The pressure is on Joseph

Joseph Bitangcol is no longer the teenybopper people know him years back. He has stopped being the dreamy-eyed swain who melted at sight of his dream girl. Those juvenile ways have given way to a more mature, more substantial outlook.

The new Joseph sits well with his most recent role, one he never imagined he’d slip into at the height of his love team days. He’s playing national hero Jose Rizal no less in the educational indie film “Bayaning Pepe (Ang Pagpanday ng Isang Bayani)”.

Joseph knows it’s no so-so role.

“Grabe ang pressure,” he admits. “First time ko to play the title role. Jose Rizal is our hero. At magagaling na artista gaya ni Cesar Montano ang gumanap ng role na yon .”

Joseph is not letting the pressure dampen his spirits, though. He even welcomes it.

Tough, serious roles

“It will also help na makita nila that I can do tough, serious roles, yung hindi pa-tweetums,” he explains.

So he went the extra mile. Joseph watched as many Rizal films as he can. He refreshed his memory about our national hero by looking him up in the Net. The last thing he wants is to let his director, Carlos Morales (yes, the actor) down.

“Dati, alam ko cameo role lang,” recalls Joseph. “Nagulat ako ng naging bida na ako. Pinaglaban ako ni Carlos. Maraming sumingit na ibang artista sa akin.”

Carlos explains why: “After hanging out with Joseph in celebrity basketball games around the country, I noticed similarities between him and Rizal. They have the same built, looks and way of talking.”

He knows many Rizal films have been done through the years. And “Bayaning Pepe,” under Big Dreams Productions, must offer something new and different.

“This one,” says Carlos, “focuses on Rizal’s childhood, love interests (“Goin’ Bulilit’s” Jane Oneisha plays Leonor Rivera) and transition from the young Pepe to the distinguished gentleman Jose.”

Carlos is confident focusing on the young Pepe is one of the film’s biggest come-ons for students, the main target of the film.

Making a difference

“It can inspire them to greatness, in making a difference,” explains Carlos.

Since the proof of the pudding is in the eating, Carios--Big Dreams Productions--is proudly presenting the premiere of “Bayaning Pepe” on Friday, Aug. 17 at SM Manila.

Perhaps then, we can see and feel for ourselves what Joseph and Carlos are talking about. Who knows? In this time of national disaster when he need new heroes, especially among the young, this may just be what we need.

Maridol Rañoa-Bismark | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom