Pokwang goes all out for drama in A Mother's Story

MANILA, Philippines - Star Magic’s pride when it comes to top-notch comedy, Pokwang tries her hand at drama in her first solo starrer titled A Mother’s Story.

Pokwang considers the film role as the biggest break in her career so far, saying she has poured a whole lot of emotions into this movie. “Yes, I’m super excited with this film. Bonggang launching movie ito. Nakakatawa nga kasi sa lahat ng komedyante ako ang nabigyan ng launching movie na drama. Challenge sa buhay ito bilang artista kaya pinaghusayan ko talaga. In fairness to the director and writers, talagang piniga nila ako,” Pokwang relates.

Life has prepared her well for this moment, as she knows Medy, her character in the movie, by heart — a mother who has to leave her children to work abroad. Pokwang knows what it’s like to sacrifice being with her family to be able to provide for their needs as she, too, was an OFW who worked in Japan and the Middle East before hitting it big as a comedienne in the Philippines. It was, however, while she was working abroad when she unfortunately lost a child to sickness.

It is painful experiences like this that she was able to essay Medy, a mother who goes to the US to work as a make-up artist in one project but decides to extend her stay to try her luck in what they say as the “land of milk and honey.” “Kaya ibinuhos ko na lahat ng kaya ko. Sabi ni Direk (John D. Lazatin) ayaw daw niya na umarte ako na parang artista. Sabi niya gusto kong ipakita mo sa tao ‘yung sakit na naramdaman mo nung nag-OFW ka at nalayo ka sa anak mo, na wala ako sa tabi niya habang may sakit siya hanggang sa kunin na siya ni Lord. My past experiences helped me tackle the role.”

As A Mother’s Story opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 8, A Mother’s Story will also hold a special celebrity block screening at Cinema 5 of SM Trinoma. Expected to grace the event are Pokwang’s Star Magic family and close friends in showbiz.

Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, A Mother’s Story also stars Rayver Cruz and Xyriel Manabat. It is produced by The Filipino Channel and distributed by Star Cinema.