Bernard Palanca plays a young director in the edgy TV5
drama Hush Hush. The show features the lives of several young
celebrities as they experience the exhilarating highs and the disheartening
lows of the entertainment business. And since the show is about how it is
living and struggling in the "make or break" world of show business, PEP
(Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Bernard if the characters in the show
are based on existing celebrities.
"No one in particular," begins Bernard as he sits for an
interview with PEP during the TV5 presscon for their primetime shows at Mario's
Restaurant in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, yesterday, August 15. "All of our
characters, there's no one in particular that we're trying to show the public,
like this is who this person is, this is how this person is.
"What we want to show...the idea of the whole show is just to
show the public, that this can happen to anybody. And if it does happen to you,
these are also the consequences that come along with it, at the same time these
are the perks. In other words we're showing the life of an artista—has been or
new, sikat or not—how is the life of show business behind the camera, and not
only in front where all we see really is the glitz and glamour of show
business. But what we don't see is what's really going on."
Bernard says being an artista is more than just walking
around, smiling, and looking pretty. "You have to do certain things in it. So
many factors involved into becoming a superstar, so to speak."
So does this mean Hush Hush is also going to show the
ugly and dirty side of show business?
"We're definitely going to show some ‘dirt,' in terms of
what goes on, like kunyari... artistas getting involved with producers, like in
my [character's] case, a director, I end up with an artista. We'll show that
side that it does happen. But not naman detailed to a point na it comes off as
bastos or wrong...you know what I mean? Parang, we just want to show the truth,
that it really happens.
"You don't have to be an artista to fall in love with
another artista. I mean, you know, you can be an artista and fall in love with
a director, for example, and because you just do, and not because for any other
reason.
"So we will show these little sides that people really don't
see or normally speculate about. So we're going to try and and clear up a lot
of speculation, and also we're going to try and clear up a lot of truths, I
guess. And show a little bit of dirt, parang gano'n.
"Basta, there's going to be a lot of diferrent issues within
different characters. And these are issues that people really deal with behind
the camera. So, I would say so far and by far, it is the closest thing to
reality that I've read and I'm doing at the moment."
LITTLE ELIJAH. Afterwards, PEP asked Bernard how his
relationship with wife Meryll Soriano has been doing?
"Oh, we're friends. Not close friends, but friends. In fact,
I just talked to her this morning because we're already planning our son's
first birthday party. We're finalizing it already. That's gonna be at the 27th
of this month."
PEP asked for the photo of his son and Bernard proudly
showed his cell phone where little Elijah, his son, is the wallpaper. We asked
him to send the photo through Bluetooth to our own cell phone. Elijah's photo
will be seen on the Babies section of PEP.
Bernard says he's not going to say no if Elijah wants to be
in showbiz when he grows up.
"Definitely, I'm not going to tell him no. I'm going to
encourage him to go into show business. In fact, I was already offered to do a
commercial with him supposedly, and I said, let's do it. I'm still waiting for
the client.
"They said, ‘Hey, your son is so guwapo, maybe you guys want
to do something together,' and I said, I would love to, just let me know and
tell me, I will do it. So... hopefully, soon."
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