The stories of Arnel, Ricky, Bobet and Raul represent the different backgrounds of boys who were orphaned, abused, or left on their own to survive the streets of Manila. They all found a home in Boys Town.
In this activity, the members of the group—Enchong Dee, Robi Domingo, Sam Concepcion, Dino Imperial, Chris Gutierrez, AJ Perez, and Aaron Villaflor—learned a lot of things about the place and the young boys that were being taken care of inside the residential care center.
Multi-awarded swimmer Enchong Dee was surprised to see that Boys Town has an Olympic-size swimming pool. He said, "Nagulat din ako actually nung unang pagdating, yung swimming pool, 'tapos yung swimming pool nila Olympic-size, so nagulat ako."
Aside from the swimming pool, the 20 year-old actor also added that residents of Boys Town also excel in other sports.
He described, "They have soccer fields, ang laki and magandang maganda yung facility. And they're very proud of every single detail, parang kumbaga ano nila, e, pinaghirapan kasi nila 'yon, e. And kumbaga, feeling ko, lumalabas din sila, e. Kumbaga, the same with the story of Boystown, lumalabas din sila para makipag-compete sa ibang school."
AJ Perez, 16, said that through his observation with the kids of Boys Town, he was able to get ideas on how he will act as the newbie in Boystown.
He explained, "I really observed kung paano gumalaw yung mga bata dun, kung paano sila kumilos, kung paano sila mag-converse sa isa't isa. Kasi kami naman, aaminin namin, hindi kami sanay sa mga laking kanto talaga. So 'yon nga, we get to learn the craft of how a regular, how a teenage boy lives in Boys Town. Kailangan talaga namin, kumbaga ihugot yung mga emotions niya 'tapos inililipat sa scene."
Aaron Villafor, 16, and Dino Imperial, 21, shared the same observation as AJ. Although they were not able to join the group during the immersion, they experienced being a resident of Boys Town when they started taping the program.
In fact, Aaron said, "Base sa pinagshoo-shooting-an namin Boys Town, Marikina, nakita po namin kung paano yung buhay nila. May kama dun na as in plywood lang, wala siyang foam. So siyempre, sa mga eksena namin tuwing natutulog kami sa aming mga kama siyempre masakit.
"Pero besides dun sa room nila, masaya silang magkakasama dahil hindi lang pag-aaral yung natututunan nila. Natututunan din nilang magtanim, nagtatanim sila, may sports sila. So parang basically, regular ano na rin sila, nasa regular na buhay na rin sila."
The 16-year-old singer-actor Sam Concepcion was also unable to attend the immersion, but based on his conversations with the Boys Town residents during their taping, he learned, "Hindi sila lahat ng bata na gumagawa ng kalokohan. Some of them are actually very, very intelligent they just need guidance. And yun napro-provide naman ng Boys town dahil meron silang house, house parent they have two or three. Ano talaga siya, siyempre for kids, in a way, they are very blessed to have [Boys Town] na nag-aalaga sa kanila."
BREAKING MISCONCEPTIONS. Robi Domingo, 19, said that the immersion that they did in Manila Boys Town was not his first experience because he used to visit such centers for school. However, with the immersion, it broke misconceptions they held about the young men inside Boys Town.
He said, "Ngayon, because of the immersion I had with the Gigger Boys together with Direk Lino Cayetano and the staff parang nabreak yung mga taga Boys Town ibang-iba sila. Ano, 'yong parang huwag n'yong gagalitin magiging rowdy 'yan. Pero through that [immersion] nasira yung concept na iba sila.
"They are not different from who we are. 'Tapos yun, they compete even dun sa mga private schools at kadalasan nanalo sila sa mga private schools. 'Yon, masarap yung buhay nila dun. Yun ang mga natutunan ko dun is, they are privileged as we are privileged, but then again we can do something to help."
Chris Gutierrez, 16, agreed that their visit to Manila Boys Town is really a learning experience.
He said, "We have a misconception about Boys town, parang kulungan ng mga batang mga may problema, mga bad people, mga addict. Pero hindi talaga, it's more of a pamilya, it's like an orphanage or a family kasi kapag nasa labas na po sila para kasing mahahawa sila sa mga ginagawa sa labas ng mga tao. So, at least dito po, may mga mabubuting tao na nagtra-train or give guidance through sports or kahit anong bagay to take their minds [away from] doing bad things."
In conclusion, director Lino Cayetano said that the experience and the observation of the Gigger Boys are exactly the things that he and his team want to show in his comeback project Your Song Presents: Boystown.
He explained, "Ang mga nagpupunta dun yung iniiwan ng mga magulang dahil hindi nila kayang alagaan, yung mga walang magulang na nahahanap na pakalat-kalat, yun yung tinatawag nila na ‘rescued kids.' 'Tapos merong mga street kids na dinadala dun ng DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development].
