Jake Cuenca and Gerald Anderson portray PMA cadets
Nerisa Almo ( PEP ) 01.12.09
When Tayong Dalawa was conceptualized, director Ruel Bayani said that they really planned to shoot some scenes at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) campus in Baguio City.

As David Garcia, Jr. both Jake Cuenca (Dave) and Gerald Anderson (JR) had the chance to play the role of aspiring soldiers who were training at the PMA. For this reason, the two young actors had to do exactly what the PMA cadets were doing inside the academy.

"The whole taping was an like an immersion, e," said Jake, who plays the role of David "Dave" Garcia, Jr. "Sa lahat araw namin doon, we were like soldiers as well. We woke up almost the same time as they woke up, we eat the same thing they eat."

Gerald, who played the other David Garcia, Jr., seconded Jake by saying, "They gave us tips kung paano namin hahawakan 'yong baril, paano 'yong galaw namin, paano 'yong sasabihin namin. Hindi naman easy."

Direk Ruel, on the other hand, pointed out that before they started taping the television series, they already knew that there would be a lot of restrictions. "Talaga namang dapat naming sundin 'yon dahil ang PMA ay isang academy na kung saan ang disiplina at ang pagiging proper ay sinusunod," he said.

The director explained that it was just right to follow the rules and regulations of PMA to make the series close to reality.

He said, "Sa lahat ng bagay kinu-consult na namin sila—mula sa pagiging plantsado ng mga damit hanggang sa asal ng mga tao, hanggang sa pakikipag-usap, kung paano mag-address sa mga senior sa kanila. Lahat kailangan namin gawin ng makatotohanan at detailed, ika nga.

"Well, we have a lot of undersecretaries and senators na PMA graduate and marami ring pamilya na may kamag-anak na nasa PMA. Hindi kami pwedeng mapulaan na hindi kami nagiging honest or accurate. Kaya, every step of the way, may mga consultants kami and PMA was very, very cooperative."

He further added, "They [Gerald and Jake] had to face the entire faculty. Binigyan sila ng mga briefing, binigyan sila ng training for drills, for particular scenes. Kasi, masyadong strikto ang PMA at ang mga batang ito ay hindi naman nagkaroon ng military training before. So, ito namang dalawa ay talaga namang masipag at masunurin, kaya hindi naman kami nagkaproblema."

Then, he took this opportunity to thank the PMAers who have been very supportive to Tayong Dalawa. Direk Ruel said, "I must say, hindi namin magagawa ito kung hindi sa kooperasyon nila. Binigyan niya ng ibang laking meaning 'yong drama ang element na 'yon, bagay na bagay sa pagiging tema ng brotherhood, 'yong pagiging mistah. Bagay na bagay 'yong istorya na maging take off point ng ating istorya."

BROTHERHOOD IN TAYONG DALAWA. One of the lessons that Tayong Dalawa aims to share to its viewers is the idea of brotherhood, which the characters of Jake and Gerald will learn as they undergo training at the PMA.

Direk Ruel related, "They both attended the PMA and doon sila naging malalim na magkaibigan na hindi nila alam na magkapatid pala sila. From then on, mahaba pa ang mangyayari at mangingibabaw sa dulo 'yong mga natutunan nilang values mula sa Philippine Military Academy. Hindi ba importante na makita ng mga tao kung ano ang naidulot noon, ano ang mga lessons na ipinagyaman ng mga pagkatao ng mga characters natin habang nag-aaral sila sa academy."

Jake agreed to this by saying that the most memorable thing that experienced at the academy was his bonding with the real cadets.

"That was the biggest part of it," described Jake. "Kasi siyempre, kapag nakikita ko 'yong tindig ng cadet. Makikita mo, e, makikita mo sa mga mata nila ang mga pinagdadaanan nila, kung paano 'yong superiority na natutunan nila sa PMA."

In the end, he reiterated how this experience somehow gave him the chance to fulfill his dream to become part of the military. Jake said, "More than anything else, it was the bonding with the cadets and siguro 'yong pangarap namin ni Gerald na maging sundalo, enthusiastic kami. We were really enthusiastic sa set. As much as possible, kung pwede kaming maging katulad nila, we will do anything we can."