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AGA ON CRASH DIET TO PLAY BATANES NATIVE

Quezon City, May 28, 2000 - Aga Muhlach is now finding out how difficult it is to lose weight, especially under pressure with a deadline.

The popular actor needs to look thin and sunburned to realistically portray a man from Batanes who comes to Manila to seek his fortune.

The film, which is yet untitled, will mark his first team up with Joyce Jimenez. It is produced by Star Cinema and has Olive Lamasan (of "Minsan, Minahal Kita" fame) at the helm.

"Actually, itong pagpapayat ko at pagpapa-itim ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit hindi pa kami makapag-shooting for the movie. Nagkaroon din ng major revision ng script," he explained.

"Going back to my pagpapayat, I tell you it is not an easy thing. Kasi nga, Direk Olive wants me na talagang payat na payat. Kaya halos wala na akong tini-take na food na solid," Aga complains. "Pati nga chocolates, which I sometimes indulge in, because it gives me the necessary energy and vitality that I sometimes need, I've done away with them totally."

The foreign blood in him makes it doubly hard to acquire the proper skin color.

"Lalong nahihirapan ako sa pagpapa-itim sa aking sarili. Siguro, dahil German-Russian ang ancestry ko," He explained. "But this is one script that any actor would give his right arm for. Kaya I am giving all of myself to it."

Direk Olive directed Aga once, in "Sana Maulit Muli," which also starred Lea Salonga. The movie won for Aga his first URIAN award as best actor. He expects to win not just a nomination but an award for his performance in this forthcoming movie.

The actor has high hopes of delivering another award-winning performance.

"Aaminin ko that when I do a movie, I pray na kumita ito sa takilya. Kung maging blockbuster ito, so much the better. But one also hopes na he wins an award for his movie. Lalo pa nga at ang direktor nito ay kasing competent ni Direk Olive."

"Because of Direk Olive, I am getting a new haircut. Direk Olive has been to Batanes and she stayed there for more than a week. Ayon sa kanya, iba raw talaga ang looks at galaw ng mga male na taga-Batanes kesa mga typical na Pilipino," Aga further stated.