"Yung sistema kasi nila dun na merong isang place na three months sila nire-rehab yun yung mga galing kalye. Sabi nga nung house parent, house parent ang tawag sa mga nag-aalaga sa kanila, e. Sabi ng house parent, may mga batang may instinct paminsan na sanay sa kalye, so they're there for three months. After n'on, nalilipat na sila sa mga cottages. So, ang ganda ng konsepto ng cottages kasi each cottage may mga fourteen kids tapos may house parent."
Learn more about Boys Town as the Gigger Boys portray some of the real cases residing inside this residential care center. Meet the boys of cottage five in Your Song Presents: Boystown. See how they interact with the outside world starting this Sunday, May 10, after ASAP '09 on ABS-CBN.
Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus first runner up Robi Domingo is excited for the premiere of his new regular show, the mini-series called Your Song Presents: Boystown on Sunday, May 10.The 19-year-old MYX veejay also expressed how happy he was because he's not only doing a guest role in this show. It can be remembered that as Vincent, Robi had a short appearance in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama series My Girl, which topbilled the young loveteam Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson.
"Expect Vincent from My Girl to evolve to Arkin na," said Robi when asked what viewers can expect from him in this show, after the press conference of Boystown last night, May 5, at the Party Venue in Scout Tuason, Quezon City.
The incoming second year college student described his role as something that's very different from his real personality. "Alam niyo naman ang image ko medyo goody-goody boy. Dito, medyo salbahe ako, maangas, at makikita nila na palagi akong nakasimangot," he added.
Do you think you can pull off such character since it's exactly the opposite of yourself?
"Sana, sana," he answered. "Sa tingin ko dahil bago, sana I hope ma-deliver ko ang role ni Arkin perfectly. Okay naman sabi ni Direk Lino. Pero I know, since bago pa ako, there's still room for improvement. But I'll do whatever it takes to be a good actor."
WORKING WITH GIGGER BOYS Aside from having his first regular TV series, Robi is also grateful that he will be working with his fellow Gigger Boys namely Enchong Dee, Sam Concepcion, Dino Imperial, AJ Perez, Aaron Villaflor, and Chris Gutierrez.
"I'm very honored na kasama ko pa 'yong dance group namin sa ASAP '09 and nawala na 'yong barrier na, 'Uy, bago kong makakasama 'to so mahihiya ako o mate-threaten ako dito,'" said Robi.
Although there will be seven actors who will topbill the show, he clarified that they will be given equal parts in this mini-series.
He explained, "Lahat naman kami dito masasabi kong bida kasi we have our own plot. Ako lang kasi ang nasa harapan kasi ako 'yong katunggali ni Enchong. Wala namang issue sa amin kung sino ang lead role, sino ang cameo role lang, ibang plot."
The young celebrity also cleared that there will be no personal rivalry between him and Enchong Dee, since Arkin will be a villain to the former's character. "Enchong and I, we're good friends. We support each other lalo na sa rehearsals, nagpapaturo ako sa kanya, minsan nagpapaturo siya sa akin."
He even described how close he is to his groupmates, "Ayos naman kami, wala namang inggitan, wala namang kahit anong away."
Catch the all-male dance group Gigger Boys in the TV adaptation of the 1981 movie Boystown in Your Song Presents this Sunday, May 10, after ASAP '09.
Ang Gigger Boys—composed of Sam Concepcion, AJ Perez, Enchong Dee, Dino Imperial, Aaron Villaflor, Chris Guttierez, at Robi Domingo—ang featured arists sa Your Song Presents Boystown, na mapapanood na sa Linggo, May 10, pagkatapos ng ASAP '09, kung saan regular performers din ang grupo. Ang Boystown ay mula sa direksiyon ng nagbabalik na si Lino Cayetano.Nakausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sa presscon ng Boystown, kagabi, May 5, si Sam. Ikinuwento niya sa amin ang kanyang role sa Boystown.
"Ako dito si Bobet, 16 years old siya. Iniwanan siya sa Boys Town nung nanay niya nung ten years old siya. Sabi ng nanay niya, 'Iiwanan kita diyan, babalikan kita sa birthday mo.' Kasi, hindi na siya kayang buhayin ng nanay niya. Hanggang ngayon, nandun pa rin si Bobet. Sixteen na siya, hindi pa rin siya binabalikan ng nanay niya sa Boys Town.
"Every birthday niya, nag-iimpake na siya. Pumupunta siya sa gate ng Boystown, hinihintay yung nanay niya. Pero umuuwi siyang umiiyak dahil hindi dumarating yung nanay niya," lahad ni Sam tungkol sa kanyang character.
