako, hindi na ako tatablan."

The TV host-actor also explained that this role is very challenging not only for its action scenes but also for its dramatic scenes, especially those that he shot with his mother Amanda (played by Cherie Gil). Krista Ranillo is tapped to play Martha, a college girl who becomes Ryan's love interest in the teleserye.

Aside from Ryan Agoncillo and Cherie Gil, Pieta also stars Jestoni Alarcon, John Regala, Jason Abalos, Janus Del Prado, John James Uy, Jairus Aquino, Lyka Ugarte, Neil Ryan Sese, and Alessandra De Rossi.