Pen Medina portrays ‘Mother Ben’ in GMA’s ‘Aso ni San Roque’

Veteran stage and TV actor Pen Medina has replaced Eddie Garcia as ‘Mother Ben’ in the upcoming drama-fantasy series on GMA-7, “Aso ni San Roque.”

Originally, the role of an elderly and motherly gay, was offered to Eddie Garcia but due to unforeseen health concerns, Garcia later requested the producers to give him a less time-demanding role, instead. Garcia will now portray the role of ‘Supremo,’ the leader of the aswangs.

As ‘Mother Ben,’ Pen Medina will be the adoptive ‘mother’ to the lead star Mona Louise Rey who stars as ‘Fatima,’ a blind girl who has a dog, ‘Anghel’ for a pal.  Anghel is no ordinary canine; she is the incarnate of San Roque’s dog, which possesses a supernatural power to cure diseases.

Pen says he enjoys Mona’s very light and bubbly personality which masks the fact that the eight-year-old girl is actually suffering from Type 1 Diabetes.  Pen very well understands her ordeal especially because the actor’s own son – his youngest – who is only ten years old is also suffering from the same disease.

“Everyday siya nag-iinject ng insulin: bago mag-breakfast at bago mag-dinner,” shared Pen of his son’s condition. “Pero dahil lumalaki na, naiiba yung blood sugar levels niya, biglang tumataas o kaya biglang bumababa.  Pero marunong na siyang mag-inject sa sarili niya.  Pag matagal na niyang hindi naiinject ang tiyan, siya na ang nag-iinject kasi hirap siya kung sa braso e.”

Apart from appearing in various soaps, Pen also conducts seminars and acting workshops in GMA and also in other networks.  If he is not on TV, he turns to his ultimate love – painting.

“Actually, naka-schedule na ako for an exhibit sa August next year (2013) in time for my birthday (August 27).  So yun yung paghahandaan ko naman ngayon.”

Watch the ‘colorful’ adventures of Pen Medina as ‘Mother Ben’ in “Aso ni San Roque” airs weeknights beginning September 10 on GMA.