Ketchup’s ‘ordinariness’ makes him special

KETCHUP Eusebio also played a pivotal part in the historical film “Heneral Luna.”

IN ADDITION to the plus points of the ongoing drama series “Ningning” that we’ve already cited, the show should be praised for the uniquely believable characterizations that its actors have created.

Topping our list is Ketchup Eusebio’s spot-on characterization of Ningning’s young father, an “ordinary” man who turns out to have some extraordinarily inspiring qualities to him.

Eusebio is the perfect choice for the “everyman” role, because he simply, sweetly “disappears” into his assigned character, with no stellar distractions or “baggage” to clutter up the picture.

In fact, it’s his “ordinariness” that makes him special! “Extrapolating” from the actor’s fine but self-effacing work, we focus fully on the character he’s playing.

Thus, we gain the valuable insight that all so-called ordinary people are extra-ordinary when, despite their many travails and societal limitations, they still manage to do the right thing!

Role model

Ningning’s dad, as perfectly vivified by Ketchup, proves this by instinctively being a great father and role model to her, which is why she’s also such a wonderful example for everyone, especially the series’ young viewers.

We also dote on the character played by Vandolph, a relative and friend who is brusque and bumptious on the outside, but is always around to help, in his own “aw-shucks” way. Dolphy’s scion started out as a sassy and porma kid comic, but has since become much more real and textured in his portrayals, and has effectively made the key transition to “serious” roles that many other young comics can’t manage.

Another character actor who’s doing surprisingly well on the show is Rommel Padilla as Ketchup’s grouchy and even nasty boss at the small carinderia where he works. In the past, Rommel’s performances were pat and predictable, but he’s been turning a new leaf on “Ningning,” thanks to director Jeffrey Jeturian’s insightful mentoring and tweaking.

In fact, Padilla’s portrayal of the “lousy, grumpy curmudgeon with a huge chip on his shoulder” is one of the more telling characterizations on the show, because it “proves” that even “bad” guys can redeem themselves (all the bad guys viewing the drama series, watch and learn)!

Self-redemption

Now, inspiring acts of self-redemption are a dime a dozen on TV dramas, but what makes Padilla’s portrayal so believable is that the character’s change of heart is being so realistically earned.

It’s difficult for him to improve, but he’s motivated to do so by Ningning and her father’s innate goodness—and, most surprisingly and sweetly, by the romantic stirrings he feels for Ningning’s grandmother (Sylvia Sanchez)!

That unexpected but wonderful twist “humanizes” Rommel’s character in a specially moving way, because he’s so gruff and tough and seemingly impervious to ever loving anyone again—and yet, the actor is able to slowly (and still gruffly) pull it off.

Finally, the character portrayed by Nyoy Volante is yet another “loser” at the cusp of becoming a winner, like his young son, MacMac, who used to be a toughie like him—until Ningning “gets” to him, too, with her “transformational” goodness.

So many people in the process of believably changing for the better—that’s the truly inspiring achievement that has made viewers embrace the show and its “ordinary” characters with great and grateful fervor and empathy.