The Love, The Life, The Lessons
MASK:
The Actress
My acting career started without fanfare. I met Natalie Palanca
who was the manager of Gloria Diaz. She asked if I want to get into
showbusiness and I just said yes. From that point my acting career
started. My first film was with Essex Films a company owned by
Danny Zialcita and Hirene Lopez. I was under contract with them
for 4 movies all directed by Danny Zialcita. I was very lucky that
I was handled by one of the best directors in the movie industry.
After completing my contract with Essex Films I then became a free
lancer and started accepting offers from different production
companies such as Viva Films, Lea Productions etc. I was privileged
to have worked with great actors such as Rudy Fernandez,
Ramon Revilla Sr and Jr, Edu Manzano, Charito Solis,
Gloria Romero, Pinky de Leon, Gabby Concepcion, Snooky Serna,
Dina Bonnevie and many more. I was also guesting in a lot of
TV shows which also helped me hone my acting talent.
My favorite would always be Lovingly Yours Helen. Being in
actress in the 80's I think is the best era in the industry. There
were a lot of production companies that continued to produce
movies left and right. Everyone had a job and we were doing
2 to 3 films a year. I also got the chance to work with very good
directors such as Leroy Salvador, Romy Suzara, Pepe Marcos, and Tito Mina.
Life as an actress was full of colors. The attention given to you is
so amazing that you always feel you are on cloud 9, but the
industry also opens your door to a lot of vices. It was during
that time that I also got into drugs, learned how to drink and
partied all night. During the years in the industry I fell so many
times and learned to stand. In 1988, I left the industry, I left
the country and started anew in the United States.
LESSONS:
The only lesson I can share to anyone who is already in the industry or
thinking of getting into the industry is love your craft, do not get
into this industry if money is the sole reason -- get into it because
it is your passion to be an artist. Respect everyone in the industry.
Do not let fame get into your head. Continuously re-event yourself
as an artist, be versatile. Whenever you are outside be it at the
mall, in a restaurant, in the movie house -- carry yourself well --
remember that you are a public figure and everyone around you
is looking. Do not give people the chance to dislike the real you --
it is fine if they dislike you because of the role you portrayed.
Do not ever use the excuse "I am an artist so I can be eccentric" --
you can make yourself different from the others but still make
yourself lovable and human. We do not know how long we
will be in the industry and we may find ourselves being with
normal people then we would need them to see
that we are also human.
who was the manager of Gloria Diaz. She asked if I want to get into
showbusiness and I just said yes. From that point my acting career
started. My first film was with Essex Films a company owned by
Danny Zialcita and Hirene Lopez. I was under contract with them
for 4 movies all directed by Danny Zialcita. I was very lucky that
I was handled by one of the best directors in the movie industry.
After completing my contract with Essex Films I then became a free
lancer and started accepting offers from different production
companies such as Viva Films, Lea Productions etc. I was privileged
to have worked with great actors such as Rudy Fernandez,
Ramon Revilla Sr and Jr, Edu Manzano, Charito Solis,
Gloria Romero, Pinky de Leon, Gabby Concepcion, Snooky Serna,
Dina Bonnevie and many more. I was also guesting in a lot of
TV shows which also helped me hone my acting talent.
My favorite would always be Lovingly Yours Helen. Being in
actress in the 80's I think is the best era in the industry. There
were a lot of production companies that continued to produce
movies left and right. Everyone had a job and we were doing
2 to 3 films a year. I also got the chance to work with very good
directors such as Leroy Salvador, Romy Suzara, Pepe Marcos, and Tito Mina.
Life as an actress was full of colors. The attention given to you is
so amazing that you always feel you are on cloud 9, but the
industry also opens your door to a lot of vices. It was during
that time that I also got into drugs, learned how to drink and
partied all night. During the years in the industry I fell so many
times and learned to stand. In 1988, I left the industry, I left
the country and started anew in the United States.
LESSONS:
The only lesson I can share to anyone who is already in the industry or
thinking of getting into the industry is love your craft, do not get
into this industry if money is the sole reason -- get into it because
it is your passion to be an artist. Respect everyone in the industry.
Do not let fame get into your head. Continuously re-event yourself
as an artist, be versatile. Whenever you are outside be it at the
mall, in a restaurant, in the movie house -- carry yourself well --
remember that you are a public figure and everyone around you
is looking. Do not give people the chance to dislike the real you --
it is fine if they dislike you because of the role you portrayed.
Do not ever use the excuse "I am an artist so I can be eccentric" --
you can make yourself different from the others but still make
yourself lovable and human. We do not know how long we
will be in the industry and we may find ourselves being with
normal people then we would need them to see
that we are also human.
Filmography
Actress: Movie
Actress - TV:
- Tulak (2009)
- Knock, Knock Who's There? (1988)
- Alla ricerca dell'impero sepolto (1987)
... aka "Secret of the Incas' Empire" - USA (informal English title) - Vigilante (1987/II)
- Susuko ba ako, inay? (1987)
- Bakit iisa ang pag-ibig (1987)
- Alabok sa ulap (1987) .... Leah Monserrat
- Si mister at si misis (1986)
- Pagsabog ng galit (1986)
- Boboy tibayan tigre ng cavite (1985)
- Turuang apoy (1985)
- Kumander Eber Kilabot ng Visayas (1985)
- Heartache City (1985) .... Celia
- Lalakwe (1985) .... Bing
- May daga sa labas ng lungga (1984) .... Emma Laplante
- May lamok sa loob ng kulambo (1984) ... Emma Laplante
Actress - TV:
- "Magkaribal" .... Betsy ( 2010)
- "Agua Bendita" ... Donya Lisa (2010)
- "Maalaala mo kaya" .... Juana / ... (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
- Salamin (II) (2009) TV episode .... Juana
- Lambat (2009) TV episode
- Sulat (2008) TV episode .... Malou's Ate - "Pieta" (2008) TV series .... Helga
- "Prinsesa ng Banyera" (2007) TV series ... Eleonor
- "Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang" .... Reyna (1 episode, 2007)
- Prinsesang Kalbo (2007) TV episode .... Reyna - "Biglang Sibol, Bayang Impasibol" (2001) TV series
- Numerous guestings for Lovingly Yours Helen, Coney Reyes Show,
Alaala, MMK, Pira-Pirasong Pangarap, Stars Confession etc.