Roi Vinzon Praises Newcomer Kate Brio's Performance In The Title Role Of Alleged Aswang 'Maria Labo'

AFTER APPEARING in soaps like “My Husband’s Lover” and “Carmela”, Roi Vinzon now works behind the camera as the director of “Maria Labo”, a horror movie distributed by Viva Entertainment. “I was visiting Bacolod when I heard the story of Maria Labo, an urban legend about a woman who became an aswang that circulated in the Visayas and Mindanao,” he says. “Ginagawa siyang panakot ng mga ina sa mga anak nilang mahilig gumala-gala. Sige, kukunin kayo ni Maria Labo. Naisip kong magandang gawing movie ang story ni Maria Labo at tamang-tama namang may investors who agreed to bankroll the project for their company, Starbuilders Production, with me as director.”

For the title role, he got Kate Brios, a Bacolod businesswoman who is the good friend of his wife. “Taga-Davao siya pero nag-relocate sa Bacolod where she manages a hotel-resort and has an herbal food supplement business. She’s pretty and for a newcomer, marami siyang gugulatin kahit first movie niya lang ito.”

Kate is a movie fan at heart. She likes the movies of Sharon Cuneta and Nora Aunor. “When Direk Roi offered the role of ‘Maria Labo’ to me, tinanong ko talaga ang sarili ko kung kaya ko bang gawin ito. Kasi wala talaga akong kahit anong prior experience sa acting at ni hindi ako nakapag-acting workshop. E, sabi naman ni Direk Roi, just be natural. huwag kang umakting. Masuwerte ako dahil puro magagaling na beteranong actors ang kasama and they all helped me in interpreting my roles, sina Jestoni Alarcon, Mon Confiado, Rez Cortez, Rey Abellana and Baron Geisler.”

Kate as Maria Labo is the loving and devoted wife of Jestoni and doting mom to their two kids. “Dahil sa financial problems, napilitan akong maging OFW at nagtrabaho ako sa Dubai. Doon, may na-meet akong another OFW na hindi ko alam, may inilipat na malagim na sumpa sa akin at dito na nagsimula ang pagiging aswang ko. Sabi, the real Maria Labo is a cross between an aswang and a deranged person. Kasi may story rin na nabaliw siya sa Dubai nang ma-rape siya ng mga Arabo at nasiraan siya ng bait kaya pinauwi rito. May nagsasabi ngang hanggang ngayon, buhay pa rin siya at patuloy na nagsasabog ng lagim sa mga probinsiya.”
How will Roi assess Kate’s acting as Maria Labo? “She shows great sensitivity as an actress. Hindi mo iisiping late bloomer siya dahil parang she’s been acting all this time. Gusto ko lang linawin na hindi ito indie film, huh. Malaki ang budget namin, hindi ito tinipid, may scenes pa kami na kinunan on location sa mismong Dubai.”

Kate enjoyed shooting her first movie so much that she is now preparing for her second project, a suspense-drama with Christopher de Leon. “Maria Labo” will have its premiere night at SM Megamall on November 10 and opens nationwide on November 11.