'Higanti' Starring Assunta De Rossi & Jay Manalo Is Meant For The Metro Filmfest But Will Be Shown First In Various Countries Abroad

NEWBIE DIRECTOR Rommel Ricafort says his movie, “Higanti”, is not an indie but a mainstream film which has a big budget because their producers, Marita Teresa Cancio and Bimbo Papasin, made sure no stone is left unturned to make it a good movie. “Hindi talaga tinipid ang gastos dito and we’ve entered it in the coming Metro Manila Filmfest but, before that, we are having screenings next month in Hongkong, Japan, Milan in Italy, Singapore and Dubai,” he says. “Okay lang naman sa Metro filmfest ipalabas muna sa abroad, huwag lang dito sa Pilipinas muna.”

Why is the title “Higanti”? “Jay Manalo here plays the role of a corrupt politician. Dating asawa niya si Assunta de Rossi pero hiniwalayan niya for Katrina Halili. Kinuha niya yung mga anak nila ni Assunta, si Meg Imperial at si Jon Lucas of Hashtags, at inilayo ang loob sa ina nila. Everyone will think the title refers to Assunta dahil gusto niyang maghiganti kay Jay, but it will be revealed later on na maraming iba pang taong gusto maghiganti kay Jay dahil sa corruption niya. Also in the cast is DJ Durano as Jay’s friend and lawyer, Alwyn Uytingco as Meg’s boyfriend, Kiko Matos as an NBI investigator, Daniel Pasia as a reporter na pinapatay ni Jay, Lui Manansala and Ruby Ruiz. Drama ito na marami ring action scenes.”

We ask lead stars Jay and Assunta if they believe in revenge? “No, I don’t,” says Jay. “Kasi wala namang kahihinatnan kung gaganti ka. Yung mga may atraso sa’kin, pinagpapasa-Diyos ko na lang lahat.”

“At saka it will only be a vicious cycle,” says Assunta. “Kung gaganti ka, gaganti rin sila uli, walang katapusan. Ako, I don’t believe you have to resort to violence or inflict pain. Sa dami ng mga taong gumawa sa’kin ng kasalanan, I’m still here. Para nga akong pushover, but I believe may karma yan at triple pa ang aabutin ng mga gumagawa ng masama. Mas okay pang mabuti na lang ang itanim mo kasi yung mga ginawaan mo ng kabutihan, sila pa ang gaganti para sa’yo. I learned that from my parents na sobrang mabait to a fault. Para sa kanila talaga, walang masamang tinapay.”