Derek Ramsay used to be Vice Ganda's biggest fantasy. Vice Ganda even boldly admitted in a recent press conference that he was ‘willing to pay’ if only he could spend time with Derek.
"Noon, iniilusyon ko talaga siya but not anymore," Vice said. It's not to say Derek has lost his appeal to Vice. But after spending time with him during the shooting of "Praybet Benjamin," Vice realized how nice and "mabait" Derek is as a person. "Kaya tuloy napahiya ako sa sarili ko, hindi ko na pinapantasya," Vice added.
Vice also revealed how much he enjoyed working with Derek and the others in the cast of "Praybeyt Benjamin" like Eddie Garcia who plays his Lolo Benjamin, and the members of a misfit platoon: DJ Durano, Vandolph, Carlos Agassi, Kean Cipriano and Nikki Valdez who are out to help Praybeyt Benjamin in his quest to save his grandfather who was captured by terrorists, and the whole war-torn country which is rocked by unrest.
The movie, which reunites Vice with box-office director Wenn Deramas (who directed him in Vice’s first box-office movie "Petrang Kabayo"), also stars Jimmy Santos, Dennis Padilla, Malou De Guzman and Tutti Caringal.
Vice expressed gratitude and honor that he was given another movie by Viva Films which produced "Petrang Kabayo."
And to think that rumor surfaced that he had a rift with Viva Entertainment top honcho Vic del Rosario!
Bigger than Petrang Kabayo
This time, it's an even bigger movie venture that landed on his lap. "Praybeyt Benjamin" is a collaboration between Viva Films and Star Cinema.
Direk Wenn and Vice are confident "Praybeyt Benjamin" will perform as well or even better than “Petrang Kabayo” because two giant film companies are behind its production. As they say in the dialect, "pinagsanib ang dalawang puwersa" to make "Praybeyt Benjamin" a reality.
With this new movie of his, Vice's star is predicted to shine even brighter.
"Ibang-iba si Vice dito, he went all-out to secure the laughs in the movie, lahat ng pinagawa ko sa kanya ginawa niya. Dito sa pelikulang ito, magugustuhan talaga siya ng mga manonood," Direk Wenn promised.
Vice confirmed this, adding that "marami akong input dito na nagustahan naman ni Direk Wenn."
Vice plays Benjamin Santos, whose family has a long tradition of military service. The opening of the movie traces the roots of this tradition -- from the days of Lapu-Lapu and the Katipunan, up to the present.
When Lolo Benjamin finds out his grandson is gay, and therefore cannot continue his family's military tradition, conflict ensues. When Lolo Benjamin is abducted by terrorists, the grandson decides to enter the military to save his grandfather, as well as the whole nation.
For his role, Vice willingly endured physically demanding scenes such as various kinds of combat training. For this, Direk Wenn's admiration for him doubled.
"Ever since I saw Vice perform in Punchline, humanga na ako sa kanya," Direk Wenn said. "Magaling talaga siya sa comedy at very professional pa."
"Praybeyt Benjamin" is slated for showing in theaters nationwide starting October 12.
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