Elmo Magalona and Miles Ocampo love the industry they grew up in. So, whatever challenges and changes it undergoes, they are more than ready to help and still give their best. 

The “new normal” setup raised their respect for people working behind the scenes. Having experienced the lock-in taping for the recently concluded series, A Soldier’s Heart, Elmo was reminded that they, as actors, are just a small part of the village. He also realized that his problems are nothing compared to other people’s sufferings.

Elmo feels blessed to still have projects amid the pandemic and the crisis faced by the Kapamilya Network. At the same time, his heart bleeds for the retrenched employees. He now looks at them as motivation to keep going.

However, that wasn’t always the case. There was a time during the quarantine when Elmo felt stagnant until he realized how precious time is. And he learned to appreciate the gift of life and health. 

Meanwhile, Miles had mixed emotions as she started going back to work. She was scared, thrilled and grateful. “Napakaraming buhay na nawala, trabaho na nawala. Itong pandemic na ito, tinuruan niya talaga ako kung paano maging grateful at kung paano maging appreciative sa lahat ng nangyayari sa akin,” she expressed.

Miles finally found the time to learn how to cook. Apart from that, she learned how to live simply and appreciate the little things that she used to take for granted. 

The next year is fast approaching. And despite the crisis and uncertainties, Elmo and Miles will step out of 2020 with grateful hearts.

MMK “Lifted by Love” 

To act for the longest-running drama anthology, Maalaala Mo Kaya, is every Kapamilya artist’s dream. So, for Elmo and Miles, to have their episode chosen for a replay doubles the honor. 

In 2017, Elmo and Miles alongside Yves Flores topbilled MMK’s “Lifted by Love” episode. It follows the story of a disabled man who relies on his siblings’ help carrying him around anywhere he goes. Trials, humiliation, and differences will try to divide them. But at the end of the story, each little act of sacrifice proved to have strengthened the brotherly love between Elmo and Yves’ characters. 

Elmo has nothing but praises for his co-stars. He was admittedly stunned by Mile’s acting brilliance, saying she exceeds expectations. He would smile as he looked back on his friendship with Yves and the emotional connection that was established way before A Soldier’s Heart. The MMK stint was one of the memories they reminisced about while taping for the primetime series. 

“Pinanood ko ‘yung recap ng episode namin kasi gusto ko lang balikan. Ganito na pala katagal. Natutuwa ako na mapanood ulit ‘yung episode namin,” shared Elmo. 

On her fondest memories about the episode, Miles recalled Elmo and Yves’ sense of teamwork.  “Masarap ‘yung feeling kapag ‘yung mga kaeksena mo, nagbibigay din talaga kasi hindi naman laging sa’yo yung credit, eh. Kukuha ka sa kaeksena mo, so I’m very thankful na si Elmo and Yves, very generous sila pagdating sa bagay na ‘yun,” she said.

Elmo and Miles played as siblings to Yves’ character and they had to carry him around for several sequences. While Miles has always been professional since she was a kid, it was the first time she almost refused to film a scene. 

“Naaalala ko, merong scene na aalis na si Elmo at Yves, magka-college na sila. Kailangan kong buhatin si Yves… Sabi ko, ‘Paano ko bubuhatin si Yves?’ Buti na lang si Elmo, si Elmo po talaga ang kawawa sa episode na ‘yun. Grabe! Workout siya mula umaga hanggang gabi,” she recalled. 

The story of these siblings, according to Miles, will impart lessons about the unbreakable ties among family members. “At the end of the day, walang ibang magdadamayan kundi kayo-kayo lang. Kaya ganun ka-importante ang impact ng pamilya mo sa buhay mo.”

Elmo added, “Yung pag-sacrifice, na anuman yung needs mo, kaya mong i-sacrifice para doon sa taong mahal mo. Mauuna pa rin ‘yung taong mahal mo bago yung needs mo.” 

Sacrifice is always the purest form of love – this and more compelling lessons about family will be showcased in the replay of MMK “Lifted by Love” episode on Saturday, October 24.