Aiko Melendez loves playing kontrabida

Aiko Melendez is really choosy when it comes to her film projects. She needs to read the entire script before she accepts it, just like her latest movie “Balatkayo” produced by BG Productions.

Written by Jason Paul Laxamana and directed by Neal Tan, the film tackles the problems faced by OFWs who are separated from their families. The film pairs Aiko with teen actor-turned-hunk Polo Ravales.

At the press conference of “Balatkayo” which was held before the birthday party of lady producer Baby F. Go, the actress said that she liked the script written by Laxamana (who directed “Magkakabaung”). The movie tells the story of a couple (Aiko and Polo) whose son James Robert gets involved in a sex video scandal.

Aiko, who is part of the upcoming ABS-CBN primetime series “Wildflower” starring Maja Salvador, just won Best Supporting Actress from Gawad Tanglaw for the movie “Iadya Mo Kami” where she played the antagonist. She also won two international best actress awards for her role as a loving mother facing a dilemma in “Asintado.” Aiko is pleased that her acting has merited notice from critics.

In every role she does, she always gives her best. She says it’s more challenging to play a kontrabida because most of the time, the role of the villain is more complex and is harder to portray. She can experiment more in terms of how to make her character interesting and compelling.

“Balatkayo” is set for release in Dubai, Singapore and Abu Dhabi before it is shown in local theaters.

***

Filipino moviegoers are in for a treat. This February 15, fans and followers of the blockbuster biopic “Heneral Luna” are going to see a short film spinoff that serves as a bridge to the upcoming feature “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” the second installment of Jerrold Tarog’s historical trilogy. The short film entitled “Angelito” will be theatrically released exclusively with the offbeat romantic-comedy “I’m Drunk, I Love You.”

 “Angelito” is a 20-minute movie that tells the story of Antonio Luna’s aides-de-camp Jose and Manuel Bernal right after Luna’s assassination. According to director Jerrold, this is a fictional tale loosely inspired by real events.

Alex Medina and Art Acuña, who play Jose and Manuel Bernal respectively, reprise their roles. Aside from the Bernal brothers, some central characters from “Heneral Luna” also make a comeback in this mini-sequel. But fans should keep an eye on the new faces that they would see in the full-length Gregorio del Pilar biopic.

Producers TBA (Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Entertainment, Artikulo Uno Productions) are looking forward to finally sharing this project with audiences everywhere.

“We cannot thank the public enough for making ‘Heneral Luna’ one of the biggest films in Philippine cinema. This is just one of the many ways we can show how proud and thankful we are to everyone who embraced this film,” says E.A. Rocha, TBA's chief executive.

He also added: “Filipinos deserve to see good, quality movies! Come February 15, for a single ticket price, they’re going to see not just one, but two beautiful, memorable films—‘I’m Drunk, I Love You’ and ‘Angelito.’”

“I’m Drunk, I Love You”, directed by JP Habac and produced by TBA, is top billed by Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino with Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Dominic Roco.

Paulo will return as Gregorio del Pilar in “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” which goes into production this year.

***

Vin Abrenica admits being intimidated acting opposite award-winning actress Elizabeth Oropesa in “Moonlight Over Baler” produced by T-Rex Productions. But he said the actress made things easy for him in their scenes together. So even if he was awed by her acting, Vin said he was inspired to give his best.

He auditioned for the role that his brother Aljur Abrenica wanted for himself. But since his elder brother was busy doing a teleserye, he was not able to do the film even if he wanted to.

Aljur’s loss became Vin’s gain as the younger Abrenica got the role after passing the audition. He knows he has a challenging dual role as a war soldier and a photo journalist during the present time. Happily, he was able to impress his director Gil Portes with his performance.

It was Elizabeth’s character who helped Vin’s role in wooing Ellen Adarna who plays his love interest in the film. Elizabeth’s alter ego has taken a fancy for the young photographer who resembles the soldier that was her suitor during her younger days.

Playing the young Elizabeth is Sophie Albert, Vin’s ex-girlfriend. But the former lovers were very professional on the set and did not let their feelings get in the way of their acting.

“Moonlight Over Baler,” a pre-Valentine presentation from T-Rex Entertainment, opens today in cinemas nationwide.