Question?! Do you still remember Rainier Castillo? For most of you my age of course the answer would be yes. But for some especially those who doesn't watch GMA7, he is one of the finalist in the very first Starstruck (a reality talent search) along side Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras. So what's with this guy?! Fortunately and unfortunately, they say I look like him. I have a long list of anecdotes and I still remember each one of them.
The very first time I was called "Rainier" was way back college. I was studying at FEU-Manila and this girl calls me, "Rainier! Rainier!" I didn't look at her and then she approaches me and says "You know Foz, you look like Rainier Castillo!" Initial reaction was "Ah talaga?!" Then in no time, my classmates started calling me Rainier.
I cut my hair for the reason that I don't like to be called Rainier again. But oh no! Even my high school teachers and friends started telling me that I really look like him. So when someone tells me I look like him I answer 'Ikaw na po ang pang-1000 na nagsabi sakin nyan." Simple as that. Pero minsan naman sasabihin palang nilang "alam mo may kamukha ka...." then I say "Rainier Castillo".
Eto gusto ko, one time on my way home there was this family in the jeep who really felt I was the real Rainier. It started when the kid makes bulong to her mom na "mama kamukha nya si Rainier" (I assume). Then when I saw them staring at me and says "Oo nga siya nga si Rainier!" I just smiled and acted like I was the real Rainier. Yumuko ako then nagfumeeling artista. Tinakpan ko kunwari yung mukha ko, brought out a book and started to read. Hanggang sa bumaba ako sa jeep they were staring at me and the kid even said "bye kuya Rainier!" Pero come to think of it, he won't ride a jeep. Haha!
Another was at Proj 8 (where Rainier actually lives). This kid approaches me and says, "Kuya Rainier penge naman ng barya." I said "wala". Then the kid says, nandito ka lang kahapon ah, san yung sasakyan mo?!" And luckily this other kid goes to side of the other kid and says, "Hindi siya si Rainier! Pero kamukhang kamukha nya!". Oh yeah! Beat that! Hahaha!
And oh! when I entered TV5, where Rainier has his shows, some cameramen calls me "Rainier!" so pang-ilan na sila? Maybe 3000?! And when I was at the Araneta, talent managers / viewers of the Artista academy auditions were calling me "Rainier" like it was really me.
And this is what brought me to writing this, a while ago at the church sa "Peace be with you" part. People where staring at me and the guy and the girl behind me whispers "Uy si Rainier Castillo!" Gagawin ko sana ulit na umarteng parang siya para masaya pero I thought what if sabihan ako ng" Ay di naman pala feelingero si Kuya!" That would really be embarassing!
So I have to hear more of these Rainier comments. This Rainier comparison has compliments and some insults to me but whatever it is, I take it as something I should funny that it really makes my day when I hear people say that. And oh, I would like to meet him one day and tell him about those experiences.
