Ryza Cenon On How She Is Able To Overcome Her Suicidal Tendencies, Now Proud Of Her Hit Show, Ika-6 Na Utos', & New Movie, 'Manananggal Sa Unit 23B'

RYZA CENON has suffered a reversal of fortune as Georgia in “Ika-6 na Utos”. The avenging Sunshine Dizon as Emma has succeeded in making her very poor and she is now reduced to being a fish vendor. How does she feel about this? “Masaya,” she lauhgs. “Kasi tumaas lalo ang ratings ng show namin, umabot na sa 10.2% on July 27 and 10.7% on July 28. kaya GMA Pres. Felipe Gozon sent as a letter of congratulations and commendation. This means, hindi nababawasan ang interest ng viewers sa show kahit sinasabi ng iba na masyado na raw itong mahaba sa ere. Enjoy sila ngayong panoorin ang paghihiganti sa akin ni Emma. Some quarters naman say na parang pang-prime time na ang rating ng ‘Ika-6 na Utos’. I heard na mae-extend pa raw kami hanggang February so aabot kami ng more than one year on the air kasi we started airing last December.”

Ryza is also elated that her movie, “Manananggal sa Unit 23B”, is now an official entry in the coming Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino that starts on August 16 in all theaters nationwide. The movie will also have a special screening at the UP Film Center on August 8.

“I’m really proud na nakapasok kami sa Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino,” she says. “Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang feeling na ang movie ko, napili as an official entry sa isang nationwide filmfest. I’m really excited kasi ipalalabas ito sa mga sinehan sa buong Pilipinas. Heaven sent ang pagdating sa akin ng pelikulang ito kasi I was having struggles in my life when the offer came. ‘Manananggal’ saved me at nilipad akong pataas so people will notice me. Parang hulog ng langit.”

She says they re-shot the movie after it was shown in QCinema Filmfest last year. “Nagdagdag ng mga eksena, nilagyan ng bagong musical score at ni re-edit ang buong movie so, kahit napanood nyo na ito, it’s like watching a new movie all over again. The movie is not just scary but also a dark romance. I play Jewel, who lives in her condo unit with a deep dark secret. I grow wings and my body is cut into half kaya nagiging manananggal ako. I eat the hearts of my male victims na, usually, masasamang tao naman. Then I meet Martin del Rosario as Nico, na bagong lipat sa condo namin. We’re both lonely souls so naka-relate kami sa isa’t isa. I fall in love with him but what kung maging biktima ko rin siya at kainin ko ang puso niya?”

Those who have reviewed the film all praise her performance that humanized the image of the manananggal. It is also the most demanding role she did to date as she was even asked to do a scene giving pleasure to herself.

“Mahirap gawin yung role ko kasi I have to look mysterious, dangerous but vulnerable at the same time. Sa kabuuan, very challenging ang movie pero natutuwa naman ako dahil nagbunga nang maganda lahat ng paghihirap namin nina Martin and our co-stars, Tita Vangie Labalan as his grandma and Cholo Barretto as one of my victims, along with our director, Prime Cruz.”

Ryza’s career is really on a roll as she’s about to shoot a new movie, a romcom with Kapamilya actor JC Santos, to be directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, who’s the toast of the town as she’s the director of the surprise blockbuster, “Kita Kita”.

But Ryza revealed that there was a time when she nearly killed herself. “May pagka-suicidal kasi ako. I’m an introvert and instead of sharing my depression with others, sinasarili ko lang. There was a time na I got so depressed when I was being bashed noon ng Mark Herras-Jennylyn Mercado fans dahil sa pagka-link ko kay Mark. Uminom ako ng silicang panlinis ng sapatos, but di naman ako namatay, nakatulog lang ako. But I got over that. There were times din when I'd hurt myself, inuumpog ko ang ulo ko sa pader.”

Did she ever seek professional help? “No. I won’t even tell my lola, who raised me by herself in Gapan, what I was going through. But right now, I feel good and blessed kasi everything is doing well in my career and my lovelife. Kapag feeling low ako ngayon, I just go to my car, cry and pray to God and after that, okay na ako.”