Sa Boys Town sa Parang, Marikina mismo kinukunan ang mga eksena ni Sam. May mga na-meet na raw siyang mga bata sa Boys Town kapag nagte-taping sila roon.
"Nanonood kasi sila pag nagti-taping kami," sabi niya.
Ayon sa pagkakaalam ni Sam ay hindi masasamang mga bata ang nasa Boys Town.
"Yung mga iba, kaya napunta doon, sinave sila from the streets. Yung mga iba naman, iniiwan ng mga magulang doon. Hindi sila yung katulad ng iniisip ng mga tao na masasamang mga bata. Sila yung mga bata na nangangailangan lang ng guidance," saad ng young singer-actor.
GIGGER BOYS. Sa grupo nilang Gigger Boys, sino ang pinaka-close sa kanya?
"Actually, lahat po sila, sa totoo lang, sabay-sabay ko lang nakilala na Gigger Boys. So, pare-pareho lang sila," sagot ni Sam.
Sino ba ang pinaka-pasaway sa kanilang grupo?
"Actually, in a way, lahat kami medyo... Pag makulit kami, makulit talaga kami!" natatawa niyang sabi.
NEVER BEEN IN LOVE. Sixteen na si Sam pero hindi pa niya na-experience na magkaroon ng girlfriend. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang kabataan na kahit nasa elementarya pa lang ay nakikipagrelasyon na.
Kailan nga ba susubukan ni Sam na manligaw at magkaroon ng girlfriend?
"Kasi ano po, e, yun nga, marami akong ginagawa. And alam ko na it will not be the right time for it. In time naman po talaga, e. Although siyempre, nandoon na yung feeling... But, hindi rin, e. Gusto ko yung ginagawa ko, e, yung continuous learning sa craft ko—yung singing, dancing, performing, acting, pagho-host, yung ganoon, and school. Those are my priorities," saad niya.
Kahit crush, wala ba siya?
"Meron naman," sagot ni Sam. "Ang sinasabi ko lang po, parang hindi pine-pursue."
Sino ba ang showbiz crush niya?
"Pag tinatanong ako tungkol diyan, pag sumasagot ako, ang sinasabi sa akin, ba't daw masyadong matatanda ang mga crush ko. Walang lang... Si Anne [Curtis], si Kim [Chiu] sila yung mga crush ko," pag-amin ni Sam.
Swimmer-actor Enchong Dee still wonders why there are rumors that question his gender. He says this has been the issue that's been thrown at him since he entered show business two years ago."Parang bakit ganun ang showbiz world?" he asked after the press conference of Your Song Presents: Boystown, which was held last night, May 5, at the Party Venue on Scout Tuason, Quezon City.
He continued, "Kasi, galing nga ako sa athletic world 'tapos papasok ako sa showbiz world. Wala naman akong ginagawa. Hindi rin naman ako ganun kaingay noong nagsisimula ako, pero may issue."
The 20-year-old actor said that his short stay in showbiz has already taught him not to be offended by this kind of issue. "Parang nasanay na lang ako. Siguro mas maapektuhan pa ako kapag may nasabi sila against kay kuya [AJ Dee]," he added.
Enchong just laughs off this kind of rumor every time he reads about it in newspapers and on the Internet.
"Natatawa nga ako kasi pagdating sa Internet, bading nga ako," said the lead star of Boystown. "Sabi ko, wala na rin naman akong magagawa kasi simula pa lang naman ng pagpasok ko [sa showbiz] ganun na talaga. So, kung anuman ang nakikita ng tao sa akin, naisulat na way back. Ngayon, hindi ko na alam kung ano na ang nangyayari, e, two and half years na rin naman ako sa showbiz and, so far, wala naman akong nagiging boyfriend."
For those who base this rumor on him being single, Enchong disproved it by saying that he had a girlfriend before he became a celebrity.
He related, "Noong pasimula akong pumasok sa showbiz, mayroon akong girlfriend. Pero hindi ko nga masyadong sinasabi, kasi nga hindi raw magandang pakinggan na pumapasok pa lang ako, may girlfriend na ako. So, hindi ko na lang sinabi. And every time naman na nagkakagusto ako dito sa ABS-CBN, nagiging isyu palagi. So, huwag na lang. Mas maganda magpayaman."
Enchong believes that this gay issue cannot be considered true since no one can show any proof.
"Siguro kaya rin naman hindi nagiging boom ang isyu na 'yan, kasi wala rin naman sila talagang nakikita sa akin, e," he said.
Right now, Enchong is just happy that he's given the chance to play the lead character in the Sunday afternoon television series Your Song Presents: Boystown, which will premiere this Sunday, May 10, after ASAP '09. He will be joined by his fellow Gigger Boys; namely Robi Domingo, Sam Concepcion, Dino Imperial, AJ Perez, Aaron Villaflor, and Chris Gutierrez.
