“Actually, special participation lang ako rito sa movie as the auntie of Paolo Ballesteros,” she says in an exclusive interview with select members of the press at Novotel. “As Paolo's only remaining relative, ang gusto ko, magkaasawa na siya para ma-maintain ang family name namin. But I was shocked when I learned he’s a vakla! E, yun pala, may anak na siya sa ex-girlfriend niyang si Solenn Heussaff without his knowing it. Lumaki sa France. Bumalik dito si Solenn at pinakilala sa amin ang bata at hinimatay ako sa pagka-shock when I learned about it.”
She says Eric has actually mentioned to her another project of his intended for her. “I thought ito na yun, pero iba pala. Pero siempre, nang malaman kong ang good friend kong si Eric Quizon ang magdidirek nito, I told him agad na hindi puedeng hindi ako kasama sa movie niya. Our friendship goes a long way back. Andami naming ginawang pelikula together as co-stars, like ‘Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin’, ‘Super Inday’, ‘I Will Survive’, the very first ‘Mano Po’ movie and ‘Bahay Kubo’. Tapos, ang daddy niya, daddy ko rin sa John en Marsha for the longest time, di ba? Kuya ko roon ang brother niya, si Rollie Quizon, na we’re so sad with his recent passing. Naku, tama na, baka magkaiyakan, next topic please!”
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| Maricel with director Eric Quizon |
This is also a homecoming of sorts for her to Regal. “Of course, sa Regal ito, so kampante ako kasi dito kay Mother Lily ako lumaki at tumanda. Yung last movie nga na ginawa ko sa kanila, ‘Bahay Kubo’, nanalo pa akong best actress sa Metro-Manila Filmfest in 2007, kaya at home talaga ako rito.”
So she doesn’t mind playing a supporting role? “Not at all. Naging mother na nga ako ni Vice Ganda sa ‘Boy Girl Bakla Tomboy’, di ba?” And she she even won a best actress award for her rollicking performance in that movie.
So how is it working with Paolo and Solenn Heussaff? “Enjoy ako. Pareho silang magaling at magaan katrabaho, walang hangin sa ulo at walang mga ere. Parehong very professional kaya ang bilis-bilis ng trabaho namin. Masaya kaming lahat lagi sa set.”
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| Maricel with dir. Eric Quizon and prod Roselle Monteverde |
One reason why she’s not controversial is because she has no social media account, unlike Kris Aquino whose life is chronicled in the internet with all its most colorful details. “Tumagal naman ako nang ganito without social media. I believe ang mga artista should maintain their privacy, dapat nirerespeto at minamahal, gaya nina Tita Gloria Romero and Tita Susan Roces who have maintained their dignity all these years. Bakit ako magpe-Facebook or Twitter, tapos iba-bash lang ako? Mahirap makipag-away sa hindi mo kakilala at di mo nakikita, wala kang kalaban-laban as they have nothing to lose. Sa edad kong ito, babastusin lang ako? Huwag na.”
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| Maricel with director Eric Quizon |
Last week, one of her best movies, “Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal”, was shown in its restored version and the consensus of all those who saw it is that she really gave one of her best performances in her career in that film. “Nakakatuwa nga kasi isa talaga yun sa mga paborito kong pelikula,” she beams. “It’s one of my best movies and I’m so proud na nagawa ko ito.”
When she did “Dalawang Mrs. Real” with GMA-7, it was a big hit on primetime and people thought she’d quickly have a followup project, but nothing came. What happened? “E, hindi sila magaling. Hindi nila sinundan, e.”
Is it true she became picky with her projects? “Sa akin lang naman, kailangan, maganda yung story, kasi yun talaga ang magdadala, e. At siempre, kailangan, maganda rin ang role ko.”
But now, she is finally back on TV with Angel Locsin in ABS-CBN’s “The General’s Daughter”. “I’m really happy kasi matapos ng matitinding dagok na pinagdaanan ko sa buhay ko, heto, after the rain, I can say that I’m back both sa movies at sa TV. No regrets sa mga nangyari before, basta ang mahalaga, tapos na yun at narito na uli ako. I wouldn’t be honest if I’d say na hindi ko hinahanap-hanap ang pagiging artista. Siempre, na-miss ko ko lahat yung pagharap ko sa kamera. But now, I can feel yung unconditional love for me and sobra-sobra akong na-touch.”
What’s her role in her new show? “Will she be the mom of Angel Locsin? “Hindi. May anak ako, pero hindi siya. Maganda ang story pero hindi pa yata puedeng ikuwento, so abangan nyo na lang. Basta excited ako sa TV show namin. Ang laki ng cast at puro magagaling ang kasama ko. Sa May 7 na ang start ng taping at on location daw sa isang island. Yun pa lang ang puede kong i-share sa inyo sa ngayon.”
