JERICO ESTREGAN is the third of six kids of former Gov. Jorge Estregan. He has appeared in supporting roles in the past films of his dad, like “Asiong Salonga”, “Boy Golden” and “Muslim Magnum 357”. He also did “Across the Crescent Moon” for Baby Nebrida and “Mandirigma” for Arlyn de la Cruz.
He used to be managed by Arnold Vegafria and has a contract with Regal, but he’s now under Viva Artists Agency and is being launched by Viva in cooperation with VicVal Blue Sapphire Production in the horror-action flick “Amalanhig, Vampire Chronicle”, opposite Sanya Lopez.
“Nagpaalam kami nang maayos kay Arnold at sa Regal bago ako lumipat sa Viva,” he says. “In ‘Amalanhig’, I play a college student who goes to the remote town of San Esteban, along with my girlfriend played by Sanya, to look for this mythical creature in Visayan mythology in Panay Island called amalanhig. It’s a hybrid monster, half-man, half-animal with sharp teeth that it uses to kill its victims.”
In “Amanlahig”, he did his own stunts, like jumping from a high waterfall. He got cuts and bruises on his knees and legs during the fight scene with the Amanlahig monster. “We did it sa batuhan at masyadong madulas yung mga bato so we fell at nasugatan kami.”
Jerico turned 25 last August 30. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from La Salle and has also completed his master’s degree in communications but is still working on his thesis about the last presidential elections. At the presscon of “Amalanhig”, he feels sad that his leading lady was not allowed to promote the film.
“Actually, gusto niya. Sanya and I communicate. She even greeted me on my birthday. Pero hindi raw siya pinayagan ng network niya kasi exclusive na ang contract niya roon. But she’s promoting it naman sa social media accounts niya, even posting our pictures together.”
How was it working with Sanya? “She’s very nice to work with. Hindi mareklamo kahit mahirap yung shoot. We have two kissing scenes in the movie. Natatakot siya noong una kasi first movie niya ito, e. Shooting the film is a learning experience for both of us, but nagawa naman namin nang maayos. I feel sad that she can’t be with me in promoting the film, but I’m still hoping for the best na sana, mapayagan naman siya to attend our premiere night man lang before our movie opens in theaters on September 20. Sayang naman kasi first movie niya ito and it’s a good quality film we can both be proud of, pati yung music video to the tune of The Late Isabel’s ‘Lackadaisical’ na siyang theme song ng movie namin.”
