ALMA MORENO was launched in 1976 in “Ligaw ni Bulaklak”, directed by Ishmael Bernal while Dina Bonnevie was launched in 1980 in Regal’s “Katorse” directed by Joey Gosiengfiao.
Now, for the first time, they get to work together in the new hilarious sitcom, “Kalye Kweens”, that will start airing this Saturday on TV5 at 8:30 PM and on Sunday at Sari-Sari Channel at 8 PM.
“We both did films for Regal pero never kaming pinagsama ni Mother Lily,” says Alma.
“Kaya bale first time kaming nagkasama rito sa ‘Kalye Queens’. We play best friends nung mga bata pa kami.
"Nagkagalit kami kasi boyfriend ko si Jeric Raval pero si Dina ang pinakasalan niya. Pero ako, nakapag-asawa nang mayaman but si Dina, mahirap pa rin.”
So how is it finally working with Dina?
“Friends naman kami so hindi na kami nailang sa isa’t isa. Pareho na kaming lola, pero ako bawal tawaging lola, Mama Ness ako.
"Nakakatuwa lang kasi comedy itong show namin, so magaan gawin at kami mismo, madalas nagtatawanan sa set. Hindi kagaya kung drama na mabigat dalhin.”
She also gets to act for the first time with her real life son, Vito Marquez.
“Lumabas ang pagka-nanay ko while working with him. I give him tips on how to do our scenes together. I’m happy that Boss Vic is helping him. Talagang ibinilin ko siya kay Boss Vic, sabi ko, second father niya ito.”
She’s happy that Boss Vic has also been helping her other son, Mark Anthony Fernandez.
“Sunod-sunod ang movies niya. At grabe ang discipline niya ngayon. Panay ang work out to keep himself in shape.”
How does she feel that Mark is going sexy in Vivamax movies like “Scorpio Nights 3”?
“Okay lang naman. Naku, malaki na siya, he can make decisions for himself. Mabait naman si Mark. May pagka-loner lang pero mapagmahal siya.
"Sa ngayon, I can say na wala akong problema sa mga anak ko. Si Vandolph is now a councilor and I’m helping him and his wife with my Alma Cares na tumutulong sa mga nangangailangan.
"My daughter Winwyn naman, bibinyagan na yung anak nila. Yung partner niya, namanhikan na sa amin. We know him na noon pa, kasi mga bata pa lang sila ni Winwyn, magkaibigan na sila.”
Alma says she is loveless at the moment. “May mga nanliligaw pero wala pang nagpapatibok uli ng puso ko.”
Does she ever see herself marrying again? “Ay hindi na. Happy na ako as I am now. 63 na ako pero wala sa hitsura ko, di ba?”
Alma was considered a top box office star in the 80s and 90s, with her movies even beating the films of Ate Guy, Ate Vi and FPJ at the tills.
We tell her our wish for her now is to finally win an acting award. She’s been active as an actress for more than 40 years but she has yet to win an acting award.
“Lagi akong nano-nominate lang. To win, I need to be given a real meaty role. E, up to now, I do comedy like in ‘Gusto Kong Maging Pornstar’ or villainous roles in ‘The Housemaid’ and ‘Virgin Forest’.
"So sana, mabigyan ako ng magandang project with a really good director. May natapos akong bagong movie, ‘Mary Cherry Chua’, based on an urban legend about a girl murdered in school na nagmumulto. Abangan nyo.”