Breadwinner OFW enters world of acting in UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – During the day, he browses through documents and do PowerPoint presentations of properties in Turkey to would-be clients. After work, and on weekends, he brushes up on his newfound knack in acting.

That’s the way it’s been for 31-year-old Ron Wilson Peña of Las Piñas City, who went to Dubai in 2016 to provide a bright future for his three siblings. His 60-year-old father died when he was 22 and this left him taking on the hat as family breadwinner.
  
A full scholar back in college, Peña managed to send all his siblings through school. “Dinala ko na rin sila dito sa Dubai,” he said. 

(I have also brought them here in Dubai.)

Peña said he has long been in love with acting. “It’s my childhood dream and passion,” he said in a mix of English and the vernacular.

“After work, isa sa aking pinagkaka-abalahan ay ang paggawa ng mga short films bilang actor,” he said. 

(Among things I am busy with after work is doing short films as an actor.)

Peña  has been collaborating with a production outfit, Tbon Dubai, which makes short films based on true-to-life experiences, and has one million followers on Facebook. 

Having started acting in September last year, Peña has been in 45 films, taking on a variety of roles ranging from a loving husband, to a rich investor, a sex maniac doctor, a womanizing husband, police officer, a rich lover, even an embalmer.

“Bago po kami sumabak, binibigyan kami ng chance ng mga directors po para mag-internalize muna upang magampanan ang bawat role. Para sa mga manyak roles, medyo challenging dahil need mo maipakita yung naughty side mo and isipin na makatotohanan talaga,” said Peña. 

(Before we start shooting, the directors give us a chance to internalize our roles to portray them well. Sex maniac roles are a bit challenging because you need to show your naughty side and think of executing it realistically.)

“The nice thing about daring roles is that, aside from being professional about it, we are comfortable with each other (during shoots).”

Peña said he did not go to acting school, only able to hone his acting skills through free workshops that Tbon provides.

He said his siblings were his inspiration.

“Isa sa mga mahahalagang aral na natutunan ko bilang isang OFW ay ang kahalagahan ng pagtitiyaga at sakripisyo para sa pamilya. Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok sa ibang bansa, ang determinasyon kong mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang aking pamilya ang nagsilbing inspirasyon at lakas ko,” said Peña.

(Among lessons I have learned being an OFW is the importance of perseverance and sacrifice for the family. In spite of the challenges working abroad, my determination to provide a bright future for my siblings and my family was where I derived my strength to keep moving on.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News