“It was a big challenge for me to deliver all my lines in Bisaya kasi live sound ang shoot namin at walang dubbing-dubbing, so kailangan laging tama ang delivery ko,” she says. “They gave me a speech coach and I really studied and practised it well pero ang hirap palang mag-memorize ka ng lines mo, tapos iisipin mo rin kung paano yung arteng gagawin mo while saying your Visayan lines. I want to do it right kasi nasa puso ko pa rin ang pagiging Cebuana kahit hindi ako lumaki roon. Ang daddy ko ang tuwang-tuwang nagsasalita ako sa language nila. First time siyang dumalaw sa set ng isang movie na ginagawa ko and I want to make him feel proud of me. Three weeks kaming nag-shoot kami and I fell in love more with my roots. Tuwang-tuwa talaga ang daddy ko na puro Cebuano ang mga katrabaho at narinig niyang nagbi-Bisaya ako. So I’m really happy to have made this movie dahil nakatulong din ako sa Cebuano cinema. I didn’t even realize na may sarili pala silang film industry in Cebu and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
She plays the title role in “Lily”, which is not a tribute to Mother Lily Monteverde but is based on an urban legend in Cebu about an evil spirit who roams at night. “Si Lily, panakot siya sa mga bata kapag ayaw matulog or mag-behave well. Sinasabing monster siya, aswang, but behind the urban legend, there is really a wife abandoned by her husband and a mother looking for justice. It’s a good role and although I did ‘Dukot’ for Direk Paul Soriano na parang indie ang atake, ‘Lily’ is really my first out and out indie film. This is directed by Keith Deligero, who also co-wrote the script. Kasama ko rito si Rocky Salumbides.” She’s been loveless since her last boyfriend, John Lloyd Cruz. Is she ready to get into a new relationship? “That was in 2012 yet, so four years na ang nakalipas and yes, I think ready na ako. I’ve given enough time for myself na. But then, hindi naman yan hinahanap kundi kusang dumarating, so I will just wait kung sino ang ipakikilala sa akin ni Lord.”
