Philippine Showbiz Today
February 8 - 21, 2019
Jan. 22-Feb.7, 2015
5
Jesusa meant for
Sylvia Sanchez
It did not take long for Sylvia
Sanchez to say yes once she
learned of the project “Jesusa”
from writer and director Ronald
Carballo.
The
writer-director
was
forthright, she said. She knew
from the get-go that she was
not the original choice. It did not
matter to her. She is an actress
– and what matters to her is the
story, of course, and giving her all
to her role.
“Hindi imptante sa akin
kung ako ang first choice nila
– ang imporatnate sa akin, sa
akin napunta at gagampanan ko
nang buong buo [ang role],” she
revealed, “At nung kinausap ako ni
Direk Ronald kung ano yung role,
hindi niya alam na slowly at bawat
bitaw niya ng salita, pumapasok na
si Jesusa sa sarili ko, pumapasok
na sya sa katauhan ko, na parang
ako na si Jesusa.”
It is a role unlike any she’d
played before, said Sylvia. Jesusa
is a mom driven to the depths of
despair because of a nightmarish
life with an abusive partner and
a dysfunctional family. “Naging
luka-luka at addict” was how
Sylvia described the character.
“Never akong naging addict
sa role so parang challenging,
bagong role, why not? Isa lang
tinanong ko talaga. Sabi ko,
‘Direk Ronald, anong klase kang
director?’ Kasi kilala ko si Direk
Ronald as news reporter at writer
ng iba’t ibang shows. Kilala ko na
pag si Ronald, ang taray! So nasa
isip ko, magtataray ba siya? Nasa
80% na natatanggapin ko ang
role, [pero] eto na lang tanong
ko, anong klase ka bang director?
Mabait ka ba? Nagtataray ka ba sa
set? Naninigaw ka ba ng artista?
Nanininsyon ka ba ng artista? Sabi
niya, ay hindi, chill lang ako. Sabi
ko, good! Kasi, kahit sabihing
marunong akong umarte, kahit
sabihing ilang shows or movies
nagawa ko, nagampanan ko , takot
ako sa direcktor na sinisigawan
ako. Takot ako sa tinetension ako.
Takot ako sa binubungangaan sa
set kasi hindi ko nabibigay ang
best ko. Mas gusto ko kausapin
ako director ko,” she revealed.
For Carballo, Sanchez was
like a life raft. “Sinagip niya ako,”
he said. He had always wanted to
work with the country’s superstar,
and in his mind, Nora was Jesusa.
The initial talk between star and
director was positive – and they
had reached a verbal agreement,
until the actress backed out. Upon
meeting and getting to know
Sylvia, Carballo was convinced
everything was providential.
“Napakalaking
blessing
syempre si Lord ang nag aayos ng
lahat ng ito, maaring hindi natuloy
si Ate Guy, hindi talaga meant sa
kanya ang material. Napunta kay
Sylvia Sanchez,” he stated.
“Nung napunta kay Sylvia,
talagang nabura lahat ‘yung
sinabi kong hindi ko gagawin
ang pelikula kung hindi si Nora
Aunor kasi nakita ko kung gaano
ka-professional si Miss Sylvia
Sanchez at kung paano niya
tinackle ang role – na eventually
naisip ko talaga. Siya talaga ang
binigay para lalong mapaganda
ang pelikula at maisabuhay ang
isang material na pangarap kong
gawin na matagal kong itinago.”
“Jesusa” is produced by
Oeuvre Events and Production
Management and is intended
for release in the middle of the
year. ●
- Malaya