Director Romy Suzara Personally Chose Regine Angeles To Replace Vilma Santos As The Lead Of 'Sigaw Sa Hatinggabi'

REGINE ANGELES won the Be Bench model search 7 years ago and after playing supporting and villain roles, she now plays her first lead role in Romy Suzara’s entry in the Sineng Pambansa Horror Filmfest, “Sigaw sa Hatinggabi”. “Actually, hindi ako ang first choice ni Direk Romy,” she says. “Originally, ako yung wife ng politician who committed suicide dahil battered wife.”

“Si Gov. Vilma Santos talaga ang gusto kong gumanap sa role ng medium,” says Direk Romy. “But when I went to see her in Batangas, she had some health issues so hindi siya puede. We cannot wait naman kasi may playdate na itong filmfest na October 29. Nakita ko si Regine, she’s too young for the role kasi 50 years old ang medium. But when I asked her to act, I was impressed, -iba ang aura niya, so I adjusted the role to her age and she turned out to be okay.”

“I’m really thankful to Direk Romy for giving me my first starring role,” says Regine. “I’m so flattered na no less than a Vilma Santos ang pinalitan ko and I’m happy na I met Direk’s expectations. Parang lucky charm nga siya kasi after I shot ‘Sigaw’, dumami trabaho ko. Now, I play the role of Jason Abalos’ sister and friend ni Kaye Abad in ABS-CBN’s ‘Two Wives’.”

Direk Romy Suzara is one of our top directors during the heydays of action pictures. He helmed a lot of memorable action flicks like “Pepeng Shotgun”, “Boy Pana” and “Palawan”, also dramas like “Mga Uod at Rosas” and “Pag-ibig na Walang Dangal”, and kiddie films like “Sarah, Munting Prinsesa” and “Cedie”.

“But I also made horror films like ‘Anak ng Aswang’ with Vilma Santos and ‘Sa Init ng Apoy’ with Lorna Tolentino and the late Rudy Fernandez,” he says. “Kaya enjoy ako doing a horror film again in ‘Sigaw sa Hatinggabi’. When FPJ passed, he left two unfinished films with me, ‘Tahimik Ngunit Mapanganib’ and ‘Kahit Isang Butil Walang Ititira’. Lagi ko siyang nakikita sa panaginip ko. When Daboy passed, ganun din. Nagpapakita lagi sa panaginip ko. I consulted a spiritista but hindi namin makuha ang message nila. So heto, na-inspire ako gumawa ng movie about spirits. In ‘Sigaw sa Hatinggabi’, the politician whose wife killed herself also died under mysterious circumstances so kinuha si Regine to trace the mystery. Doon na nagsimula ang mga katatakutan sa movie.”

Regine tried to watch the movie, filmed in an old house in Lian, Batangas. “But after ten minutes, ayoko na, natakot ako. Panonoorin ko na lang sa premiere night namin sa SM Megamall on Thursday. Parang birthday presentation ko rin ito. I’m turning 29 on October 29 na siyang opening ng movie. Sana suportahan ng viewers as I know they’ll enjoy it.”