1. Have you regretted having given other actresses (no names na lang) an opportunity to shine even, as perceived by most people, at your expense? (Mention other regrets, if any, and lessons learned from them).
“Not at all. I am happy nga that somebody else was given the chance to shine, but not at my expense. After all, with whatever decision I make, lalo na where my career is concerned, pinag-iisipan ko ito. I also ask guidance from my Someone Up There and from my Dad who has remained my mentor ever since. And of course, my talent manager, who helps me run my career.”
2. In One More Try, Star Cinema’s 2012 Metro Filmfest entry, you play a mother of a child with a rare disease. Not being a mother (yet), how did you make your portrayal credible (any advice from your friends who are mothers)?
“When the role was first offered to me, nag-isip muna ako kung kaya kong gampanan ang role because di pa ako mother and wala pa ako experience kung ano ang role ng isang ina. Pero because the story was really good, I took it as a challenge. My sister is married and has two pre-teen boys, and she gave me (pieces of) expert advice on how to be a mom. I even talked with direk Olive Lamasan about my role. I have worked with Inang Olive in In The Name Of Love, I asked for some advice and it worked. Our director, Ruel Bayani, na napakagaling, nagtutulungan kami to make sure na tama ang pagganap ng bawat character namin sa movie.”
3. How was it working with Zanjoe Marudo (as your boyfriend) and Dingdong (as your ex-boyfriend) with whom you have worked during your Kapuso days?
“Matagal na kaming magkakilala ni Zanjoe, nakasama ko siya in one ABS-RNG event in Paris but we have never worked together either in a TV show or a movie. This is the first time na makatrabaho ko siya and masaya naman. Okey ka-trabaho si Zanjoe, supportive siya sa mga eksena namin.
“Si Dingdong, he directed one of the episodes in the movie Angels of which I happened to be one of the producers. It’s our first time to work together. Like Zanjoe, Dingdong is hardworking and a gentleman. I wouldn’t think twice given the chance to work with them again.”
4. Is the role as challenging if not more so than your previous roles?
“Halos lahat naman ng movie na nagawa ko ay may kanya- kanyang challenge for me. So far, my role in One More Try ang maituturing kong challenging because, like I’ve said, I’m not a mother yet so I really worked hard to be convincing in my performance. I just hope the viewers will appreciate all of us in the movie, myself, Dingdong, Zanjoe and Angelica (Panganiban) for the efforts we exerted to make it worthy panoorin this Christmas.”
5. On the more personal side, what’s really the status between you and Phil Younghusband? Anything similarities between the two of you that brought you close to each other?
“We’re happy and going strong.”
6. A lot of new faces (a dime a dozen) are emerging every so often. How do you keep your space in the industry?
“I believe every actor has a space reserved for him/her, when he/she joins the industry. Well, in my case, I try hard to be deserving of the space allotted to me. I don’t take my career for granted. I try hard to be as professional as I can be. I try to perform well any task assigned to me. Sabi nga, life is what you make it. And it applies, too, to whatever career one is involved in. At depende na sa iyo how you run it.”
7. Sum up Year 2012.
“Many things happened to me this year, actually more than what I really expected. Both in my career and even in my personal life. Kaya nga every night before I go to sleep I thank Someone Up Above for continuously protecting and guiding me.”
8. How do you look at yourself in 2013?
“I look forward to 2013 as a better year not just for me and my loved ones but for all of us.”
9. Do you still make any Christmas wish? What is it?
“Yes I do, I wish for One More Try to make good sa takilya. Getting an award for whatever is deserving in the movie will be a big bonus for everyone of us involved in it. I also wish for poverty to end not just dito sa Pilipinas but the world over. And for the victims of Typhoon Pablo, especially those in Compostela Valley, to be able to recover from their losses both personal and otherwise. And for us, the lucky ones, let’s offer them help in whatever way we can.”
10. What about for you and Phil?
“That we become even closer than we already are.”
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)