GINA ALAJAR is elated that while she’s not busy with TV work, she’s now doing movies.
She just finished “Monday, First Screening”, a love story about two senior citizens where she co-stars with Ricky Davao, and now, she’s starting another movie with Nora Aunor, “Pieta”, helmed by Adolfo Alix Jr.
“Bale pang-anim na movie namin ito ni Guy,” says Gina.
“Una kaming nagkasama, teenagers pa lang kami, in ‘My Little Brown Girl’ in 1972, na hindi ko malilimutan kasi hindi kami makapag-shoot dahil nag-aaway sila noon ni Pip (Tirso Cruz III) at hinihintay muna naming magkabati sila.
"Then we did three movies for Mario O’Hara: ‘Condemned’, ‘Bulaklak ng City Jail’ and ‘Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak’.
"Our last movie together was ‘Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina’ in 1990 for Direk Gil Portes, so more than 30 years ago na yun.
"Pero nagkasama rin kami as artista at director in ‘Onanay’ ng GMA-7 in 2019.”
Ate Guy has nothing but praises for Gina.
“Kaibigan ko siya, mapagmahal na director at kumare. May nagawa akong kasalanan sa kanya noon, pero marunong siyang magpatawad.
"At ngayong magkasama na kami uli… Mare, lalapit uli ako sa’yo kundi ko alam kung ano ang iaarte ko ha.
"Turuan mo ako. Mabait na kumare talaga si Mareng Gina.”
How does she feel that a National Artist considers her a mentor?
“Naku, huwag kayong maniwala diyan,” laughs Gina.
"Si Mareng Guy, parang si Mommy Anita Linda. Kapag kaeksena ko, sasabihin sa akin, ‘Gina, pisilin mo ang kamay ko kapag dialogue ko na ha? Pisilin mo.’
"Ako naman, opo, opo. Pero pag take na, di ko pa man napipisil yung kamay niya, nagda-dialogue na agad na tama ang timing.
"Sa ilang beses na pagsasama namin as actors and I was even given the chance to direct her, alam kong Mareng Guy knows how to do everything.
"We have worked with the country’s best directors like Brocka and Bernal kaya pareho kaming hasang-hasa sa harap ng kamera.
"Kanina, bago magpresscon sabi niya, hindi siya magsasalita kasi hinihingal siya. Pero ayan ngayon, tingnan nyo, daldal nang daldal.”
Ate Guy smiled and hugged Gina. “Kasi natutuwa akong nagkasama uli tayo. At natutuwa akong makita uli ang mga kaibigan natin sa press.”
“You know, what I love about Guy is her humility,” Gina adds. “Superstar siya, National Artist pa, pero wala siyang ere na nagpapa-diva effect sa set.
"Through the years, nakita ko, simple lang siya. Pagdating niya sa set, she greets everyone, co-stars man o crew.
"Kung may ayaw man siya sa shooting, she will talk to you one on one and she won’t throw her weight around.
"Bihira yan sa mga taong marami na ang naging achievements sa buhay at career nila. Actually, puede na siyang mag-feeling entitled, pero hindi niya ginagawa yon.”
Well, we can say the same for Gina. We remember that time that Gina’s marriage with Michael de Mesa didn’t work. She arrived at the El Oro office of Manay Ethel Ramos with her bosom friend, Perla Bautista, and we all tried to encourage her.
We were so happy when Mother Lily launched her in “Diborsyada” and it was a big hit. Then she did “Salome” with Laurice Guillen and it won her so many awards.
We will never forget Gina’s performances in Brocka’s “Kapit sa Patalim” and “Kontrobersyal”, in Mel Chionglo’s “Playgirl” and in Gil Portes’ “Mulanay” and the underrated “Bukas May Pangarap” where she was the peasant wife of a victim of an illegal recruiter.
We’re so happy for her that she is now also an accomplished director who can still do acting roles. What’s her role in “Pieta”?
“I play Beth, the best friend of Guy who plays Rebecca. Ako ang nag-aalaga sa kanya kasi nabulag na siya at nagkaroon ng Alzheimer’s disease.
"Babalik yung anak niya mula sa bilangguan, si Alfred Vargas, para alamin kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa ama niya noong araw.
"Maganda yung role ko, mabigat and very challenging for me. May twist sa ending na nung sabihin sa akin ni Direk Adolf Alix, nagulat talaga ako.”