NOW that production work is in full swing again after a few years of the pandemic nightmare, we are glad that some of our senior actors are still very active doing what they love and do best.
Catching one of the more recent episodes of Batang Quiapo, we were happy to see Tommy Abuel playing an important supporting character in the series, pitting talent with actors from different generations. Now 81, Abuel remains one of the most respected veteran actors in the industry.
We still remember his many unforgettable characters in Danny Zialcita movies in the 1980s and for the past decade, Abuel was never without work on TV. He had a good role in the long-running Ang Probinsyano which prompted producer, director and actor Coco Martin to give him another wonderful role in Batang Quiapo.
We learned that viewers love the entry of the inimitable Tessie Tomas in Batang Quiapo, a fitting follow-up to her much talked-about performance in the high-rating series Dirty Linen. Now 73, Tomas said she is enjoying her work on TV so much, and she is thankful to have been handpicked by Coco Martin.
“I am very happy that Coco gives work to senior actors like me, and we are more inspired to work knowing that we are appreciated,” Tomas enthused. In Batang Quiapo, Tomas shares the spotlight with esteemed actors who are all senior citizens, like Charo Santos (68), Jaime Fabregas (74), Christopher de Leon (67), Joonee Gamboa (87), Joel Lamangan (71), and Lou Veloso (74). Gamboa said in an interview that he likes to exercise and found joy in biking and walking. “I also watch my food intake and I read a lot to sharpen my mind.”
Dexter Doria, who will be celebrating her diamond year in April, told us recently that she is happily surprised that her Tyang Susan characater in the undisputed GMA afternoon block ratings winner Abot Kamay na Pangarap continues to draw in more viewership. “Everywhere I go, they call out ‘Tyang Susan! Tyang Susan!’ I realize that all it takes is one role or one character to endear you to fans and followers. I have never experienced this in my whole career as an actor and I’m loving it!”
We also love senior actors Lui Manansala, Pen Medina and Mads Nicolas who are all highly respected in the industry.
Recently, the true Queen of Philippine Movies Gloria Romero celebrated her 90th birthday and her friends all came to be part of her milestone. We last saw her in the weekly show Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko on the GMA Channel, and she once told us that she missed working because acting was her life.
And since we are on the subject of senior citizens, the Expanded Centenarian Act (Republic Act 11982) was recently signed by President Bongbong Marcos Jr.
In the original Centenarian Act ( Republic Act 10868) of 2016, elderly citizens who reach the age of 100 are given a cash gift by the government. And Sen. Bong Revilla enacted what is more popularly known as the Revilla Law which allows senior citizens to receive a cash stipend of P10,000 when they reach 80, 85, 90 and 95 years old.
According to Revilla, who will also be a senior citizen in a few years time, championing the plight of our senior citizens has always been one his his priorities. “We are all aware that not many of our lolos and lolas live long enough to reach a hundred years old, so why do we have to wait that long to give them some rewards in order to make them happy?”
He added, “It was a promise I made early on and I am just glad that I was able to fulfill that promise within my term of office. I am just so elated that the President signed the Expanded Centenarian Act on February 26.”
We also learned that Revilla is also pushing of the enactment of the Abo’t Kayang Gamot, Bitamina at Gatas para sa Malusog na Senior Citizen Act, which aims to expand the 20 percent discount and exemption from the Value Added Tax (VAT) to include vitamins, supplements, herbal products, and formulated milk.
This is certainly good news for all our senior citizen friends in and out of the entertainment industry.