Part of Richard’s preparation for Panday is rigid workout usually at a gym in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City, where his family lives. Caparas (below, with wife Donna Villa) says, ‘Richard is the perfect choice as the new Panday.’
Richard, “I love eating talaga. I have to cut sweets, carbs and sodium from my diet. Instead of rice, I take quinoa and protein shakes. (His girlfriend Sarah Lahbati is also into a quinoa diet. — RFL) The workout is heaven for me because I have always been into sports, very active ang lifestyle ko.”
It’s not the first time Richard is doing a Caparas project. As kids, he and Raymond were directed by Caparas in Takbo, Talon, Tili!, a horror-comedy. Kamandag is also a Caparas story.
“You will see a different Richard in this new Panday,” assured Caparas who acts as guide to the TV5 series director Mac Alejandre and the writers. “This Panday has evolved considerably. It is about the past, the present and the future of Panday who, it will be told for the first time in the prequel, is a foundling (Just like Sen./Presidentiable Grace Poe. — RFL) Richard is playing Panday in three different generations.”
In the initial episode (that earned praises from those who watched the preview a few days ago), all the three Panday characters played by Richard are shown.
“I was very happy with the result,” said Caparas. “Everything that we discussed (with the director and writers) during the pre-shoot meeting is there.”
Also starring as Richard’s leading ladies are Sam Pinto, Bangs Garcia and Jasmine CurtisSmith, Alonzo Muhlach as Richard’s sidekick, with Christopher de Leon as the likewise iconic kontrabida Lizardo (Max Alvarado in the FPJ movies, Philip Salvador in the Bong movie and Victor Neri in the Jericho TV series).
Caparas has updated the approach to the presentation without sacrificing what he called the “traditional Panday.”
“We are keeping up with advances in technology,” explained Carapas who conceptualized the three stories in the new series.
“Mayroong contemporary touch. Previously, the character Flavio became Panday when he touched the sword. In this TV series, ‘modernistic’ ang dating. Panday is using a computer to monitor the bulalakaw (meteor) that gives him the black sword.”
The airing of Panday on TV5 is scheduled early so that the children can watch it.
“Natutuwa ako,” said Richard. “As a kid, I enjoyed watching the Panday movies. Now, it’s my turn to entertain the kids.”
And, if I may add, the kids-at-heart. (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo. com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@ For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)