“I’VE been looking for a way to cast him in my previous movies in any role primarily because in a teleserye where your subtleties not really ask of you as an actor, he performs in the most subtle way but still has a lot of strength and bravado to it.”

Ito ang pagpapakilala ni Direk Erik Matti kay Arjo Atayde sa launching ng OTJ (On The Job) mini-series nitong nakaraang Martes sa B Hotel handog ng HOOQ, Globe Studios at Reality Entertainment.

“Arjo has a three segments sa On The Job,” dagdag ni Direk Erik, “there’s the story of small town which is La Paz, story of Manila of huge TV network, and story of prison camp. In the Manila story, we have Bela (Padilla) working with Arjo who is an ex-journalist who becomes a congressman.”

Ito naman ang komento ni Arjo nang hingan ng komento sa pagkakasama niya sa OTJ:

“When they called me, I was very much happy because OTJ was one of my favorite movie and is very interesting that it turned into series and of course, it is one also of my dreams to work with you, Direk and such an honor, very blessed to be part of this team with a very good cast. Seen all of them having me goosebump and, of course, I want to thank Globe for making this possible. Thank you so much and I hope you guys enjoy it, and sana may season two.”

Nakorner si Arjo ng ilang entertainment reporters pagkatapos ng Q and A ng presscon, at inaming ang saya-saya niya dahil matagal na niyang gustong makatrabaho si Erik Matti.

“Happy talaga kasi it finally come true na makatrabaho ko si Direk Erik, first time talaga. Kaya I’m very much excited,” ani Arjo.

Hindi dumaan sa workshop si Arjo, wala na siyang time dahil almost everyday ang taping nila sa Ang Probinsyano serye ni Coco Martin.

“More on explanation lang po kasi wala na akong time, pero researching as an actor for the role, nagagawa ko naman.

Ang galing naman ding mag-explain ni Direk Erik ng character. So far, okay naman,” paliwanag ng aktor.

Kung kontrabida si Arjo sa Ang Probinsyano, kabaligtaran sa OTJ mini-series.

“It’s a very driven character, generally speaking, driven siyang tao and... ayokong ikuwento na... pero sabi nga kanina, I’m an ex news-anchor who become congressman who believes that he’s fixed more into politics more than just being a news anchor,” kuwento ng binata.

Ano ang magiging koneksyon niya kay Bela Padilla na gaganap ding journalist sa istorya?

“Love-hate relationship kami, so may love story going on and the same time two different worlds, but still love brings them back, somehow. The special connection they have to each other brings them back,” napangiting kuwento ni Arjo.

So, sa OTJ matutuloy ang love team nila ni Bela na hindi nagtagumpay sa Ang Probinsyano dahil pinatay ito ng tatay niyang si Tomas Tuazon (Albert Martinez).

“’Yung romance kasi namin sa Probinsyano hindi naman talaga romance,” natawang sabi ni Arjo, “may paghihiganti. Dito naman more on a love talaga.”

Klinaro ni Arjo na bagong character siya sa OTJ na wala sa pelikula noon nina Piolo Pascual at Gerald Anderson.

Samantala, paano hahatiin ng aktor ang oras niya gayong halos araw-araw ang taping niya sa Ang Probinsyano?

“Sabi ko nga po, kahit araw-araw ako mag-taping basta makatrabaho ko lang si Direk Erik, kahit weekends ko makuha na ng OTJ, okay lang, I wanna be part of this. And of course, the fact na handpicked ako ni Direk Erik, that’s really something for me to look forward,” say ng aktor.

Inaayos pa ang hectic schedule niya para mabigyan ng oras ang taping niya sa OTJ.

May subtitle ang OTJ mini-series dahil mapapanood ito worldwide sa Netflix.com, handog ng HOOQ at Globe studios at sa pamamahala ng Reality Entertainment nina Dondon Monteverde at Direk Erik. (REGGEE BONOAN)