Dennis the Minister

From Dennis The Menace to Dennis The Minister has been a colorful journey for Dennis Trillo, no doubt one of, if not the finest actor of his generation who has amply proven himself in varied roles.

His new movie, Felix Manalo, could well be the biggest challenge of his career. The role was first offered to Sen. Bong Revilla who had to beg off for reasons that the whole world knows by now. Then, Aga Muhlach was considered. The third choice was Albert Martinez who, although he had shot a few scenes, quit when his wife Liezl Martinez died. The plum eventually landed on Dennis’ lap.

Like in the casting, two other directors were considered, Cesar Montano and Tikoy Aguiluz, before Joel Lamangan took the helm. It’s the fourth time for Dennis and direk Joel to be working together.

An all-star-cast mega-project with more than 50 guest stars in cameo roles, the Viva-produced movie is described as “a sprawling historical epic that traces the origins and growth of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) that was officially established in the Philippines from its humble beginnings in 1914 to the present day,” framed by the life of the first INC Executive Minister, Felix Manalo, from the time of his birth in 1886 to his death in 1963.

As Felix Manalo (with Bela Padilla, a member of Jehova’s Witness, as Manalo’s wife Honorata), Dennis looks intriguingly like the reincarnation of the INC minister, from his looks (check out the trailer and the ads) to his mannerisms. It’s a wonder how Dennis was able to flesh out a character who lived four generations before Dennis was born.

Opening nationwide on Wednesday, Oct. 7, Felix Manalo will have a gala premiere tonight at the INC-owned 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bulacan (the largest in the country), with the INC bigwigs and the movie’s cast expected to attend. The INC is aiming to break into the Guinness Book of Records for having mounted a movie with a huge cast and multi-million budget, and a premiere with the biggest star-studded attendance.

Do you mind not being the first choice?

“I’m not aware of any incident na may pinagpilian before I got the role. I never asked kung may ibang pinagpilian bago napunta sa akin ang role. What’s important is you are the final choice. ‘Yun na lang ang iniisip ko.”

Isn’t religion a factor in your choice of roles?

“Not at all. At the end of the day, it’s just like any role that I have done. Whatever the role is, whatever the religion…Muslim man o Christian o Catholic or whatever…I look at it as just a job. Trabaho lang po.”

You are noted for being a daring actor, having played a comfort woman (in Aishite Imasu), macho dancer (in a GMA drama) and the gay lover (in the landmark soap My Husband’s Lover). That puts you several notches above your contemporaries.

“Wala akong problema dyan. I focus my mind on what I think is interesting to the audience. As much as possible, I want to play varied roles para naman hindi ako pagsawaan ng manonood. I want to be experimental pa-minsan-minsan. As they say, variety is the spice of life. So far, I have done all kinds of roles. Ayokong magkapare-pareho. I checked my filmography and I’m happy about my record.”

How much more daring can you be? In My Husband’s Lover, you did a light kissing scene with Tom Rodriguez (as his lover, the husband of Carla Abellana’s character). Can you go farther than that, maybe something more passionate?

“I’m not sure. But I will never say never. Our scriptwriters and directors have a fertile imagination, their imagination is so free, so magugulat ka na lang kung ano ang ihahain nila sa’yo. If the role is good at sa tingin ko makakabuti sa akin, then I will do it.”

You disappear into any character so easily. How do you do it? Paano ka nag-i-internalize?

“It’s a bit hard. But if you take your work seriously, you can do it. Kelangan makabuo ka ng illusion. You are giving life to people different from you, so to be credible, you first have to believe in yourself and in your ability to be your character so that the audience will find your performance credible. Pinaniniwalaan ko ang ginagawa ko para maniwala din ang mga manonood. Nag-e-effort talaga ako.”

Of course, you draw from experience, right?

“At 33, I must admit that I have gone through a lot. If not from experience, from imagination. For example, I haven’t killed a person but I can play a killer. Kung minsan hindi gumagana ang experiences mo; kung minsan kulang, kung minsan sobra. Dapat tama pa rin ang timpla. It helps that I watch all kinds of movies. I learn a lot from them.”

No problem as far as the romantic side is concerned?

“Yes, walang problema sa aspeto na ‘yan. I’m well-experienced in that aspect.”

The person you’re playing in Felix Manalo has been gone for years, long before you were born. It’s a complex character. So how did you make your portrayal believable?

“I studied his life. It’s easier when you are playing a person who’s alive because you can talk to him and get pointers from him. For Felix Manalo, I read up on the man; I talked to people who have known him. I tried hard to know him, to be him. I have to thank the cast and crew, the make-up artist, the costume designer, and most especially my director for their help. I’m comfortable with direk Joel because I’ve worked with him in three movies, Aishite Imasu, Blue Moon and Mano Po.”

What did you know about Iglesia Ni Cristo before doing the movie and what did you learn from doing the movie?

“I grew up a Catholic. Sometimes, during the sermon some priests can’t help making comments about other religion, ‘yung hindi naaayon tungkol sa Iglesia. So I developed a certain image about the Iglesia. But in the course of doing the movie, I learned what kind of person Felix Manalo was, how he organized the Iglesia, what the teachings and the beliefs of the Iglesia are, ‘yung kanilang paniniwala, I started thinking. I began to look at the Iglesia from another point of view. Nagkaroon ako ng respeto at paghanga sa kanila.”

Wala namang political agenda ang pelikula, ‘no?

“I don’t see any political agenda. Hindi ako mahilig sa pulitika.”

What about endorsing a candidate? Milyones daw ang talent fee sa mga artista.

“If ever I have a chance to endorse a candidate, it will have to be because I believe in him and not because of financial consideration. I-e-endorse ko siya dahil siya ang  pinapanigan at pinaniniwalaan ko at talagang iboboto ko.”

What kind of candidate do you think is worthy of your vote?

“Kelangan medyo bata, who has new ideas, honest, malinaw kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari. And also, somebody whose true intentions are clear kung bakit mailagay siya sa puwesto.”  

A little kababawan (trivial) question…What’s the real score between you and Jennylyn Mercado (also a Catholic; not included in the legion of guests stars in Felix Manalo, Dennis’ co-star in the current GMA soap My Faithful Husband)?

“We are not committed to each other but we are happy where we are, with what’s happening. Walang label ang relationship namin ngayon, so bahala sila kung ano ang iisipin nila.”

Do you believe what they say about love being lovelier the second time around? (Dennis and Jennylyn broke up in not so pleasant circumstances a few years ago but they have become friends.)

“Uhm, oo naman.”

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