MARICEL SORIANO AT PEACE

MANILA, AUGUST 15, 2007 (STAR) By Mario E. Bautista - At 42, Maricel Soriano remains slim and her face is creaseless that she looks 10 years younger. So what does she do to stay slender? “I watch what I eat,” she says. “When you reach 40, your metabolism slows down, so less carbo for me. And of course, I exercise, kahit sa treadmill lang. Also, it’s important to have a good relationship with the Lord. Having peace of mind is very important and you can only achieve that when you learn to trust Him completely.”

She is glad to be as busy as ever. Last year, she did two independent digital films for new directors, Numbalik Diwa by Bobby Bonifacio and Inang Yaya by Pablo Biglang-Awa. She won the Cinemanila Best Actress award for the former and the Golden Screen and Star Best Actress awards for the latter. This year, she was again megged by another new director in the Umiyak Man ang Langit episode of Paraiso: Tatlong Kuwento ng Pag-ibig, Jun Lana. She played a mother whose three daughters perished in a landslide that demolished their home in Leyte.

“I welcome being directed by new filmmakers. It’s my way of paying forward for the good deeds I encountered in the past. I was also an unknown when I started as a child star 37 years ago. Tinanggap agad ako ng the likes of Tirso Cruz III and then Tito Dolphy. I enjoy working with new directors as they are full of fresh ideas.”

But she also welcomes working with veteran filmmakers. She has just worked with Maryo J. delos Reyes in Star Cinema’s A Love Story and is currently being directed again by Joel Lamangan in Regal’s Metro filmfest entry, Bahay Kubo.

“I’m very happy to be reunited with direk Maryo in A Love Story. He’s one of my earliest mentors when I was still a teenager. He directed my very first movie for which I won a FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award in 1984, Saan Darating ang Umaga, which was also the first movie I did for Viva Films. He likewise directed me in one of my biggest solo hits, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit, where I played an anti-heroine role. We did so many other films together, like Pepe en Pilar with Gabby Concepcion, Schoolgirls with Snooky Serna, Minsan May Isang Ina with Nora Aunor and the late Charito Solis. Now, I feel glad that when I finally get to work with Aga in A Love Story, he’s the one who directed it. This is a different kind of love triangle movie and Angelica is also in the cast as my rival for the affection of Aga.”

We’ve seen the film’s trailer and it’s not very clear as to who is Aga’s wife and who is the mistress. “Don’t ask me anything about the plot because we’re instructed not to reveal any details, so there will be a surprise for the viewers. I only found out how the movie ended during the premiere night at SM Megamall last Tuesday.”

Maricel is 42 while Angelica is 20. But when you look at them together, you won’t think Maricel appeared as Angelica’s mom when Angelica was a child star in such films as Ama, Ina, Anak and Chito Roño’s Separada, for which Maricel won a Best Actress award and Angelica, the Best Child Actress award.

”She was only six when we first worked together. She called me Mama then, and that’s what she still calls me up to now. We got used to it. When she became a teenager, we became sisters in Vietnam Rose. Ngayon, matangkad pa siya sa lola n’yo and we’re fighting over Aga in A Love Story.”

So how does she feel playing Angelica’s rival in the movie? “As an actress, particularly in our case that we both started as child stars, it’s bound to happen na mag-aabot kayo because we get to play different kind of roles in the course of our careers. I first worked with Tirso when I was six years old in My Heart Belongs to Daddy. He was my Kuya then. Later, we even had a movie where he played my father. But later, when I grew up, there was a movie where we played husband and wife. It’s really like that. Bilog ang mundo at umiikot-ikot lang tayo. One thing is sure, though, I’ll never leave showbiz as I really love and enjoy what I am doing. I won’t be surprised if today’s child stars will play my grandchildren when it’s my turn to play grandmother roles.”

How does it feel working with Aga? “We waited to be paired in a movie for so long. I remember there was a time he tried courting me. He took me in his car, a topdown, and we were about to eat in a steak house. But then, it rained suddenly so he had to put on the car’s roof. It’s not automatic, so he did it manually at hirap na hirap siya pulling it. After that, he never showed his face to me. Through the years, there were plans for us to do a movie together, but they never pushed through. Probably because it’s not really meant to be, except now that there is this right project perfect for us. It’s nice working with Aga because all we have to do is look at each other. We already know how we can make a scene effective. I know he’s a good actor, but I didn’t know he’s that good. I told him I’m now his fan, but he wouldn’t believe it. He thinks I’m just joking, but he’s really very good in this film.”

She feels so fortunate to be doing Bahay Kubo even before she’s finished with A Love Story, when other stars haven’t done a movie since the local film industry went on a slump. Mother Lily Monteverde gave her a warm welcome in this, her comeback film with Regal. Maricel is optimistic it will be successful in the box-office as well as in the awards night, just like two previous filmfest entries she did with Regal, Nasaan ang Puso and Dahas, for which she even won Best Actress awards. Bahay Kubo also reunites her with director Joel Lamangan, who also gave her several Best Actress trophies for Filipinas, another past filmfest entry.

“So, to those who feel sad I don’t have a lovelife, all I can say is don’t feel sad for me as I continue to receive so many blessings from the Lord. I never run out of projects. Even on TV, I still have John en Shirley, so I have no reason to sulk. Besides, I feel that if the Lord wants to have me a new man in my life, He’ll be the one to send the guy to me. If there’s none, the Lord is enough companion for me along with my sons, Marron and Tien. Marron is 20 while Tien is 14, kaya sa kanila lang, I already have my hands full.”