One thing with “Whistleblower”, written by Rody Vera and directed by Adolf Alix, is that it’s being released by Unitel, who knows how to promote their releases. Unlike her past indie films, “Thy Womb”, “Kuwento ni Mabuti” and “Taklub”, which were shown without any publicity, “Whistleblower” had a big presscon at Gloria Maris and later had a press screening at Gateway Cinema last Tuesday night.
Did the movie help politicize Ate Guy? “Dati na akong politicized. Bukas ang isip ko sa mga nangyayari tungkol sa ating gobierno. Matagal nang dapat ipakita sa tao kung gaano kadumi ang gobierno natin. Sana, maging eye opener sa tao ang pelikulang ito at makatulong tungo sa pagbabago.”
In the story, she plays Zeny, an accountant who is hired by Cherry Pie Picache as Lorna Valera, a Janet Napoles-like character who connives with corrupt congressmen and senators by channeling their pork barrels to fake non-government organizations or NGO’s. Later on, she becomes the whistleblower whose life is threatened after she makes an expose of Lorna’s illegal activities.
What’s next for her on TV? “Rest muna ako kasi hirap ako sa taping. Gagawa muna ako ng movies. I’m doing ‘Oro’, about the mining industry, directed by Alvin Yapan. Isu-shoot namin sa Caramoan. Then I’m doing ‘Nympho’ with Direk Adolf uli. Diyan magbo-bold na ako talaga. May isa pa akong movie na two days shoot pa ako, ‘Kabisera’, ewan ko lang kung kailan matutuloy. Sayang dahil ang ganda nito, based on a true story of a massacre in Batangas. Ang ganda ng eksena namin doon ni Ricky Davao nang mamatay siya. Bubuhatin ko siya, e hindi ko mabuhat sa bigat niya. Akala nila, uma-acting ako, pero ang totoo, bigla akong inatake ng asthma sa harap ng camera.”
In “Nympho”, she will play a nymphomaniac who’d be bedding younger men. Among her bedmates are Mark Herras, Kristoffer Martin and Jeric Gonzales, all Kapuso actors. How did she feel when her son Ian was lauded in social media for helping a boy who was a hit and run victim? “Siempre, nanay niya ako, so I’m very proud sa anak ko. Hero siya para sa akin. Napakagandang gesture ng ginawa niya dun sa bata. Mana sa akin.”
Is it true her brother Eddie Boy is now in the hospital? “Yes, na-stroke siya at hindi na maigalaw ang katawan niya. Yung ulo na lang niya. At hindi rin makasalita. P1.7 million na ang nagagastos ko, sa ospital pa lang yun. Wala pa yung doctor. Tulungan nyo naman kaming ipagdasal ang kapatid ko para bumuti na siya.”
