Derrick a carefree, wisecracking superhero
Derrick Monasterio is playing a superhero not quite like his idol Superman or Captain Barbell, but more like the carefree, wisecracking Deadpool and Hancock, in the latest Pinoy superhero comedy adventure Tsuperhero on GMA 7’s Sunday Grande premiering on Nov. 13.
The Kapuso actor is more than willing to do the project because playing a superhero is apparently every man’s dream. Derrick is grateful to his mother network for entrusting him a role that’s close to his heart.
“I’m the type of superhero who saves but asks for something in return because of his ‘ laking kanto’ behavior. He is more like Deadpool or Hancock. I’m not like Captain Barbell who is goody-goody. Yung pang-kanto talaga na superhero. I like it!” Derrick told The STAR.
“It is my first time to play such a role. It’s nerve-wracking yet challenging and so I’m giving my best for this project. It is also flattering that GMA handpicked me for this role so I have to really work hard at this,” said Derrick, who had an immersion as a jeepney driver.
Being a jeepney driver for a day made him realize that it is not just driving per se. “Mainit sa jeep kaya hindi biro yung ginagawa nila. Honestly, I get easily annoyed by jeepney drivers because some of them are rude but now I’m learning to understand them because of their situation. It’s not easy driving a jeepney, especially that it’s manual driving. Marunong din po akong magdrive ng manual.” He also shared that to prepare for the role he had to study their gestures and mannerisms. “I observed how drivers behave and how alert they are sa kanilang paligid and with the passengers. I also did boxing and weightlifting.”
The GMA management revealed that it was Michael V who conceptualized the
Tsuperhero title character specifically for Derrick.
Derrick, for his part, surmised that he was chosen to topbill the show because he can assume a “maangas” persona. “Siguro nakikita nya parang medyo siga yung mukha ko, mayabang ang dating,” he quipped. Meanwhile, doing comedy is a whole new experience for Derrick. He was, however, able to showcase comedic timing when he guested in Vampire ang Daddy Ko with love team partner Bea Binene. “Siguro naipakita ko duon
yung natural acting ko sa comedy. Actually in Tsuperhero, I do ad libs. I don’t follow everything in the script. Whatever that comes out of my mind na pinaka-natural, yun na po yung ginagawa. “It’s more difficult doing comedy compared to drama because somehow pwede pang dayain e. But in comedy, you have to be spontaneous para nakakatawa ka, pag di ka nakakatawa kumo- corny po minsan,” related Derrick. Tsuperhero is about Nonoy, a “laking kanto” and street-smart jeepney driver who will transform into his alter-ego Tsuperhero when he encounters a mysterious object from a distant planet.
Derrick said that the best lesson his character will impart to the viewers is being a loving son to his mom and that he will do everything for her.
“Kung ano yung ikinasiga ko sa kalye, yun yung nilambot ng puso ko sa mommy ko. I have to really take good care of her, especially that she has an eye ailment. We have to listen to our parents so we would not go astray. Para umayos ang buhay natin.”
When asked how he feels about celebrities being considered role models or personal heroes by young people, Derrick replied, “Being looked up to is a responsibility more than anything. It’s difficult to be one because you have to maintain that image and avoid the things that will damage it.
Di ka pwedeng uminom or be involved in negative issues. It’s a very big responsibility.”
( Tsuperhero, directed by LA Madridejos, also stars Bea, Gabby Concepcion, Alma Moreno, Betong Sumaya, Philip Lazaro, Miggs Cuaderno, Valentin, Annalyn Barro and Jemwell Ventenilla.)