CEBU, Philippines - Maja Salvador finds it amusingly ironic to be hailed Philippine cinema’s “Horror Princess” when in real life, the young actress is such a scaredy-cat.
After starring in a slew of heart-thumping thrillers such as “Sukob”, “Villa Estrella” and “Shake Rattle and Roll XI”, she yet again topbills Star Cinema’s latest five-episode horror flick “Cinco”. The horror genre seems to favor her and Maja loves acting fearful or tormenting people on-screen but it doesn’t change the fact that she remains a coward soul.
“Hanggang ngayon hindi ko kayang matulog mag-isa. Kapag umuuwi ako ng madaling araw galing taping, ginigising ko yung mommy ko. Nilalambing ko na tabi kaming matulog. Sa mga out-of-town shows, hindi ko kayang maligo mag-isa sa hotels. May nagbabantay sa akin. Hindi ko nga alam bakit palagi ako binibigyan ng horror projects kasi nga sobrang matatakutin ako,” Maja revealed during their Cebu presscon last Friday at Bigby’s in SM City.
Her cousins tease her each time she comes out in a horror movie. “Inaasar nila ako. Pag ako yung tinatakot sa pelikula sinasabi nila, ‘Sanay na sanay yung mukha mong matakot ah.’ Pag ako naman yung nananakot katulad nung sa Shake Rattle & Roll at Villa Estrella, tumatawa lang sila kasi hindi nila ako ma-imagine na nananakot ng tao,” she laughingly said.
As for the “Horror Princess” tag, she feels honored. Who wouldn’t be, she remarked, when hailed as the “Horror Queen” is no less than Kris Aquino.
Maja, along with co-stars Bangs Garcia, David Chua and Ketchup Eusebio, dropped by Cebu for a promotional tour of “Cinco”.
The film is a collective effort of young scriptwriters and directors who came up with five episodes interestingly weaved together by an unexpected single element (“Limang Kasalanan. Limang Kabayaran. Limang Kwento. Isang Pelikula.”). Conceptualized by ABS-CBN’s Enrico Santos and Joel Mercado, each episode will run in less than 30 minutes.
“Braso” is the first episode and is directed by Frasco Mortiz. It features some of the members of Gigger Boys—Robi Domingo, AJ Perez and Sam Concepcion—joined by Baron Geisler, Kristel Moreno and Fred Payawan.
Directed by Ato Bautista, episode 2 is “Mata”, led by Maja, Rayver Cruz and David Chua. Maja’s role here is filled with paranoia and guilt so for a character study, she watched a Hollywood film that has a similar storyline with her episode.
“Yung kwento kasi ng episode ko psychological yung pagka-horror niya. Mapapa-isip ka. Kailangan panoorin mo siya ng maigi dahil kung hindi, mawawala at maguguluhan ka. Dapat mag-concentrate ka talaga pag pinanood mo. Magkadugtong yung kwento so kailangan mo siyang mapanood sa umpisa hanggang sa dulo para malaman niyo kung bakit paa, mata, braso at puso,” she said.
Her “tormentor” in the movie is played by commercial model-turned-actor David Chua. The Star Magic talent first appeared in Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson’s TV series “My Girl”, then later on in “My Only Hope”, “May Bukas Pa” and “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo.”
David is of German (from his dad’s side whom he has never seen), Chinese and Filipino (from his mom’s side) descent. He grew up in Manila Chinatown and started modeling at the age of 15. He attended a Buddhist high school, then took up Fine Arts at the University of Sto. Tomas. The 21-year-old had to put on hold his studies when ABS-CBN discovered him because his showbiz schedule could no longer accommodate it.
“Nursing student ako dito na nabaril at ako yung nagmumulto kina Maja at Rayver. Ako yung parang konsensya ni Maja. Minumulto ko siya para sabihin yung totoo,” said David of his first movie character. “Nagustuhan ko yung role kasi masarap mangtakot ng tao.”
Episode 3 is “Mukha” starring Mariel Rodriguez, Ketchup Eusebio and Nanding Josef. Directed by Nick Olanka, this will show what a boss, played by Mariel, will get for being mean to her subordinates.
“I play the role of Eric, isa sa mga staff ni Mariel sa pinapatakbo niyang ad agency. I’m one of the pranksters who will teach Mariel a lesson,” Ketchup shared to The FREEMAN of his role backstage at the SM City Cebu Event Centre. He missed his flight and was unable to attend the presscon with his “Cinco” co-stars.
Ketchup, who is known for his comic roles, shared that he started out in theater until someone recommended him for TV. He actually appeared in a ketchup commercial when he was a kid and the “ketchup” monicker stuck with him (his real name is Michael) until he grew up. He is also an aspiring filmmaker, training under the tutelage of some of ABS-CBN’s known directors.
“Paa” is the fourth episode starring Jodi Sta. Maria and child actress Barbie Sabino. This is the first directorial job of Enrico Santos, the man behind ABS-CBN’s primetime shows “Dyosa”, “Ligaw na Bulaklak”, “Habang May Buhay”, “Kung Fu Kids” and “Super Inggo.”
Lastly, the fifth episode is “Puso”, helmed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starring Pokwang, Zanjoe Marudo, Bangs Garcia, Malou de Guzman and Empoy Marquez.
Bangs related that “Puso” serves as the breather from all the horror of the other episodes since the presence of Pokwang added a comedic touch to their scenes.
“Kung sa umpisa, psychological at medyo stressful kasi sobrang nakakatakot at nakakagulat, pagdating sa huli, kami naman yung medyo nagpapa-lighten ng eksena. Ang character ko dito si Rowena, ako yung love interest ni Zanjoe Marudo. Long-lost love niya ako tapos nagkabalikan kami. Nung nagkabalikan kami, dun na nag-umpisa yung mga lagim,” said the sexy actress.
She added: “Bawat episode, may moral lesson kayong matututunan. Ang lesson nung sa amin eh, too much of something is not good.”
The stars were asked if they personally believed in the supernatural and they nodded in the positive since they all had hair-raising experiences before. In fact, the cast and crew of the “Braso” episode had an unexplained “presence” and shadows in one of its camera takes.
Maja used to feel someone hairy sleeping beside her in her grandmother’s house that had a very old tree outside, while David saw a child ghost during one of his “May Bukas Pa” tapings in Pampanga.
On one hand, Bangs narrated how a voice whispered her nickname “Ava” back in her house in Davao. There was no one else in her room to have pulled that prank on her and she felt a sudden chill.
Did they use these real-life scary encounters to effectively essay their respective roles? We’d have to find out in “Cinco,” which is now showing in theaters nationwide.