Ogie Diaz Is an Acting Coach, Whether You Like It Or Not

(SPOT.ph) When the video of Ogie Diaz coaching a bunch of kids how to deliver the line "Hayup ka! May araw ka rin! Mabubulok ka sa impiyerno!" spread like wildfire online, people saw another side to the talent manager slash social media star. Turns out Ogie runs—surprise, surprise!—an acting school, and he’s head teacher in it, too.

The video got so popular even artistas got in on the act—JC Alcantara and Melai Cantiveros included—mouthing the now familiar line in their own social media channels. It’s Showtime even featured Ogie himself as acting coach in one of its segments, with the noontime show’s hosts playing willing students uttering the “Hayup ka” quote.

@ellenlihim Pm your reservations at Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop fb page #ogiediazactingworkshop ♬ original sound - ellenlihim

Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop: Beyond "Hayop Ka!"

While netizens were amused with the workshop video, many eyebrows, too, were raised: What qualifies the former entertainment reporter to teach acting?

I think we’re forgetting the fact that Ogie is an actor, too. As per his last count, he’s starred in more than 20 TV shows and 50 movies. Most of the latter were projects under the award-winning writer-director Jose "Joey" Javier Reyes. If anything, the guy knows how to steal the show—as he’s capably displayed in the Joey-helmed hits May Minamahal, Pare Ko, and Radio Romance, and in a few episodes of the Joey-written classic sitcom, Palibhasa Lalake.

Experience ba kamo? He has that! Mentors? Well, Johnny Manahan was his director in Palibhasa… He’s been under Maryo J Delos Reyes (The Secrets of Sarah Jane), Don Escudero (Multo in the City), and Joyce Bernal (Super B, Kimmy Dora). How many coaches in the country can claim to have worked with all these Philippine cinema luminaries?

That Ogie has remained in the entertainment industy since 1987—when he began as Cristy Fermin's assistant—is just another plus. "Mahirap 'yung may formal training pero di ka sa industry," Ogie tells SPOT.ph. "Nagtuturo ka lang according sa mga libro. Or napapanood mo lang. Pero ikaw physically wala ka doon. Mas maganda na nagtuturo ka dahil naka-immerse ka."

More than three decades in showbiz has given Ogie insight into crafting his own acting lesson plan. He says experience is a great teacher, and credits his being naturally observant as adding to his confidence to teach. “Ultimo gumagapang o lumilipad na ipis nga ginagawan ko ng istorya at binibigyan ko sila ng emosyon bago ko sila hampasin. Dito pa kaya sa mundong pinili ko?"

The Ogie Diaz Acting Workshop has in fact been around since March 2015 and has since produced 152 batches. Among its celebrity graduates are Heaven Peralejo, Isabel Ortega, Ivana Alawi, Nikko Natividad, Hashtag Kid, David Licauco and Sazchna Laparan.

For an entire 22-hour, two-day course for teens and adults, or three-day course for kids, the fee is only Php 8,000 per student. Ogie teaches the teens and adults. Actress Candy Pangilinan conducts the children's classes.

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The workshops cover not just elements of acting such as voice projection, nuances, gestures and body language; the scope also includes lessons on having the right mindset and values needed to succeed in the biz. "Kahit ang branding, imaging nila, kasama na,” says the former manager of Vice Ganda and Liza Soberano. “Pati ang behavior dapat nila sa set at pagtrato sa mga kapwa artista at lalo na sa production people. Dahil lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila, someday magiging boss 'yan, 'pag pinakitaan mo ng 'di maganda 'yan, baka hindi ka na niya gustong makatrabaho."

Not all who enroll in his workshops have set their sights on stardom, however. Some just want to gain confidence, boost their self-esteem. “Kaya natutuwa ako dahil 'yung ibang parents nireregaluhan pa ako ng kung ano-ano dahil ang laki raw ng ipinagbago ng anak nila mula nang mahawakan namin," reveals the acting coach. 

Ogie says there’s one basic quality every student of the Ogie School must imbibe: sincerity.

"Kailangan sa mata pa lang mapaniwala na ako, na mapagkakamalan ko siyang siya ang character he or she’s playing at hindi yung personalidad na gumaganap sa character."

If people still don’t take him seriously as an acting coach despite his years in the business, the seasoned actors and directors he’s worked with, and the Ogie School graduates who’s parlayed their acting studies into full-fledged careers, he won’t take it against them. It’s alright. No biggie. "Tumawa na lang sila,” he says. “'Pag tumawa sila, eh di napasaya ko pa sila, hahaha!"

For more information about the Ogie Diaz Acting Worshop, visit their Facebook page. A workshop for teens and adults is slated on January 13 to 14, 2024.