Raymond not alien to the supernatural

Award-winning actor Raymond Bagatsing has proven his acting mettle by portraying varied and intense characters, which earned for him acting honors and citations. From being a gay best friend in Jerry Lopez Sineneng’s Soltera to a priest in Celso Ad Castillo’s Sanib and his award-winning turn in Lav Diaz’s Ang Kriminal ng Barrio Concepcion, Raymond never fails to ignite the big screen not only with his acting prowess but also with his ruggedly handsome image, which make him all the more interesting to watch.

This thespian’s love for acting has not abated, after nearly 14 years in the business. In fact, Raymond’s passion for acting has even increased as he continues to tackle fearless roles. Last year alone, he did five movies — Castillo’s Sanib, Mark Meily’s Crying Ladies, Joel Lamangan’s Filipinas and Bebong Osorio’s Alab ng Lahi – including one for international release, What a Wonderful World, which was filmed in Israel. The film is Raymond’s third international outing, following Goodbye America and Under the Palm Trees, a mini-series shot in Boracay.

In What a Wonderful World, Raymond plays a Filipino caregiver working in Israel. The film is set to be shown next year and will be premiered in Berlin (Germany). "The film is actually a trilogy about the caregiver, a Thai worker and a Russian prostitute whose lives are interwoven in the story," Raymond offers. "Working in five film projects and a soap series last year was very tiring for me. This year, I want to take my time and be able to rest."

With the soap series out of his frenzied schedule this year, Raymond faces a new challenge in his career by hosting ABS-CBN’s new reality-docu-drama horror show, Nginiiig!, which premieres today from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Executive producer is Raymond Dizon and supervising producer is Ethel Espiritu.

The reality genre crosses into the unreal with Nginiiig!, the first mainstream television show that attempts to bridge the gap between the glittering super-reality of entertainment and the raw drama of paranormal documentaries. The show also makes a daring venture into the supernatural by dealing with real stories and emotions or real people. Along the way, the stories of the men and women who have been touched by these paranormal events will also be dramatized.

"This is a very interesting show for me," asserts Raymond, who is into meditation, New Age practices and yoga as a member of the Ananda Marga. "It is an eye-opener as well as inspirational for me. I am skeptic at times, as I try to ask my faith again. I get to assess why I am here and what is my purpose in life."

All episodes of Nginiiig! are based on real stories and recent events, according to Raymond. For their pilot, the host and the production staff went to Leyte to do a re-enactment of the landslide tragedies in the towns of Lilo-an and San Francisco. Succeeding episodes will take them to the haunted houses in New Manila and also the deserted places in Baguio.

"I’m not totally alien to the supernatural," Raymond says. "I research about reincarnation. I’m also into paranormal. My mom is from Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, where I grew up hearing stories about nuno sa punso and anting-anting. My lola was also into faith healing. I was exposed to these things at a very young age."

At the helm of Nginiiig! is 25-year-old director Luigi Santiago, who completed his four-year filmmaking course at the New York University (NYU). Formerly into directing TV commercials and documentaries, Luigi makes his first foray into TV with the reality docu-drama horror show.

"I’m not a horror director and I’m not trying to be Wes Craven," Luigi clarifies. "I’m more into drama. I want to be able to bring out the emotions in the scenes. It’s a challenge for me to recreate the aftermath of the Leyte landslides."

However, Nginiiig! is not just another reality show. Apart from Raymond, who anchors the proceedings, Nginiiig! also introduces viewers to Eirich Cruz, Lisa Milo, Adam Reyes, Mae de Vera and John de los Santos, five young psychics who will use their otherworldly powers to investigate the puzzles contained in each "haunting" the show encounters.

The terror amplifies with Nginiiig! The Hidden Files, the spine-tingling reality show which airs on Studio 23 starting tomorrow, 6:30 to 7 p.m., with up-and coming-stars Danilo Barrios, Jhong Hilario and Spencer Reyes acting as guides into the realms of the unknown. The three young stars join Raymond Bagatsing as they treat viewers to all of the raw footage too terrifying for the original broadcast. From stunning behind-the-scenes videos to more investigations by the Nginiiig! psychic crew, Nginiiig! The Hidden Files takes viewers to the highest peaks of paranormal horror week after week.

With a new TV show plus other promising projects, Raymond, who is with Boy Abunda’s Backroom stable, cannot be thankful enough now that his career is on the upswing again. He has nothing more to prove in the acting arena, what with two Urian acting trophies to his name. That’s why he wants to try his hand on new challenges.

Another field that Raymond wants to explore is singing. He recently put up his own, six-member band, Raymond with His Bandidozz, which plays the music of Duncan Sheik and John Mayer. He is apparently bent on being a singer, too, as he is now taking voice lessons with tenor Montet Acoymo of the UP College of Music.

"I’ve planned about forming my own band four years ago pa," Raymond says. "I really want to sing. I want to express my own songs because I write poetry. I am so energized with all the good things coming my way that’s why I want to be constantly creative. Music is also one of my passions."