Diether in “Huwag Kang Mangamba”
Diether Ocampo said he was among those whose career plans have been badly affected by the ongoing global health crisis. The actor was supposed to receive his private pilot license when the pandemic struck in 2020.
“We’re in a very challenging time. Everyone had to adjust. We’re now doing everything online. My becoming a legitimate pilot would just have to wait,” said Diether during an online media conference for ABS-CBN’s latest drama offering, “Huwag Kang Mangamba,” wherein he is among the main cast members.
Prior to this series, Diether was seen in the Kapamilya fantasy-adventure series “Bagani” (2018). His last soap series was “Apoy sa Dagat” with Angelica Panganiban and Piolo Pascual (2013).
When asked what he has been busy with during the years he was neither on TV nor on the big screen, the 1990s star said he had been preoccupied with “doing some conditioning, physically and mentally.” What he meant was that, aside from pilot school, Diether also trained for the Philippine Coast Guard and is now serving as a lieutenant commander.
Prepandemic, Diether had also been busy with painting and participating in various art exhibits. He recently joined the art exhibit at the Pinto Gallery in Antipolo, Rizal, he reported.
Focus on faith
“So when this project was offered to me, and later when the story was explained to me, I realized that there’s still one aspect of my life that I have yet to train for—my faith. I needed to train spiritually. I became focused on that the whole time we were taping for the series,” he pointed out.
“Huwag Kang Mangamba” tells the story of two teenage girls: Mira (Andrea Brillantes), a blind orphan whose faith and trust in God (known here as ‘Bro’) has given her a positive outlook in life; and Joy (Francine Diaz), a rebellious daughter who has completely lost faith in God due to her personal pains and longing for her family’s love.
The two figure in an accident while on their way to the town of Hermoso, but they escape death in order for them to fulfill Bro’s mission of rebuilding the church there.
“I really took time to study it and find out what more I can offer for the project. Actors like me can’t be too complacent. We always have to give something new to our audience; to contribute to the industry in order to keep the viewers entertained,” the 47-year-old stressed.
Diether also belied talks that it took him quite a while to return to show biz work because he had become too picky with his projects. “Not at all. To be honest, this industry is just a small one so we don’t hold grudges against people if ever projects that were promised to us don’t push through. It’s just that sometimes, schedules simply don’t match—that’s natural—or that we feel the characters that were offered to us simply don’t suit us. There should be constant dialogue. I’m very thankful to be offered this kind of project. Everything just fell into place for this. I’m grateful to Dreamscape Entertainment for this opportunity,” Diether explained.
The Gold Squad
Diether also admitted that working again, even at the time of pandemic and the “new normal,” actually excited him. “I’m thankful to our three directors (Emmanuel Q. Palo, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, and Darnel Villaflor) because they’ve been very supportive, as well as the other cast members whom I have only gotten to work with here for the first time,” he said. “They’ve been very professional. It’s a big surprise for me to be working with the new ones, especially the members of the Gold Squad. I’m actually very impressed with them.”
The Gold Squad is composed of Andrea, Francine, Seth Fedelin and Kyle Echarri.
“They remind me so much of my early days in the industry, back when I was just starting. They’re a good reminder of how far this industry has gone. But of course, there’s still a lot of work to do, a lot to improve on,” Diether declared.
Aside from the Gold Squad, the cast includes Sylvia Sanchez, Nonie Buencamino, Mylene Dizon, RK Bagatsing, Dominic Ochoa, Enchong Dee, Angeline Quinto, Matet De Leon, Soliman Cruz, Mercedes Cabral, Paolo Gumabao, and Alyanna Angeles.
Created by Rondel Lindayag and Danica Domingo, “Huwag Kang Mangamba” is ABS-CBN’s latest inspirational offering following “May Bukas Pa,” “Starla,” and “100 Days to Heaven.”
Angeline also recorded the series’ theme song of the same title, penned by Fr. Manoling Francisco SJ.
The series premiered on March 22, 8:40 p.m. (after “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”) on TV5 and A2Z channel on free TV.
Viewers may also watch it on the iWantTFC app and website, and via digital TV boxes like ABS-CBN TVplus, as well as via Kapamilya Channel (SKY channel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat Direct TV channel 22, and most cable operator-members under Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association), on Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, and on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.