Muhlach family gets own TV5 sitcom
MANILA, Philippines — Aga Muhlach and wife Charlene Gonzalez beamed with pride and happiness as they revealed that their twins, Atasha and Andres, will be joining them in an upcoming sitcom on TV5 — their first-ever acting project as a family.
The entire Muhlach family officially signed a contract last Friday at the Meralco Lighthouse to work on the project in collaboration with MQuest Ventures, Cignal, TV5, Viva Films, Studio Viva, and Viva Artists Agency (VAA). Among those present at the contract-signing were Boss Vic del Rosario of Viva Communications Inc., Jane Basas of MediaQuest, and other key figures from the MVP Group, led by Manny V. Pangilinan.
It must feel like a full-circle moment for the former matinee idol Aga, who met and fell in love with the former beauty queen Charlene on the set of his popular ‘90s sitcom, “Oki Doki Dok.” Now, they’re back acting together, this time bringing their 22-year-old twins — seen as the future showbiz superstars — along for the ride.
This will mark Andres’ official showbiz debut, following in the footsteps of his dad, mom and twin sister, who started hosting in the TV5 noontime program “Eat, Bulaga!” and recording music for Viva Music after she signed up with VAA last year.
“I’m just super happy today. I’m happy to be with my family. Nakakapanibago kasi kami ang magkakasama. Sa bahay sanay kami, but now in front of the camera, together the four of us, it’s different. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am the happiest father, husband, person, and artist on this day,” Aga told select press after the contract-signing.
What Charlene is also thrilled about is because it’s hers and Aga’s onscreen comeback together since they tied the knot in December 2001.
“When Aga and I got married, we haven’t done a project together. Puro mga commercials lang. Especially with the kids, siguro mabibilang mo talaga yung naging guest sila. Maybe since they were born, three guestings pa lang,” she said.
“So, this is the first time na magkasama kami buo. It was a project I think all of us were looking forward to. Something that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ngayon lang mangyayari ‘to, so we thought about it, nag-usap kami ni Aga, na parang alam mo, let’s try it. You know, it would be nice that we have a nice memory like this with our children.”
But what ultimately led them to say yes to acting as a family, despite the parents’ initial reluctance to let the kids enter showbiz, was the children’s decision.
“Because they decided, they wanted to,” said Aga of his two kids — Atasha who completed her business degree last year at a UK university, and Andres who’s finishing his college studies in Spain.
“Atasha started already, Andres mag-sta-start. So, I guess when this was offered, I had to ask them and (they said) OK, kaya naman... Andres wants to do it, Atasha wants to do it, Charlene wants to do it, so here we are now.”
Charlene, for her part, stressed that they never pushed them towards this career direction.
“First of all, Aga and I discussed that the decision had to come from them. We didn’t force them; they decided on their own that they wanted to enter show business,” she said.
“Kami ni Aga, we made a promise that when they reach the right age and whatever they decide to do in their lives, we would support them. So yun ang ginagawa namin ni Aga. This is the path that they chose so nandun lang kami para suportahan.
She continued, “Since Atasha started in show business already and ngayon, welcome Andres, officially nasa showbiz ka na, excited din ako para sa kanya, and I’m also excited to see what the future has in store for them.
“But as mom, masayang masaya ako knowing that I can be there and magiging saksi ako sa ang unang hakbang nila sa industriya na ito.”
The family is set to meet with the production team sometime this week for the story conference.
Aga knows that the show will be a fun experience, but also different and challenging because they will be acting this time.
“Hindi kami umaarte sa bahay because we’re normal people di ba, so para umarte ka ngayon, ayun kinakabahan ako dun,” the actor admitted.
“Of course, it’s gonna be about family. We’re gonna tackle different issues. We’re gonna have a lot of fun,” Charlene hinted at what the show is all about.
When The STAR asked why they went for a sitcom when they could have opted for a reality show, Aga said, “I think even as artists, as actors, we’re still private people… Hindi kami sanay ilabas yung mga nangyayari sa amin na ganun. Hindi lang kami sanay, hindi lang ako sanay. Siguro sila (referring to the kids).
“This is their generation, yung mga ganyan, ano? Me, I’m so old school. Siguro tuturuan na lang kami ni Andres at Atasha ‘pag sila nag-start. Eh ‘di extra nalang kami.”
Was the decision-making a lengthy process?
Aga shared, “This has a long story, but when this was about to happen, for me, it felt like I knew it would be good. I know because I’m familiar with creating sitcoms — they’re enjoyable, and the audience loves them.”
Having experienced the joy of doing sitcoms (besides “Oki Doki Dok” with Charlene, he topbilled “OK Fine! ‘To Ang Gusto N’yo” and “That’s My Doc” for ABS-CBN), he wanted the same experience for his kids.
“But honestly, meron akong kaba kasi nga parang papaano kami aarte together? Papano kami magda-dialogue? That’s why I told them (Atasha and Andres) the script is in Tagalog ha, you need to memorize that because I don’t want a take two, take three or take four (laughs).”
Charlene quipped, “Strict si Daddy.”
“Not only with me but ibang artist na kasama sa cast. But, you know, since it’s a sitcom, masaya s’ya and the cast that we’re forming for this one are all friends of ours. We will see and we will announce it soon. But I’m excited more than anything. I’m excited for Atasha and Andres and my wife, of course.”
Addressing questions if this sitcom just forms part of a multi-venture partnership deal, Aga said, “We’ll start with this. One step at a time. For me, this is big already. May mangyayari pa after this.
“Sabi ko nga, lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay ko at this point of time, bonus na sa akin, because I’ve gone through it all and I’m just happy that I’m still here and especially now, to work with my family.
“Before, when I did tapings, when I was younger, I would ask, ‘What time will we finish?’ Things like that. But with this one, even if we don’t finish on time, it’s okay because we’re all together. They are the ones (who have work) because Atasha is busy; she has ‘Bulaga’ the following day.”
Same goes for Charlene, whom Aga hinted would be similarly busy with showbiz work again after a hiatus.
“Now they know,” she reacted, suggesting a full comeback.
“But you know, we will see, one step at a time. Ito pa lang ang unang hakbang ko and then as a mom naman, I think natupad ko rin yung role ko like to make sure that… I promised myself that I wanted to put them on the right path.
“Now that they’re both of age, pinag-usapan namin ni Aga, okay, I think it’s time. So this is like the first step and I think it’s a nice step. Let’s see what the future holds,” she said.
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