It seems only yesterday when a gangly 13-year-old was discovered by the Regal Matriarch, Mother Lily, and cast as a faith healer in her company’s (Regal Films) Lenten presentation, Ibulong Mo sa Diyos (also the title of an earlier Regal drama topbilled by Vilma Santos and Gary Valenciano).
Her name is Assunta de Rossi, not da Rossie as often misspelled, half-Italian and half-Filipino whose younger sister, Alessandra, is now also an actress (praised for her acting in her first-starring movie, Reyna Films’ Azucena, directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna).
She’s tall, with prominent cheek bones reminiscent of Italy’s most important "export" to Hollywood, Sophia Loren, and skin as deliciously-brown as hot chocolate. She could be a beauty queen (talked several times into joining the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant — to no avail) but she’d rather be known as an actress — as a bold actress.
More than six years after the release of her maiden movie, Assunta is back at Regal, now a 19-year-old grown-up ready for the big time, all set to heal moviegoers not so much with faith as with her inviting curves in a trilogy directed by Maryo delos Reyes called Red Diaries.
Already, even before its release sometime next week, Red Diaries is whetting the curiosity and appetite of (especially male) moviegoers. Assunta plays three different roles: As a mistress (who does it for a living) in Susana, co-starring Pilar Pilapil, Dante Rivero and Anton Bernardo; as a balikbayan from Europe involved with a seminarian (played by Jam Melendez, Aiko’s half brother whose mom is US-based Deborah Sun) in Kara; and as a battered wife with twins, turned into a punching bag by her cop-husband (played by Carlos Morales).
Dear Diary, will Red Diaries turn Assunta into the New Bold Queen?
How bold did you go in the movie?
"I exposed my breasts in one scene, nothing more. It was done right on my first shooting day, with Dante Rivero. Hanggang doon pa lang muna."
From Regal back to Regal. What happened between then and now?
"In 1996, I signed a 24-picture contract with Regal, but not exclusive. I’ve done two movies for Viva, Ikaw Lamang (with Kim delos Santos and Dino Guevarra) and Sumigaw Ka Hanggang Gusto Mo (directed by Eric Quizon). I have a regular show on GMA (Bubble Gang) where I just also did a four-episode special for Larawan (a drama series). Red Diaries is only my second movie for Regal."
Why did you decide to go bold?
"Ever since I was 14, or one year after I was discovered by Regal, I’ve been receiving a lot of offers to go bold. But I felt that I was too young then. But now that I’m 18, I guess I’m old enough. Also at that time, nagkaroon ng issue sa DOLE about minors. Had I gone bold at that time, siempre pati sana ako sisitahin ng DOLE."
How did you feel that you’re, well, ready?
"It was my manager (Manny Valera) who convinced me. I’m not the type na tanggap na lang nang tanggap. Before Red Diaries, I went over several scripts. I felt that I couldn’t give justice to the role(s); besides, I didn’t like the story at hindi naman ako ang bida so why should I risk myself by going bold and daring? Kung magpapakita din lang ako ng katawan, e, di doon na sa ako talaga ang bida. I have to trust my director for me to go bold. I’ve worked with direk Maryo in several TV shows."
Your younger sister, Alessandra, became a bida ahead of you (in Carlitos Siguion-Reyna’s Azucena). Did you decide to go bold to sort of catch up with her?
"Not really. Career move talaga ’to. Alessandra has nothing to do with it. You know, I really hate it when I’m being compared to my sister because magkaibang-magkaiba ang packaging naming dalawa. She’s a drama actress and me, sexy-drama. If we have the same image, our manager will be confused. If an offer comes, kanino niya ibibigay?"
Isn’t there any sibling rivalry (professional jealousy) between you and Alessandra (who turned 17 last Thursday, July 19)?
"None at all. Her success is also my success; she feels the same way, too. But I must admit that she’s the better actress."
What makes you think so?
"A lot of people praise her. Sa akin, konti lang."
Does it challenge you to do even better?
"Yes, it does. But I’m doing it not to compete with my sister but for my own improvement. I can compete with other actresses but not with my sister."
Are you only two sisters?
"We are four girls in the family. I’m the eldest, Alex comes after me. Our two other sisters, Margharita (turning 12) and Isabel (9), are in Italy with our father (Luigi Schiavone)."
Is it true that your father left (in a huff?) when you decided to go bold, leaving you and Alessandra behind with your mom (Nenita Teotangco)?
"Actually, my father left two years ago because of so many reasons. Pero hindi sila naghiwalay ng mom ko."
Where were you born?
"In the south of Italy, very far from Rome or Milan, which is about 600 kilometers away in the North. My father’s home town is called Lecce (pronounced leche). I was born in Lecce in 1983; in 1984, we moved to England where Alex was born. In 1987, we lived in Rome. We came back to the Philippines in 1992 where Isabel was born."
How come you were moving and moving?
"It’s because of my father’s job; he worked for 20 years with the Italian Navy, kaya travel kami nang travel; lipat kami nang lipat. When he realized that it was affecting our studies, ’yung lipat-lipat namin, he decided to retire and decided to live in the Philippines on his pension. He wanted to lead a simple and quiet life. That’s what he thought."
Where did your parents meet?
"Here. At the Rizal Park. My dad was a seaman (with the Italian Navy) and their ship docked in Manila. One night, he bumped into my mom at the Rizal Park. My mom was there strolling with her friend. They were staying in the same dorm; my mom was then working at the Bureau of Telecommunications. My dad was then with his fellow seamen. Hayun, nag-meet sila, nag-picture-picture at nagkaligawan. They exchanged addresses. Before my dad’s ship went back to Italy, they got married na in civil rites. Until they went to Italy together."
