Ryan Agoncillo weighs next career options

The premiere night of the movie “Ano Ang  Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap” was the first showbiz event that Ryan Agoncillo attended after contracting dengue. He was confined at the Asian Hospital in Alabang and he even contracted pneumonia. But last Monday, he was at SM Megamall to show support to good friend and neighbor, director Jose Javier Reyes who directed the film which features Rustica Carpio in a gem of a performance as a nanny.

“I am still recovering from dengue and there was a slight complication because I also contracted pneumonia. Medyo mabagal pa ako gumalaw kasi ‘yung capacity ko for breathing was still slow but I am getting there,” Ryan told the entertainment media who attended the film’s preview.

Ryan said this was the first time he had been sick and it was quite hard since the last time he was confined in a hospital due to illness was when he was 12. “It was a good thing I was the one who got dengue, not our kids,” said the Eat Bulaga mainstay who is aching to go back to hosting in the top-rating noontime program.

He said that he was clueless how he got dengue. It takes ten days for the virus to incubate so it is impossible to tell where Ryan could have been bitten by a mosquito. By the time he got the fever, the mark of the mosquito bite was probably gone. But Ryan said he needs to undergo some blood tests. “I am not completely out of the woods yet but at least I am okay now,” he answered.

How did his wife Judy Ann Santos take his hospitalization? “Actually, ako ang awang-awa sa kanya kasi siya ang nagbantay sa akin sa ospital. Siyempre kami ang magkasama roon 24 hours. Good thing magaling siyang mag-alaga. Pero naawa ako kasi first time niya akong inalagaan na may sakit ako so first time experience na talagang 24 oras, nasa ospital,” related Ryan. He said it was fortunate that no work schedule was affected by his hospitalization.

He said they are still pushing through with their planned family vacation but it would probably be a weekend beach get-away. They will just have to rebook their reservation.

So when is he returning to Eat Bulaga? “I don’t think I can do it soon because I’m still catching my breath. I have done a little biking but I am hoping my doctor will give the clearance to come back by Monday. Ang mahirap kasi, Eat Bulaga is live and fast-paced. Hindi ka pwedeng lalamya-lamya sa stage. Plus, marami akong nakakasalamuha na mga tao, kaso mahina pa ang resistensiya ko. Mabuti na lang tapos na rin ang Talentadong Pinoy. Bumawi lang ako nang pahinga.”

Ryan’s contract with TV5 has ended and his show “Talentadong Pinoy” was axed after its grand finals. He was supposed to have meetings with the three networks – GMA 7, ABS-CBN and TV5 – regarding their offers to do shows. But since he only got out of the house last Monday for the premiere of his movie, he was unable to attend the meetings. He hopes to sit down with the network bosses within the next few days.

“I am sure that GMA 7 has an offer and TV5 also expressed interest. I still don’t know what is the offer of ABS-CBN although Juday also has to decide first with regards to her contract with ABS-CBN. I have talks with GMA 7 so I’m really excited with the idea of doing a comeback in GMA. Whether it is going to be exclusive or not, it remains undecided,” he said.

But it doesn’t mean that wherever network Juday signs up with, you’d also sign up with them? “Actually, that’s what makes things exciting. When we make decisions right now, we have to be dependent on each other. But also, we have to be careful because there are a lot of networks who want us to work together. And ayaw namin i-risk ang opportunity na hindi maganda ang chance. The last time we worked together was two years ago. Maganda rin kasi ang takbo ng individual careers namin so ayaw namin magtulakan. We want to make sure we are going to do a good project together, if ever,” said Ryan.

Ryan is excited to do shows with the three networks. “Ang loyalty ko siyempre lagi sa trabaho. I think it’s been a long time that I have nurtured a good relationship with the stations. I am comfortable na kung saan nandoon ang trabaho, doon ako kasi maganda ang track record ko sa tatlong station. Also, if it’s something that would be beneficial to me now at maganda ang ipapakita ko. Ayaw naman natin na after five years of Talentadong Pinoy eh malasado ang susunod na project. That’s why things are looking good for me and GMA 7 now kasi maganda ang opportunity,” he said.

How did you feel that Talentadong Pinoy and Juday’s soap ended at the same time? “That is nothing out of the ordinary. Trabaho lang naman,” said Ryan. He also said that Wilma Galvante, the new entertainment head of TV5, has plans for him. There is even a movie offer. “If Juday decides to accept the movie offer then I am going to think about it.”

Is there a chance that Talentadong Pinoy will be back? “I think the show deserves a break for now. Pahinga muna so sana pagbalik, mas maganda na. Whether it’s with me or not, I would love to see it come back,” said Ryan.

What will be the deciding factor for you to choose to do Talentadong Pinoy again? “Malaking consideration yung working condition kasi yung mga kasama ko sa Talentado for five years, hindi lang naman five years lang iyon. Magkakasama na kami matagal na, since Philippine Idol. If TV5 makes a move to bring the show back, I would like to work with the same people,” he said.

In “Ano Ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap,” Ryan plays the youngest in a brood of three (Jackie Lou Blanco and Bobby Andrews play the elder siblings) left with the painful decision of what to do with their old nanny.

Rated A by Cinema Evaluation Board, the movie was produced, written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes for Largavista Entertainment with the support of GMA Network and as part of the All Masters Showcase of the annual celebration of Sineng Pambansa, sponsored by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Regular screenings will be from Sept. 11 to 17 at SM Cinemas nationwide.