Most definitely a household name for Kapamilyas, beloved actor Ejay Falcon returns to the primetime screen in the intensely engaging teleserye, “Blood vs Duty.” In the April 16 episode of Kapamilya Chat, Ejay warmly recounts his dedicated preparation for the show as SPO1 Usman Sabdani.
Long before the filming began, Ejay revealed that he was instantly captivated by the story and his challenging role as Usman, who is set to confront a difficult choice between his identity as a police officer and a Muslim. “Everytime [na] pinapadala sa ‘kin ‘yung script parang hindi ako makapaghintay… Talagang binabasa ko,” he shared.
Proving his meticulous research and wholehearted appreciation for the show’s accurate representation of Muslim culture, Ejay additionally clarified the way Datu Rahman Abubakar’s (played by Jaime Fabregas) name ought to be pronounced correctly by Muslims, specifically as “Rak-maan.”
The Kapamilya actor also sweetly praised the production team for their unwavering passion in creating the show’s unpredictable and in-depth quality. “Sobrang salute ako sa creative team namin, sa mga writers… Maraming salamat po at nakakagawa tayo ng mga ganitong kuwento,” he added.
In response to the selected settings for the series, which also took place in Zamboanga and a Muslim community in Manila, Ejay likewise commended the team behind every careful plan. “Sobrang pinag-aralan [nang] mabuti. Kailangan makita talaga ‘yung mga kapatid nating Muslim sa story… Hindi rin basta-basta kukuka ka na lang ng location,” he addressed.
He went on to elaborate on his own personal interactions with the Muslim community, emphasizing that he feels profound admiration for their faith, especially during Ramadan. Alongside Ejay, the rest of the cast have been extremely careful when delivering their lines so as to prevent acts of disrespect.
Having gained more diverse knowledge from cultural immersion, Ejay then explained the difference between the two Muslim identities of Usman Sabdani and Gerald Anderson’s Jalil Abubakar, particularly with Usman identifying as Maranao and Jalil as a Tausug. “Once na may isang Maranao na napagtitripan… lahat sila nagkakaisa,” he stated.
When asked about Gerald, whom he is working with for the very first time other than being teammates from the past Star Magic All-Star basketball games, Ejay marveled at Gerald’s tireless dedication and compassion. “Nakikita mo naman talaga ‘yung gigil niya sa craft niya,” he commented.
Ejay afterwards fondly recalled how he used to watch his fellow cast member Richard Gutierrez’s classic television series. Besides a humble personality, Richard is described by Ejay as deeply invested in his role, readily offering his creative inputs to directors.
Similarly, Ejay showed appreciation for Baron Geisler, whom he frequently conversed with on set. “Sinong magkukuwestiyon naman kay Baron na talagang kilala… Kahit anong ipagawa mo, talagang gagawin niya,” he remarked.
Although Ejay is yet to collaborate with Bela Padilla and Barbie Imperial in more scenes, he eagerly anticipates working with them for the upcoming episodes.
As Ejay discussed his physical preparations, he also briefly reflected on his rewarding journey with ABS-CBN, which encompassed his victory on “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus,” love team projects, daring roles, and, finally, successive action series. He consistently underwent physical training, and for “Blood vs Duty,” he made sure to prioritize cultural immersion and research.
“Para pagpunta mo [sa] set, alam mo na… Hindi na tayo magiging cause of delay. Lalo na ngayon na 16 hours lang tayo nagte-taping,” he reminded.
In talking about his comeback projects after stepping out of the spotlight for a while, Ejay focused on the enduring support of Kapamilyas and ABS-CBN, who both remembered his acting prowess and gave him opportunities to perform again.
“Ang sarap lang sa feeling na [makita] ‘yung mga naitanim mo before, nung nagtatrabaho ako noong bata-bata ako… I’m sure hindi naman ako naging pasaway sa production… Ngayon parang nandyan pa rin sila [to support],” he conveyed.
In closing, Ejay pointed out that viewers would eventually be drawn to Usman, given the fact that his commitment to his heritage as a Muslim remains undying even as he works as a diligent police officer.
“Maraming siyang mga internal conflict sa sarili niya, nagtatalo ‘yung pagiging police at Muslim… Malalim ‘yung character ni Usman,” he mentioned.
He lastly described “Blood vs Duty” to be greater beyond its incredible action sequences. “Hindi siya basta action na ginawa lang… Each character makikita ‘yung [dilemma between] blood versus duty,” he underscored.
Keep an eye on Ejay Falcon’s thought-provoking portrayal of SPO1 Usman Sabdani in “Blood vs Duty,” streaming on iWant and airing weeknights at 8 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).