SOBRANG simple pala talaga ni Pepe Herrera, dahil kung ano ‘yung napapanood sa kanya sa telebisyon, musical play at pelikula ay ganun lang pala talaga siya sa totoong buhay.

N a i k u w e n t o ni Pepe sa kanyang Facebook page na iilang piraso lang ang damit niya. Sinasadya niya ito, dahil katwiran niya, pinapraktis niya ang pagiging minimalist. Sa katunayan, noong sinu-shoot niya ang The Hopeful Romantic ay tanging ang suot lang niyang underwear ang pag-aari niya, lahat ay galing na sa stylist.

“Dear Facebook Friends, since today is time for rest and reflection, let me share with you a little slice of my journey as a beautiful person,” intro ng post ni Pepe.

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“I have been very vocal about my lifestyle to my friends and to whoever is curious about my decision to embrace vegetarianism. Lately, I am slowly embracing Minimalism also. Let me connect this with my petty misadventures with wardrobe requirements for different projects.

“ F o r e x a m p l e i n t h i s behind the scenes footage for #theHopefulRomantic, I only own one piece of clothing—my underwear. The rest is owned by stylist. And it’s the same with most projects I have been part of. More than 50% of the wardrobe is provided by stylists. Why? Because my own clothes are so few, it can all fit in one box.

“My mentality is ‘Kung isang beses lang gagamitin, hiramin na lang imbes na bilhin’. I have embraced a minimalist, sustainable, environment-friendly lifestyle kasi idol ko si Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Seriously, I just feel in my gut that it is the right thing for me to do. My ultimate goal is to become a 21st century artist who has zero plastic inside my second hand house while using my second hand car to purchase second hand items for my own travel show (fantasy pala more than a goal).

“That is my contribution and my way of expressing gratitude to our Mother Earth who has given me so much and more. But that is just me. I just feel like being very honest at this very moment while Ompong dissolves back to outer space. Stay safe and happy.

“P.S.: Speaking of second hand, whoever among you is willing to share winter clothes to someone like me, let me know. Let’s barter. P.S. uli: The Hopeful Romantic now showing. Hehe.”

Speaking of The Hopeful Romantic, sa iilang sinehan lang pala ito ipinapalabas dahil dahil hanggang ngayon ay palabas pa rin ang The Hows of Us, Miss Granny, at Crazy Rich Asians.

Bukod dito ay maraming foreign films pa ang nagbukas din at isinabay pa ang ToFarm Festival, na ayon mismo sa mga napagtanungan naming takilyera: “Naku, padala-dalawa lang po ang pumapasok, marami na ang sampu hanggang kinse.”

May kaparehong komento nga ang isang kilalang director/ producer: “Oo nga, parang na-eclipse nang husto ang ToFarm.”

Anyway, nag-check kami sa mga sinehan kahapon at palabas pa rin ang The Hopeful Romantic, at hindi naman nag-first day-last day kumpara sa isang pelikula na ayon sa nakausap naming booker ay “ayaw ng theater owners”.