Last 5 May, three years after Covid-19 struck the world, the World Health Organization finally ended its global emergency status. Many lives were lost during the nightmare of Covid-19, but there were still beautiful stories and turning points that happened to people.
Chad Kinis (real name Richardson de la Cruz) has one such story. At the presscon for his directorial debut The Beks Days of Our Lives on 5 May — the same day of WHO’s declaration — the standup comedian and vlogger became emotional as he recalled how, during the time of the pandemic, his life dramatically changed.
It was his friendship with Lassy and MC Muah, his co-members in the comedy troupe Beks Battalion, that inspired the storyline and concept of his first-ever movie, he said.
“Beks Battalion is an unexpected family. Hindi po namin inasahan na magiging matatag kaming magkasama bilang pamilya. Nagkaroon ako ng mga bagong kapatid sa kanila (We didn’t expect that we’d emerge strong as a family. I found new siblings in them),” Kinis said, becoming tearful.
“Sa totoo lang po kasi, I’ve been so alone for decades. Mag-isa nagta-trabaho. Papasok ako sa comedy bar, then uuwi ako mag-isa (In truth, I’ve been alone for decades. I was working alone. I would go to work at the comedy bar, then go home by myself).”
But the pandemic changed all that.
It was in February 2020, a month before the country was put on Covid-19 lockdown, when Kinis formed Beks Battalion (now with over two million followers on YouTube). The trio began working hard to bring comedy online through their YouTube channel.
Chad, Lassy and MC have been long-time friends and stand-up comics before the group Beks Battalion was formed. In November 2020, still at the height of the pandemic, the trio showed a new house where the three of them decided to live together as a family.
“Nung pandemic, nabuo ang Beks Battalion. Parang I found a new purpose,” Chad shared, wiping away tears. “Hindi lang po ako nagkaroon ng mga kapatid, kundi ng pamilya na gumagabay sa akin. Si Kuya Lassy, kahit pinakamatanda sa’min, parang naging bunso namin. Ang saya lang po ng buhay. Nagkaroon ako ng bagong direksyon sa kanila (I didn’t just get new siblings, but a family to guide me. Kuya Lassy is the oldest among us, but he also sort of became the youngest. Life has become happy. I’ve found a new direction because of them).”
Chad said he never fails to text Lassy and MC every single day just to tell them that he loves them, “as if it’s the last breath of my life.”
The dramedy Beks Days of Our Lives, which opens 17 May in cinemas nationwide, tells the story of three close friends, Richard (Chad), Melvin (MC) and Reggie (Lassy). When one of them is diagnosed with leukemia, the trio embarks on a vacation to experience the “beks days of their lives.”
“Itong movie na ito, kaya excited kami, bukod sa may drama talaga ‘yung movie, may puso. Pero hindi pa rin namin nakakalimutan yung pinaka-core ‘namin, yung comedy. So magugulat kayo sa ending nito, na hindi talaga siya tipikal na pelikula. Talagang may pa-surprise sa ending (We’re excited about this movie because it has heart. But we haven’t forgotten our core, which is comedy. So you’d be surprised at the ending, which isn’t typical in movies. It’s really a surprise ending),” said MC at the presscon.
Expressing admiration for his first-time director friend, MC revealed that Kinis studied directing and camerawork to prepare for this movie.
“Napakatalino at brilliant ng mind ni Chad (Chad has a very smart and brilliant mind),” he said.
Chad watched a lot of movies and even consulted with fellow directors to help him prepare for his big task as a first-time director of a full-length feature. He admitted to challenges such as budget constraints and the volatile weather, but otherwise, they were very happy on set, he said. And Lassy and MC were “effortless” in their performances.
Trusting each other helped make the project a breeze, he said. Which is a testament to the gift of having close and satisfying friendships that are more like family, like the Beks Battalion.