As expected, from reviews it received when it opened last Nov. 11 nationwide, “Ang Tanging Pamilya,” the Star Cinema movie that pairs President Ejercito “Erap” Estrada with Concert Comedy and Box-Office Queen Ai Ai delas Alas, is funny. A barrel-of-laughter-flick, it is a good medicine to take by the whole family and even the country after the tragedies brought by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng and even the ailing worldwide economy. But believe it or not, it is a movie that was almost shelved.

“The first tragedy this film faced was the sinking of the ship that carried a lot of our crew and equipment. This was because of Ondoy. Then my mother died so I was thinking what else should we expect and I told them not to continue with this film already,” explained its director Wenn Deramas.

But according to Wenn, he and Star Cinema didn’t quit the project. He went to work on “Ang Tanging Pamilya” immediately after his mom’s burial.

“Tita Malou Santos told me that after all that this film went through, it’s impossible that it won’t receive lots of blessings in return. She said that this would be a success and it would make money,” smiled Wenn. “Besides my only objective with this movie was to make people laugh!”

And to make people laugh is the least of his worries as the filmmaker made a name for himself as a comedy director with the most successes in the box-office. His ensemble cast that consist Erap who has a mass appeal and natural in comedy especially with his broken English, and Ai Ai delas Alas, the reigning Concert Comedy and Box-Office Queen. Added laughing-ingredients to the movie are Aling Dionisia, the mother of World Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao, whose sincere comedic flair knocks everybody out, and the tandem of Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby whose partnership is partly built over their comedic flair with each other.

Actually, the director first rejected this film project when it was offered to him. But knowing that the tandem of Erap and Ai Ai is fresh and could offer a lot of funny situations, he just had to do it.

“After directing President Erap, I overcame my fear. Of course I was intimidated that I was directing a president, but things worked out well for both of us… he called me director and I called him presidente,” described Wenn of their working relationship.

He added that they had a lot of meetings before principal photography began. He suggested to President Erap to watch the films he has done so he could understand what kind of movies he has done. He also told him that he was always open to suggestions on the set but was always ready whenever he arrived on the set.

“It was easy working with President Erap because he was really following instructions. He was just hesitant about the call center scene because he asked me if it was believable. In that scene he answered the call for her daughter in the call center. Of course it was in broken English. I told him that his older fans would relate to that scene and would find that funny. While the younger generation who relates well to call centers would find that scene funny too. So I told him he would be hitting two markets,” Wenn said.

One of the challenges too for the director was shooting in public places because President Erap would always draw big crowds wherever he went. In one scene wherein the shoot used  a real traffic scenario, there was a big crowd watching the shooting of their idol, President Erap.

Wenn was also humbled that President Erap was “game” with anything he tells him to do. He couldn’t believe that President Erap would agree for them to put black charcoal make-up on his face for the aftermath of an accidental fireworks scene inside their house.

“He doesn’t complain at all,” quipped Wenn.

The success of “Ang Tanging Pamilya” has opened another film project for Wenn Deramas. Unfortunately for him, it is not a dramatic film which he has longed for in years. It is rather another comedy with two of the biggest stars in showbiz again – Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo!

But before he goes to work again, it is the wish of this writer that he “would remember to mourn the lost of his mother.” Because according to him, his busy schedule has prompted him to forget to mourn as of press time.

“I still haven’t had the moment that a Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor had already done,” he lamented.

Be that as it may, everyone is grateful for the medicine from the laughter brought by “Ang Tanging Pamilya!”

“Ang Tanging Pamilya” is still showing in theaters nationwide!