Movie brings back Pokwang’s OFW days

MANILA, Philippines - Pokwang found herself recalling her days as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) with her comeback comedy film, Call Center Girl.

The film under Star Cinema and Skylight tells about Teresa, an OFW, who after 13 long years of working in a cruise ship, decides to come home in the hopes of making up for her absence and winning over her estranged daughter (played by Jessy Mendiola). Teresa finds herself working as a call center agent in the same company where her daughter also works in, which provides a window of opportunity for Pokwang’s character to mend her broken relationship and redeem herself in the eyes of her daughter.

But Teresa’s inexperience and presence in a working environment that is a mixed bag of personalities yield sidesplitting situations, causing embarrassment and creating more awkward moments with her daughter who’s determined to shut her out of her life. 

While the comedienne said that “I don’t mind working again as an OFW if I’m no longer acting,” she has admitted that being physically separated from one’s family is the hardest sacrifice any OFW has to make, but at the same time family is their biggest motivation, and that many would readily come home when they have saved enough after toiling abroad.

Pokwang also said that after immersing in a call center for the film, she saw first-hand and realized how the call center life isn’t that much different from that of people working overseas. She noted that the graveyard shift or unconventional hours call center workers report for work affect the interaction and time spent with family.  

“Sa pinuntahan naming call center, inalam ko talaga ang buhay nila. They’re like OFWs in their own country. Kasi ganu’n din, hindi rin nila nakikita ‘yung mga mahal nila sa buhay kasi baligtad ‘yung oras ng buhay nila, parang nasa ibang bansa.”

Pokwang added, “Ibang-iba ang buhay din nila pero ang maganda hindi sila nagdi-discriminate ng gender, tanggap nila kung ano ka as long as alam mong gawin ‘yung trabaho mo and alagang-alaga sila kung saan sila nagtatrabaho. Spoiled nga sila, lahat ng kailangan nila nandoon, in fairness.”

Just like her character, who’s willing to take on jobs she has no experience in or knowledge to speak of, Pokwang is no stranger to odd jobs. Long before she had achieved showbiz success, the actress revealed that in her younger years, she worked as a house help to support her studies.

“I became a house help twice, when I was in grade six and in high school. It was so difficult because I was so young but I just wanted to study. That was my concern at the time,” she said. 

“I had no salary, they just paid for my tuition. I didn’t have any negative experience. My bosses were good to me. Kaya iba talaga ang pagmamahal ko sa kasambahay. That’s why when I heard my daughter talking back to our house help, I really scolded her because I treat them like family. I don’t ask them to wear a uniform. The food that we eat, that’s what they eat also. Kasi ang hirap talaga.”

On the subject of her 17-year-old daughter, Pokwang was asked if she has allowed her daughter to accept suitors already.

She said she can’t help it if her daughter will have admirers, “kasi maganda naman kasi anak ko,” joking that “sometimes I wonder where she got her looks, maybe she got swapped at childbirth.” But she’s encouraging her to finish her studies first. “I’m all-out in supporting her culinary studies,” because finishing college has been her biggest frustration, Pokwang added.

Her new film also brings back memories of her other child, her son who passed away several years ago due to a sickness, especially because of co-star Jessy, who has the same age and almost the same birthday with her son.

The single mom said, “For my drama scenes with Jessy, I just think of my son. I always think of him. As a mother, you can recover from a failed marriage, but you will never get over the loss of your child. Every year, I celebrate his birthday. I do believe that he’s always there, guiding me.”

Call Center also stars Enchong Dee, Dianne Medina, Alex Castro, Ejay Falcon and Aaron Villaflor, plus a roster of comedians — Ogie Diaz, John “Sweet” Lapus, Chokoleit and K Brosas. It is directed by Don Cuaresma, who megged top-rating ABS-CBN soaps such as Ina Kapatid Anak, Maria La Barrio, Rubi and 100 Days To Heaven, based on the script of Kriz Gazmen who was part of the creative team behind Star Cinema’s blockbuster movies No Other Woman, Sisterakas and Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat.

It’s the first comedy film of direk Don who was convinced to accept the project because of the cast assembled for it.

“Drama is second skin to me. I started out as a drama director, so I find comedy more difficult to do because timing is very crucial. Sometimes, what’s on the script won’t work when we do the blocking so we have to experiment and have retakes. That’s why I’m very thankful for having this cast. I have a lot of respect for the work of comedians,” direk Don said. 

 Call Center Girl opens today in cinemas nationwide.