Angel continues to soar

She’s an angel without wings. Even at 23, she has already created major ripples in the entertainment industry. Back in 2008, her switch of networks topped showbiz headlines, bringing about a spell of controversy. Yet, Angel Locsin has continued to soar and is set to fly higher this 2009.

First treat is her movie, Love Me Again (Land Down Under), with Piolo Pascual, which is now showing in theaters nationwide. From the successful TV team-up in Lobo, Angel and Piolo have now moved on to the big screen, playing the roles of lovers whose relationship gets wracked by family and economic problems.

Directed by Rory Quintos, Love Me Again is Angel’s first movie with Star Cinema.

“Pinaghirapan talaga namin to. Maganda ang storya. Basta Star Cinema, maasahan po ninyong dekalibre,” Angel said in a press conference held last January 13 at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

Yet aside from her movie, Angel was also asked to answer and clarify several new issues thrown her way.

‘Ganap na aktres’

In a recent television interview, Angel admitted that ABS-CBN made her a full-pledged actress. During the Cebu presscon, she stressed that she’s still grateful for what her former home network GMA had done to her.

“Doon ako nanggaling. Sila ang gumawa sa akin. Pero dito sa ABS-CBN ako nabigyan ng projects na mas may mapapakita akong bago,” the actress, who shot to stardom via the hit Kapuso fantaseryes, said.

Before, she narrated how she felt uncomfortable whenever she’s asked to fill up official papers, especially when she’s traveling abroad. She said she had a hard time answering the “occupation” part.

“Pag actress kasi, sina Gina Pareño ang naiisip ko. Kaya minsan nagdadalawang isip akong ilagay ang actress. Pero noon yun. Ngayon, hindi na,” she smiled.

Controversial tears

Courting another controversy was her recent TV appearance on ASAP as part of the promotion of their movie. She cried while singing the theme song of Love Me Again with Piolo,

But even before Angel could answer, Piolo came to her defense. “Ang totoo nyan, napuwing lang talaga siya.”

Angel, however, said, “Ang dami ngang nag-text at nagtanong pero ni isa wala akong ni-replyan. Kung bakit ako umiyak, personal reason na ‘yon. Di ko po pwede sabihin. Sana respetuhin niyo po ‘yun.”

Asked if those tears were somewhat related to their relationship with Luis Manzano, she said, “Ayoko po mandamay ng ibang tao. Sa akin na po yon.”

“Medyo malungkot lang ako sa mga panahon ngayon,” she added.

Staying grounded

As the press conference progressed, the media learned more about Angel via the littlest details.

Take for example, when the table setting and décor of where Angel and Piolo sat got ruined accidentally, Angel couldn’t help but fix it up while accommodating a question from the press. 

“Sorry, sorry, OC (obsessive-compulsive) lang po,” she said.

No matter how high this angel has flown, she has remained grounded.

“Ma-swerte ako kasi may mga tao sa paligid ko na nagsasabi kung ano ang mali ko. Si Daddy mahilig kasi yan sa mga quotable quotes, gaya ng dapat marunong kang lumingon sa iyong pinanggalingan at iba pa, nakatatak na yan sa akin. ‘Yung mga friends ko talaga mga since high school pa. Angelica Colemenares (her real name) pa rin ako,” she smiled.

But she admitted that she needs to improve herself more. “Kaya nag-fo-focus ako. Binibigay ko ang 100% sa lahat ng ginagawa ko.”

Flying higher

This 2009, Angel looks forward to more projects with ABS-CBN.

“Hindi po talaga ako nagpaplano. Takot kasi akong ma-disappoint kung sakali hindi matuloy ang mga plano ko,” she said. Pero gusto ko lang magkaroon ng mga projects na may magandang storya. Nakaka-inspire kasi umarte.”

But if there’s one role Angel wishes to portray, that would be the tough chick, “Resident Evil” heroine type of role.

“Challenging kasi ‘yong fantasy. Pero gusto ko rin ng period movie. Maganda mag-portray ng isang Filipina during war time, para ma-re-remind ang youth sa pinagdaanan ng mga ninuno natin. So, [gusto ko] fantasy at historical. Basta may malalim na istorya,” she revealed.

After Love Me Again, she will start taping her teleserye with Sam Milby and Diether Ocampo. At the rate things are going right now for Angel, there’s no stopping her from flying higher than she could possibly imagine in the years to come.