What do you remember of your childhood in Italy (Lecce)?
"My dad was always away, so it was Alex and I often left at home with my mom. Okey naman ang buhay namin. We were not rich but we lived comfortably."
How did you get into showbiz?
"It was unexpected. Ang dream ko talaga, maging artist (painter). I didn’t have any interest at all in movies or television. Gusto ko talaga mag-draw. Then, ’yung friend namin brought me to Regal to audition for Batang X (together with Jason Salcedo and Junell Hernando). Nakipila ako sa Regal; it was a long, long line. Jo-Ann Banyaga (a Regal line producer) took me out of the line and brought me to Mother Lily. The next day, she asked me to sign the 24-picture contract. I think she planned to launch me with two other discoveries as the new batch of Regal Babies. But it never happened. I don’t know why. It took one year before they gave me a project (Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos)."
Meaning, you were idle for one year?
"I joined That’s Entertainment as member of the last batch, from 1995 to 1996. Eight months into That’s, I was hired by GMA for Bubble Gang where I’ve been a regular since then. Alex started a year later, as member of Star Circle (Batch 7)."
Between you and Alessandra, you are pictured as the "fighter" (villain?) and Alessandra as the "angel" (bida).
"The truth is that I’m not the palaban or ‘fighter’ type. I don’t have a strong character. Alex and I are really opposites. Alex is the palaban type. Ako, mahilig magpa-underdog, magpa-api. Wala sa hitsura ko but I’m like that, a ‘martyr’. I don’t know why. But Alex, when she thinks that she’s right she really fights. In fact, when she feels that somebody is treating me badly, Alex will fight for me. I may look mataray but deep inside I’m meek."
But your (love) life is more colorful than that of Alessandra. Your romance with (basketball player) Rommel Adducul, for example.
"He was my first boyfriend. Medyo magulo. May nanggugulo."
You almost ended up in court because of the exchange of "obscene" text messages between you and Rommel’s ex-girlfriend.
"Things are quiet now, thank you."
Did you and Rommel break up because of any third party?
"No third party. We went steady for almost two years. Religion has something to do with our break-up. He was active in the fellowship; we’re both Born-again Christian. Actually, until now, I’m confused about what happened to us. You know what happened to Raymond Bagatsing and Lara Fabregas? They decided to get married (civil rites) after only a two-week romance. I could relate to their experience. You see, once God reveals to you that you’ve found the right partner, ’yon na ’yon. Wala nang matagal pang ligawan. But if you’re not meant for each other, even if you go steady for years and years hindi pa rin kayo magkakatuluyan. I guess that’s what happened to Rommel and me. Early on, siguro he got a ‘sign’ na hindi talaga kami para sa isa’t-isa. I guess it’s better that way — break up while the breaking-up is less painful."
Now that you’re a bold star, I’m sure DOMs (Dirty — or Darling — Old Men) are doing everything to catch your attention.
"They shouldn’t try, they shouldn’t dare. Nothing will happen."
Have you received any, well, "indecent proposal"?
"None, so far. I don’t expect to receive any."
The Chavit Singson case, already denied by Chavit... It refuses to die.
"That tsismis first came up two years ago. I don’t know why it’s being dug up now. I’m sure it’s not part of the promo for Red Diaries because it won’t do me any good. I won’t deny that I’ve met Mr. Singson, pero hanggang doon lang. I met him two years ago; we were in a group. I never really had any chance to talk to him one-on-one but I found him nice and respectable. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a closed book. I guess it was revived only because of the (aborted) impeachment trial."
How much of you is Italian and how much is Filipino?
"Fifty-fifty. My looks are half-Italian and half-Filipino. Actually, Italians and Filipinos are almost the same, in temper and in attitude toward life. Pareho silang romantic and faithful, maybe because their values are very Catholic. Like Filipino men, Italian men make good husbands, judging from what I see of my father. He’s a good provider."
It’s a pity that your parents are living apart from each other.
"When I joined showbiz, and Alex later did, it got to a point when we became too busy that we family members would seldom see each other. It was my mom who would chaperon me and Alex. One day, nagtampo ang Daddy namin. He asked our Mom, ‘Have you forgotten that you also have a husband?’ So they agreed to live separately, pero hindi sila hiwalay. Eventually, I guess we’ll all be together again as a family."
When not busy, are you a gimikera?
"I’m anti-social; I don’t go out that often. I’m a couch potato. When I have no shooting or taping, I stay home and sleep. I can’t be away from home very long. I miss home, I miss my bed. I really love to sleep. Si Tulog Queen ako, e! But there are days, I’m away from home often — working."
Do you avoid socializing para hindi matsismis, para hindi masangkot sa gulo?
"Not that I don’t have any nightlife at all, but I seldom go out. I hate going to crowded places. I don’t bar-hop. I’d rather go malling with friends. Pasyal-pasyal kami doon, eat and then watch a movie. Babaw, ’no? Window-shopping, ganoon. If I want something, I buy. But I’m not an impulsive buyer. I buy wisely."
Your parents have given you their go-signal to go bold. How does Alessandra feel about your new image?
"Ayaw niya. Baka daw may mambastos sa akin."
Has anybody ever done that to you?
"None, so far."
But as soon as Red Diaries is shown, people will start calling you a bold star. Okay lang?
"Okay lang. Bold na naman talaga ako, e!"