Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Bautista on doing his own stunts in Roja: ‘Hindi ko sinabi sa crew’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>At 22 years old, Harvey Bautista is one of the few actors who can say that his acting career has already spanned almost one and a half decades. The former <em>Goin’ Bulilit </em>cast member first joined the now defunct kiddie variety show at the age of eight. Since then, he has been visible in various ABS-CBN shows like <em>Pamilya Sagrado</em> and <em>High Street</em>.</p><div><br/></div><p>This year, Harvey got the chance to play the role of Ian &quot;Cuatro&quot; Menor, one of the hijackers in the recently concluded action drama series<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><strong> </strong><em><strong>Roja</strong></em></a> where his character is the younger brother of Dado Menor, played by Bernard Palanca. “I got to play a nerdy I.T expert na nag-fi-fidget lagi sa kamay. Isa ‘yung bucket list sa acting roles na I’ve been wanting to do,” he told <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a> in an exclusive interview. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2cBezsrQdI/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A22860788.600000024%2C%22ls%22%3A75298.90000003576%2C%22le%22%3A75706.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1089" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Although his character met a sad fate in the show, Harvey considers the last scene he shot in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><em><strong>Roja</strong></em></a> as one of his most unforgettable memories from the project. “It’s either ‘yung scene namin ni Kyle (Echarri) where nagwala si Olsen tapos babarilin na niya si Ian or ‘yung death scene ko. Kasi in the part of the death scene where he was rolling down (the forest), that was actually me rolling down. Hindi ko sinabi sa crew na mag-ro-roll down ako sa cliff. So that was very memorable,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPOeG9OAWNS/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A22860827.600000024%2C%22ls%22%3A75298.90000003576%2C%22le%22%3A75706.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1017" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Having shot on location in an island resort, Harvey talked about how much bonding he and the rest of the cast were able to share on and off camera. “Since lock in kami, obviously iba-iba ‘yung pack up times namin. Some of us would pack up earlier ‘pag done na ‘yung scenes for the day. So we would just hang out. Ang daming spots kasi dun sa pinag-shooting-an. Hanap lang ng area na open. Every time after shoot, we would just hang out somewhere. There wasn’t really a night where mag-so-solo kami na sariling trip, ganun,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><p>Unlike regular series where people pack up and go home from the location everyday, Harvey admitted that the proximity of the cast and crew in <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><em><strong>Roja</strong></em></a> made everyone close even after the show had finished taping.  </p><div><br/></div><p>“I have to say (I’ll miss) everyone kasi ‘yun nga, we were in lock-in so ‘yung environment namin, the faces that we would all see there were just the same faces. So obviously it was the cast and the crew and everyone. So I can’t specifically pick out anyone. I can’t just pick out from the whole group kasi everyone is very special to me. And every time I think of the shoot, I just think of ‘yung hang outs namin, lunch break or dinner break,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/7/26/exclusive-ac-bonifacio-shares-how-harvey-bautista-helped-her-in-the-four-bad-boys-and-me-1315"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: AC Bonifacio shares how Harvey Bautista helped her in ‘The Four Bad Boys and Me’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>The<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><strong> </strong><em><strong>Roja</strong></em></a> actor shared how the whole experience went by so fast. “It’s sad. It feels quick. We started shooting in October-November, so it feels kind of quick. I think it’s a very special show. It was a very unique show sa lineup ng primetime. It’s a heist show na stuck on an island and may action. It was really fun to shoot so it’s sad but at the same time, I’m very proud of the work that we did,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4iR7hjyJ0P/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A22860850.900000036%2C%22ls%22%3A75298.90000003576%2C%22le%22%3A75706.10000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1059" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/2025/6/11/harvey-bautista-shares-the-best-piece-of-advice-he-got-from-his-daddy-herbert-0215"><strong>READ: Harvey Bautista shares the best piece of advice he got from his Daddy Herbert</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Before ending the interview, Harvey made sure to leave a message of appreciation to all the supporters of the show. “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><em><strong>Roja</strong></em><strong> </strong></a>fans, thank you so much. Unang-una, thank you for supporting the show. Thank you for watching along. Sana nag-enjoy kayo sa story ng <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/roja"><em><strong>Roja</strong></em></a>. Sana na-enjoy niyo ‘yung portrayal ko as Ian. He’s a very memorable character to me out of all the characters that I’ve played. I hope you guys enjoyed it,” he said.  </p>

<p>'Roja' actor and former Goin’ Bulilit member Harvey Bautista looks back on his unforgettable last scene in the action series and how he and the cast enjoyed their lock-in taping on an island.</p>

'Roja' actor and former Goin’ Bulilit member Harvey Bautista looks back on his unforgettable last scene in the action series and how he and the cast enjoyed their lock-in taping on an island.