ACTOR Ping Medina did not mince words when he expressed his disgust with Baron Geisler after the latter allegedly urinated on him while shooting a scene for the movie "Bubog."
In a lengthy Facebook post on Monday evening, November 28, Medina shared his most recent experience working with Geisler and why he encourages filmmakers to think twice before getting the character actor.
Medina recalled that when he arrived on the location of their movie, he was surprised to see Geisler, a known alcoholic, without any beer bottle in tow.
Geisler told him that he was sober for five days already after his mother, who was confined at the Intensive Care Unit, asked him to clean up.
"Naisip ko, wow, change is coming. First time ko makausap si Baron nang hindi lasing. Kahit mabagal magsalita, naisip ko, kung ano man tinitira nito mas okay na to, kasi kalmado lang siya at may sense kausap," he said.
Medina added they did talk about their respective careers and Geisler expressed his desire to return to ABS-CBN or try his luck in GMA-7. He even gave him advice.
Soon after, Geisler told him he'll get some sleep. "Sabi mo matutulog ka na so naiwan muna ako sa balcony. Pero 10 minutes later bumalik ka, sabi mo di ka makatulog."
Medina recalled that Geisler borrowed P200 to buy food but got four bottles of beer instead.
"Nag sorry ka pa sakin kasi you feel bad na nagsinungaling ka sakin. Sabi ko, okay lang uminom dito, wag lang sa set. Tinanggap ko ang inalok mong isang beer, at sabi ko inaantok na ako. E-exit nako bago pako tuluyang mairita sayo."
The next day, Medina arrived on the set and saw Geisler drinking beer again. The latter asked him to rehearse their lines, which he eventually agreed on.
"Habang nagrerehearse tayo ay unti unti nabuo ang irita ko sayo. Namumula ka na. Hindi mo ma memorize ang kapiranggot mong lines. Kaya puro adlib b**** ang ginawa mo na mali mali, tapos sa haba ng lines ko e naiirita nako dahil distracting yung mga ginagawa mo."
He even told Geisler not to overthink their scene, which he thought offended the latter.
"Ginawa natin ang eksena at natural, nilamon kita. Dahil magaling ako na artista. Magaling ka rin naman, pero lasing ka. Kasalanan ko ba yun? Pagkatapos nun ay nalaman ko sa staff na nagtatanong ka pala sa kanila kung "si Ping ba ang bida dito?" Obviously, di ka nagbasa ng script."
Medina claimed that he and Arlyn dela Cruz, the director of the movie, tried to pacify Geisler, who was drunk by this time.
When they were about to shoot the vital and heavy scene in the movie, where Medina was required to be strangled and wrapped with packing tape, he overheard Geisler telling him "May gagawin ako sa'yo Ping ah. Sana wag ka magalit."
"Ang gagawin mo lang dapat ito: papasok ka sa huli ng eksena, tatanggalin ang tape sa bibig ko, to silently listen to me beg for my life, tapos aalis ka na para iwanan ako sa 3 goons mo."
He initially though Geisler will spit on him until he saw the latter opening the zipper of his lower garment.
Medina alleged that Geisler peed on him.
"Napakabilis ng pangyayari. Naramdaman ko na lang na may bumabasa sa dibdib ko. Medyo mainit at may amoy. Unti unti ko na realize na p******a, ginagawa niya talaga to. Umagos ito. Basang basa ang shirt ko. Umagos ito hanggang sa bibig ko. Buti may nakatakip na tape."
Even though he was not able to stop himself from cursing, Medina said he tried to remain professional and finish the scene.
As soon as they stopped rolling, he immediately confronted Geisler, who told him that what was poured on him was fake pee, but the faces of his other co-actors say otherwise.
"Tinignan ko ang mga kasama ko na tatlong pulis. Tahimik sila, at mukhang nalugi. Nakita ko ang totoong sagot sa mga mukha nila."
