Teri: Long wait is worth it

MANILA, Philippines — Because there’s an endless stream of artists trying to make a name in the competitive field of show business, award-winning Kapuso teen actress Therese “Teri” Malvar can’t afford to be complacent despite the number of recognitions she has tucked under her belt at her young age of 18.

She was named Best Actress at the 1st CineFilipino Filmfest in 2013 for her film Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita and received several awards for her 2015 film Hamog, namely Best Actress at the 11th CinemaOne Originals Filmfest, Screen International Rising Star Asia Award at the 15th New York Asian Filmfest, Silver St. George Best Actress at the 38th Moscow International Filmfest and the 9th Ani ng Dangal award. In 2017, she was recognized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines as one of the recipients of the Artistic Excellence Award. This year, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Eddys for Ilawod; and the Best Supporting Actress awards for School Service and Distance at the Cinemalaya Film Festival.

Teri will never be complacent because she believes that “there’s always someone better than (me). We have to learn to adjust dahil pabago-bago ang industry,” stressed Teri, who flew to Japan last Oct. 26 to represent Distance at the 2018 Tokyo Film Festival. It was her second time to represent a local film in the international scene.

When asked about her experience at the festival, Teri said in an official statement, “Having the opportunity to put my passion into action is an honor and I am thankful that I’m being trusted to tell these stories.”

Film director Joey Reyes, who was impressed by Teri’s remarkable performance in Distance and School Service, posted on his Twitter that Teri “proves beyond doubt that she is the Best Actress in her generation of Filipino cinema performers.”

“I was shocked,” Teri said when asked for her reaction, “Kinilig po ako dun but I’d like to disagree because it’s embarrassing for me to claim it knowing that, for sure, there will be new artists who are better than me. Pressure po yun but I’ll use it as a motivation to always do good in every single scene that I do. Kelangan the next projects that I will do dapat may impact rin yun sa masa,” she said, admitting that she has yet to make a mark on TV.

At last, her long wait is over after four years as a Kapuso because she will be headlining the upcoming Kapuso primetime afternoon soap titled Inagaw na Bituin with Kyline Alcantara.

“I’m so thankful and I wish that it would be a successful project and I hope televiewers will like it,” she said, adding it’s a perfect birthday gift for her 18th birthday this year (last Sept. 16).

Teri said she patiently waited for this moment despite times when she doubted herself. “(But) I just remained hopeful. Perhaps, it is my time now. This is all in God’s time. If you’re in this industry, you just need to trust that your time will come. Thankfully, I just had to wait and then sabi nga nila, ‘soon it will be your time, may magiging bagay na konsepto para sayo’ and then ito na po ‘yun,” she said.

Asked how it feels to be 18, she replied, “I feel happy. I feel like I’m blossoming into a person who has a different perspective of the world. Parang iba na ‘yung magiging mindset mo. I am still the same. I can go out as long as my parents know where I am tapos uuwi akong buhay at wala akong ginawang masama. That’s what they only require from me.”

When it comes to entertaining suitors, Teri said she’s not yet ready to be romantically involved with someone. No, her parents are not super strict, she added.

“Actually kahit anong age I’m allowed but I am not just ready yet. I reject them right away. Hindi ko pa feel and I am focused on my studies,” said the 11th grader who’s taking up the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) academic strand at Marymount Academy.

Teri’s debut party last Nov. 3 at Sequoia Hotel was organized by GMA Artist Center and attended by her family, close friends and colleagues in showbiz like Barbie Forteza, Janine Gutierrez, Kyline Alcantara, Rodjun Cruz and David Licauco who was her escort.