“Hindi madali to portray a real life character and I have to do some extensive research with the help of our director, Sari Dalena, who provided materials for me to learn how to act and talk like Nick Joaquin,” he says. “I also read his books as I get to play some of the characters he wrote in some parts of the movie. I watched the video of his speech made at the CCP and study how he dressed up. It’s not easy kasi my personality is so very far from his. He likes to speak in Spanish so may Spanish lines ako rito. May pagka-Bohemian siyang mahilig uminom, mahilig kumanta ng old jazz songs. I have to be consistent with my characterization to make sure siya ang makikita ng tao sa screen. Kung ako pa rin ang makikita nila, then that means I failed. Multiple roles nga ako rito kasi I also play the character of Don Badong in his very popular story, ‘May Day Eve’. You can see his transformation from being a young man in his 20s to an old man in his 60s. I also play a monk in the ‘Legend of the Virgin’s Jewel’.”
Raymond was last seen doing a short role in ‘Felix Manalo’ and in the indie film ‘Of Sinners and Saints’. On TV, he played dad to Mark Neumann in TV5’s “Baker King”. “I’m really happy na tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang assignments ko. ‘Dahlin’ Nick’ is one movie that really tested my acting skills. I’m hoping that I really lost myself while playing the character of our late National Artist in Literature. And I really want to thank Direk Sari Dalena for choosing me to play the part.”
In the movie, Raymond co-stars with Alessandra de Rossi, Dindi Gallardo, Lance Raymundo and Maria Isabel Lopez.
