While shooting the crime drama series Almost Paradise, actor Nonie Buencamino said he enjoyed working with both the Filipino and American members of the cast and crew. The series is about the story of former U.S. secret agent Alex Walker (Christian Kane) who was drawn back to his old life after retiring in the island paradise of Cebu.

“Actually when I was there, I still had a few days for my first shooting day and I had four episodes which is many days. So I was able to read all four episodes before my first day and I had a few days to memorize my lines and try to say them in so many different ways while waiting in my room (laughs). In other words there was a lot of time to read, think, and analyze and see what are the possible ways I could do it so I can have a lot of attacks with me come shooting day so that I can give it to the director and I could give him what he wants. I appreciated that very much. We had a script given before the shoot and there were just a few revisions that came later on. Hindi yung sobrang major revision na mamamatay tapos hindi na mamamatay, hindi naman ganun. Just a few tweaks here and there,” he recalled.

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The series, which is produced by ABS-CBN and Electric Entertainment, is currently on its finale week on Kapamilya Channel and A2Z. Nonie said he enjoyed bonding with co-star Art Acuna during their shoot there.

“I have many fond memories of my stint at Cebu. One of my good memories would be having Mr. Art Acuna as my neighbor and brewing coffee at 4 am and then making that coffee and sharing that with him and then we’d have a really nice chat at 5 am. Because old people, we don’t get the chance to chat with other people at 5 am (laughs). So I had a really great bonding there with Art. I miss my co-actor Sam (Richelle) laughing at me and my other co-actors. And of course I have really great memories with the staff who are so professional and very caring. The people from ABS-CBN they were the cream of the crop over there and because I knew them already from my years of working with ABS-CBN, it was like another home. So I can’t really pinpoint any specific moment but that’s what I can share,” he said.

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Compared to his Almost Paradise role as Chief Ike Ocampo, chief of the Cebu Police Department, Nonie said he is more of a private person off camera.

“Chief Ocampo can thrive with a public audience, he can do well. Nonie Buencamino is shy in public (laughs). I’m not very good speaking to a large group of people but si Chief Ocampo likes to do that. What we have in common is that he is very principled. he likes to do things honestly. But it doesn’t appear so. It seems like he just wants to gain popularity as a chief and get all the praise from others. But actually he had high hopes and dreams for the police department of Mactan. I think that’s what makes his character charming because he sometimes comes out funny when he tries to get attention,” he explained.