"At this point, nagumpisa na ang paginit ng kamay ko. Sinubukan kong i-control with controlled breathing. Sinusubukan ko talagang hindi pumutok. Pero di ko alam, isang beses lang nagdilim ang paningin ko sa buong buhay ko."
A confrontation ensued but Medina felt that Geisler doesn't want to fight him.
"Wala akong interes na bumugbog sa walang kalaban laban. Dahil alam ko, kapag nabigyan na kita ng isa, mageenjoy na ako. At hindi ko na alam ang magagawa ko sayo. Malamang something na pagsisisihan ko. Yung tubo sa gilid, muntik ko na damputin. Kaya naglakad ng lang ako palayo."
Medina said Geisler is not the kind of actor who is worthy of second, third or even fourth chances in show business.
He said Geisler doesn't even deserve to be called an "actor" as he doesn't possess care and empathy towards his co-stars.
"Hindi ka isang ganap na "actor." Dahil ang tunay na actor ay may malasakit sa trabaho. Hindi yung pumupunta ka sa set na lasing and god knows kung ano pa tinira ng p********g yan. Hindi ka tao. Mas mababa ka pa sa hayop. Kasi ang hayop hindi iniihian ang kapwa na nangingisi-ngisi pa ng patago."
Dela Cruz, who also posted an open letter addressed to Geisler on her Facebook page, said they tried to understand the latter's situation and she had high hopes for him.
She was firm that what Geisler did was not written on the script.
"I repeatedly explained to you and was clearly written on the script where your character is coming from and how I wanted it to be tackled, stressing that the idea is, power is felt, not expressed. To show true might, in subdued silence and suppressed emotions," Dela Cruz said.
The director ended that Medina, or anyone for that matter, doesn't deserve to experience what Geisler did.
Geisler defends self
For his part, Geisler claimed that dela Cruz gave him the go signal when he asked her if he can do something on his scene with co-actor Medina.
Geisler said he asked Dela Cruz three times, which she allegedly replied, "gawin mo na lang sa eksena."
The actor maintained that what transpired on the set was a "misunderstanding" between him, Dela Cruz and his co-stars.
"Unang una, Ping, nagpaalam ako sa iyo. Ms. Direk Arlyn, nagpaaalam po ako sa inyo doon sa gagawin ko," he said in a Facebook Live video.
Geisler added: "You and I both know na malaking misunderstanding po ang lahat. I asked you three times na direk may gagawin po ako then you just said gawin mo nalang sa eksena. Kung tinanong nyo po ako kung ano yun di sana naiwasan ang mga bagay na ito."
Geisler, on his part, is standing by what he did. He added that after shooting the scene he immediately approached Medina and apologized.
He said there are behind the scene footage that could attest to this.
"Nagpaalam ako ng three times kahit sa iyo. Naka record yan sa behind the scenes pwera na lang kung binura ninyo. Wala aking binastos man."
Geisler also denied that he was drunk and rude on the set, which were alleged by Medina.
The actor said he respects everyone and questioned the motives of his co-star and Dela Cruz on this latest controversy.
"Ano itong ginagawa ninyo sa akin ngayon. Pinapakita ninyo na masama akong tao, na hindi ako tunay o may isang salita. Bakit ninyo ako ginaganito. Meron ba kayong vendetta against me? Wala naman akong ginagawa sa inyo. Bakit ninyo ginagawa sa akin ito? Tunay akong tao, may puso, may pagmamahal at hindi ako gago. Hindi ako ignorante. Alam ninyo yan lahat kaya."
Geisler said it's fine if he will be booted out from the entertainment industry as long as he was able to defend his truth.
"Okay lang na tanggalin ako sa industriya. Walang problema. Yung akin lang yung katotohanan ay mailabas. May behind the scenes bago pa man mag shoot at nagpaalam ako sa inyo three times or more."
As for his message to Medina, the actor only has this to say, "Ping, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen." (Sunnex)
