'Healing happens sa sarili': Agot Isidro on closure, moving on from old wounds
MANILA, Philippines — Closure fundamentally requires internal acceptance, said actress Agot Isidro, as she reflects on her newest movie "Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon."
Agot plays Paz, the mother of Jodi Sta. Maria's Jo, who is a television writer set on a big career move. Jo's plans are derailed with Paz's return to the Philippines, throwing the whole family's life off course.
The return of Paz also prompts Jo to confront buried childhood wounds — pain that molded and affects her until today.
The movie revolves around forgiveness between loved ones, where misery and pain has built over the years. These themes were discussed during the film's media conference last August 12 in Pasay.
Agot believes that at a certain age, having just turned 60 years old last month, people do not want to have any baggage.
"Sometimes we expect [an] apology for us to forgive a person. Pero habang tumatanda ka, ayaw mo na ng mga bagahe sa buhay," she continued. "Maiisip mo na 'yung healing and forgiveness happens sa sarili, not from the other person."
Related: Jodi Sta. Maria reflects on own motherhood for new film with Agot Isidro
The actress reiterated that the other party need not apologize because forgiveness is an "inner work."
Looking at "Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon," Agot said that blame is being thrown between her Paz and Jodi's Jo, coming to a point where neither talked about the issues they had.
Paz's cancer diagnosis also plays a major factor in its plot, where she has "come home to die." For Agot, her character's health woe adds a finality to the whole situation.
"It's an inner work for [Jo and Paz]. More than anything, [closure] does not come from the other person, it really comes from yourself," the actress ended.
"Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon" streams globally on Netflix beginning August 13.
RELATED: Agot Isidro, Jodi Sta Maria play mother-daughter duo in new Netflix drama
