Viewers will see a different Gerald Anderson as he assumes the role of Tiagong Akyat for the first installment of Agimat: Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla. The young actor will be showing off his Parkour moves, an athletic discipline and the art of moving through the environment as swiftly as possible using only the human body. He underwent extensive parkour training to effectively give life to the bandit who steals from the rich to give to the poor.
How was it like studying this art of movement?
"Mahirap pero masaya. Bagong learning rin kasi ito for me. The training will definitely help me not only with the project. Perhaps sa iba ko ring gagawin pa. Kakaiba talaga ang character ko dito. More on action din kasi. Ibang Gerald Anderson ang makikita ng mga manonood."
The primetime actor said that he hasn't obtained any serious injuries while training. When asked if he's not afraid to rip his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) just like what happened to Dennis Trillo when he also trained for parkour, the young actor said, "Masarap kasing gawin yung parkour. Kumbaga panibagong challenge para sa 'kin. "
The Tayong Dalawa star admitted that he did research about Tiagong Akyat. "Nalaman ko kung bakit siya magaling umakyat dahil talent niya yun, e, kumbaga skill niya yun.
"Maganda yung sa 'min, e, hindi yung OA na parang maraming
mga special effects. Sa 'min yung kaya pa ring gawin ng isang tao," he pointed
out.
Gerald also revealed that he did not use any harness nor did he have any double
for the stunts for this ABS-CBN TV show.
ENSEMBLE CAST. Under the direction of Dondon Santos, the story of
Tiagong Akyat zeroes in the character of Santiago Ronquillo (Gerald Anderson)
who received an amulet called Pangil ng Kidlat from an old prisoner whom he
helped. Santiago uses his extraordinary powers to provide for the poor through
stealing. Thus, his adventure as Tiagong Akyat begins.
This TV show marks something new for Gerald since he will be separated from his
constant love team partner Kim Chiu.
How was it like doing a kissing scene with his new leading lady, Erich
Gonzales, who plays Cornelia?
"First time ko sa TV na hindi si Kim ang ka-kissing scene ko. Siyempre,
naninibago pa pero at least...ako mag-isa ako s project na ito at si Kim, may
ginagawa rin na siya lang."
How will he differentiate his Tayong Dalawa character JR from Tiagong
Akyat? "Sundalo ako dun sa Tayong Dalawa at masyadong seryoso si JR. Si
Tiago naman, makulit. Iba yung atake ko sa Agimat kasi pambata ito."
The antagonist in the story is portrayed by Jason Abalos,
marking the first time that he plays a kontrabida in a project. During the
recent press con, he told the media: "Para sa akin, opportunity ito. Dito, mas
masususbukan ko kung hanggang saan talaga ang kaya ko. Masaya ako na binigyan
ako ng pagkakataon para ma-experience yung ganitong roles."
Does he enjoy bullying Gerald in this series? "Masarap kawawain si Gerald,"
joked Jason. "Wala namang problema kaya after ng eksena namin, appear lang
kami."
Jason plays Vincent Fajardo, a poor orphan who is adopted by the Mayor, who
happens to be the father of Erich Gonzales in the story.
Other cast members include Nova Villa (Nanay Martha) the woman who adopted
Tiago when he was still a young boy, Jayson Gainza who will play the "big
brother" of Tiago, and Danilo Barrios who is tapped to play Nardo Muñoz.
Norma Muñoz (played by Max Eigenmann) will complicate the love story of the
thief-turned-good guy. "Meron siyang
unrequited love for Tiago pero hindi niya maamin dahil alam niyang in love pa
si Tiago sa first love niya si Cornelia," she said in the AVP of the TV show.
Max's brother, Ryan Eigenmann, is also part of this TV series as Big Max.
"Makikilalala ko si Tiago sa preso at magiging parte ako ng grupo nila pero
eventually, ita-traydor ko siya."
Joseph Bitangcol is cast as Pablo Reyes, the best friend of Tiago inside prison
while Carlo Guevara is Tiago's childhood friend named Buboy Arnaiz.
Tiagong Akyat (featuring Gerald Anderson) is the first episode of Agimat:
Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla. The other upcoming episodes are: Tonyong
Bayawak (starring Coco Martin), Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Elyas Paniki
(starring Jake Cuenca), and Pepeng Agimat (starring Jolo Revilla).
Coco says that his character has the ability to change into a bayawak (monitor
lizard) when he becomes angry, Jake's character is a vampire killer while
Jolo's character is able to fight off engkantos.
The pilot episode of Tiagong Akyat will air next Saturday, August 15,
on ABS-CBN.
With reports by Marielle Saraos