An ingenious idea for a comedy

Nanette Inventor, known to many as Doña Buding, dispensed these words of wisdom: “Everybody has a dream and everybody can chase it. Just follow the straight and narrow road. God will always guide you along your way. Because He was the one who gave you the gift. Huwag magmamadali. It will come, in His will, in His time.”

She should know. Who would have thought that an employee in the Department of Transportation and Communications would become one of the country’s comedic icons?

NANETTE INVENTOR

Nanette’s early foray into show business was as back-up singer.

“I was working that time at the DOTC and would moonlight after work to do what I love best – singing. I would sing in plays, corporate shows and go to recording studios to do back-up singing for big recording artists back then – Basil Valdez, Leah Navarro, APO Hiking Society, Tita Pilita Corrales, Victor Wood, Claire dela Fuente, Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio, name it, I was part of their recordings as back-up vocalist,” Nanette recalled during a recent chat.

Nanette would gain huge notice in the ’80s as Doña Buding, an extravagant socialite, created by director and writer Jose Javier Reyes for a social satire segment on the now defunct “Penthouse Live.”

“Joey Reyes is Buding, I was just breathing life to the character that he created,” said Nanette.

Nanette met Joey in one of her many “rakets,” which was a musical for the 70th anniversary of Manila Hotel that Joey was directing.

At that time, Joey was also the head writer for “Penthouse Live.” The show has a social satire segment that starred another talented comediene, Cynthia Patag.

Unfortunately, Cynthia figured in an accident and had to recuperate for six months.

Wanting to keep the segment, Joey thought of Nanette and told the executive producer of the show, Ronnie Henares, “Pa-auditionin natin si Taba.”

Nanette’s intial response was, “Nanaginip ka ba? Anong pinagsasabi mo?”

She was even more shocked when she was given only a day to memorize a three-paged single-spaced monologue typed in long-bond paper.

“So I hit the mirror and started doing the character. On the day of the audition, I asked Mr. Henares to join me in prayer in the bathroom because I was about to face the bigwigs of GMA-7 that included Freddie Garcia, who is now with ABS-CBN, and Fritz Ynfante.”

I personally know Fritz as I have worked with him on numerous occasions. Fritz does not like to waste his time.

After listening to Nanette do the first paragraph of the monologue, Fritz stopped her and said, “I like her, she’s on payroll, she can start this Sunday.”

But Doña Buding is in character already. “Excuse me, I have not finished. I am so sorry, but you have to let me continue,” she blurted.

That is how Nanette Inventor the comediene was born.

Doña Buding is such a classic that some US-based producers are currently exploring the idea of reviving the character for a project, which will also involve another character – Janet Nge-poles.

According to the original plan, Doña Buding and Doña Janet, both to be portrayed by Nanette, will be pitted against each other.

What an ingenious idea for a comedy, right?

Though nothing is final yet, I imagine everybody would love to see it – especially me!

An ingenious idea for a comedy

Source: Mb.com.ph (April 29, 2014 at 10:00PM)

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