Actor Albie Casiño asserted his right as a taxpayer to voice out his concerns on social media about the current COVID-19 situation in the country.
In the blog con event for the Init sa Magdamag, Casiño said that he has a right to speak up about the COVID-19 response since he is a taxpayer.
“For me, I pay taxes, man. ‘La pa ‘yung tseke ko nakikita kung ano ‘yung makakaltas. So I feel like I have the right to voice my opinion. ‘Di ba? Because that is where my taxes go.”
He also clarified that he isn’t mad at the government but rather how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“And, I’m not really mad at the government, ‘di ba. I’m just mad at how they’re handling things.”
Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, he also lauded ABS-CBN’s safety protocols on the set of Init sa Magdamag. He then compared it to other projects he did during the pandemic. He also added that they did not have any COVID-19 cases on the set during the six months of filming.
“Nakailang project na ‘ko ngayong quarantine eh. So like, itong Init sa Magdamag, ito ‘yung pinakamalaking production na nagawa ko. Because the others were films, so mas maliit ‘yung production; mas konti ‘yung cast. Natuwa ako sa Init sa Magdamag, because I don’t think we’ve had any single positive case sa COVID, and we were doing lock-ins for like six months. Not straight, but for a six-month period na three weeks at a time, naglo-lock-in kami.”
Casiño also lauded ABS-CBN’s efforts, such as having around-the-clock checks from nurses for all the actors, cast, and crew. He also wanted to congratulate their team for not having any positive COVID-19 cases during their locked-in filming.
“So kita mo talaga ‘yung effort na nilalalagay nila sa safety ng ‘di lang artista kung di bawat tao sa set. Because ‘di ba ang dami po namin doon, and walang nagka-COVID. You can really tell how they were doing the procedures, eh. Talagang kakatok ‘yung nurse sa room mo pag-wala kang taping, or sa off day. They do the protocols, they check your temperature, and then they make you sign the papers and all of that. I want to say na congrats sa atin. Na nagawa natin ‘yun, na all through that time, not a single case.”
As for his role in the highly anticipated teleserye, Casiño teased that he has his steamy scenes in the series, which the audience should look out for when the series airs.
“Sa role ko naman, of course magpapainit din ako. Wala naman akong hindi ganon.”
“Meron ata ‘yung nasa CR ako. Oo meron nga ata, meron din for sure.”
Finally, for the friendships they built on the set, Casiño revealed that he moved into the same building as Init sa Magdamag lead actor, JM De Guzman. Additionally, he took over the lead actor’s old condo unit and asked his friend to move to upper units instead.
“Personally, wala naman ako nakatampuhan sa kanila. And, ‘yun nga sobrang nag build ako ng friendships doon. As in to the point na neighbor ko na si JM. Itong condo ko, condo niya dati. Tapos sabi ko sa kanya, lumipat siya doon sa taas para ako na lang dito. Now he’s my neighbor, literally. I go to his house everyday doon ako nagbubuhat eh.”
Earlier, Casiño voiced his concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 and the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the NCR and nearby areas through Instagram. Additionally, he responded to bashers, calling them out on his post.
Now Casiño joins the Hottest Kapamilya stars Gerald Anderson, Yam Concepcion, and JM de Guzman on the highly anticipated ABS-CBN Star Creatives series, Init Sa Magdamag. With them is a star-studded cast with Tetchie Agbayani, Aleck Bovick, Alexa Ilacad, Mica Javier, Gab Lagman, Mike Oblea, and Kate Alejandrino. Directed by Director Raymund Ocampo and Director Ian Lorendos, the teleserye airs on April 17 on the iWantTFC app and website and WeTV iFlix. It premiers on free TV this April 19 on TV5 and A2Z channel on free TV and via digital TV boxes like ABS-CBN TVplus.
