As feisty as the roles she plays

MANILA, Philippines – Most millennials may be in the dark about who Angie Ferro is.

But not their parents and grandparents, who know that the 82-year-old theater and film veteran is known for being feisty, a quality as intense as her love for acting.

“God made me an actress,” she told media at the presscon for Lola Igna, one of three arthouse films under the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino’s Sandaan Showcase. Angie plays 118-year-old Lola Igna, the reclusive lady with a death wish. She could have held on to her morbid dream, hadn’t she met great grandson Tim, an aspiring vlogger, who wants to latch on to grandma’s popularity as the oldest living grandma around.

Except for the age and the death wish, Angie is Lola Igna. This much, the film’s writer-director, Eduardo Roy Jr. knows.

Angie Ferro (second from left) with (from left) writer-director Eduardo Roy Jr., co-stars Yves Flores and Royce Cabrera

“She’s not your typical sweet oldie,” he begins. “She says what’s on her mind and in her heart. She’s feisty.”

So he wasted no time in knocking at her door and offering her the title role of Lola Igna, his latest film (the others are Bahay Bata, Quick Change, Pamilya Ordinaryo, Fuccbois and Last Fool Show).

After watching her play many scene-stealing roles, Eduardo thinks it’s high time Angie level up from support to lead character status. She does just that in Lola Igna, where she mouths strong one-liners and owns the scene many times over.

Up close and personal, you can’t help but note the contrast between the actress’ strong statements and her light frame. She curses when she condemns the inequality on the set of some films.

Angie bristles with anger when she notes that big stars eat better food than the production crew. Not so where she came from — the late National Artist for Theater and Literature Rolando Tinio’s plays for the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines). She proudly recalls that the lines dividing the high and mighty from the humble were blurred. Everybody shared the same food.

Every rehearsal calls for performance-level acting. Angie says she and fellow film actors rehearse twice — one for the director, and another for the camera. Each rehearsal demands nothing but the best from them.

She applies the same discipline in her projects these days.

“Don’t be pa-charming. It’s not the time to play. If you’re not ready, call me when you are. Buwisit (annoying)!” she declares.

Angie is just as forceful when it comes to the Actors Guild of the Philippines.

“The Guild should take care of actors. Members should not be there, just because they want to look good for producers. They should be there for their talent.”

She urges the Actors Guild to petition Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to help the members, including screenwriters and directors. They need social security. They have talent, so they can still work, Angie adds.

Her fighting words turn syrupy when Angie talks about how grateful she is for having a job she loves. Memorizing scripts and acting not only keep boredom at bay, she explains. It also keeps her mind alert and prevent diseases of the mind which strike people her age.

At this point in her career, this actress who has proven herself no longer yearns for awards. She yearns for work.

Her advice to young actors who look up to her?

Read the classics, Angie declares. 

“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are beautiful. They show you how Filipinos lived during the Spanish times. They will help you know yourself more as a Filipino.”

Some young performers can also learn social graces, like greeting a veteran actor when they see her.

Otherwise, Angie adds, that’s fine.

“I’m not the one being rude. They are.”

(Lola Igna opens today in theaters nationwide).