RYZA CENON feels so blessed. She just had a movie shown in theaters last month, “Kunwari Mahal Kita”.
And now, as April ends, she has another movie to be shown in theaters on April 26.
This is the fantasy romance, “Sa Muli”, where she is paired for the first time with Xian Lim, written and directed by Fifth Solomon.
“I’m really so happy with the big projects that Viva is giving me,” she says. “And on TV, I am also given the chance to do comedy in ‘Kurdapya’ with Yassi Pressman, now being shown on TV5.”
So what is “Sa Muli” all about?
“It’s about reincarnation. Three years in the making ang movie na ito. We started shooting the film in 2020 then biglang nagka-lock down so we had to stop.
"Tapos, I got pregnant and nanganak ako. We were able to resume the shoot only last year and finally, heto, natapos din at ipapalabas na.”
In the story, Ryza plays Elly and Xian plays Pep. They are soulmates who first fell in love in the 1900s, then in 1950 and meet again in the present.
They are aware that they have known each other in their past lives and each time, their story ends in tragedy with Ryza suddenly dying.
So now, they meet again in modern times. Will history repeat itself for both of them? How will they fight sad and tragic endings they experienced before?
“Napakaganda ng story as written by our director himself,” says Ryza. “Madadala ang viewers sa journey nina Elly ande Pep and will surely root for their love story.
"You will aurely laugh and cry when you watch the movie.”
How is it working with Xian Lim?
“As a co-actor, he is very supportive. When I was shooting a very important dramatic scene, nahihirapan ako as wala akong ka-interact.
"E, si Xian, na-pack up na, so ipinatawag ko siya, pinabalik ko para mas maramdaman ko yung mabigat na eksena.
"../At pinabigyan naman niya ako, he returned, at dahil doon, naitawid ko yung scene. Napakagaan niyang katrabaho. We’re like old friends on the set. Ang feeling ko, baka in a previous life, naging magkaibigan talaga kami.”
How about Direk Fifth Solomon?
“First time ko rin with him and just like Xian, magaan siyang katrabaho. Cool lang siya sa set. Ang maganda, he himself wrote the script, kaya alam niya exactly what he will require from us ni Xian para magawa namin nang maayos ang bawat eksena, naipapaliwanag niya nang maayos.”
Since “Sa Muli” is about reincarnation, does she believe that souls are reincarnated from one life to another?
“Yes, I believe in reincarnation. Kasi di ba, parang may instances na nangyayari sa’yo but feeling naganap na before.
"Kung meron ngang good psychic, I’d really want to find out more about my past life. Baka makatulong in my present journey, you’ll never know, di ba?”
Ryza’s baby boy, Night, is now 2 years old. She and her partner, cinematographer Miguel Cruz, has no plans yet of formally tying the knot.
Right now, they’re busy building their own house. “Yun muna ang priority namin, to have our own dream home,” she says.
“Okay naman kami ngayon but later, who knows, we might to formally get married. Paghahandaan muna naming mabuti.”
