Cherry Pie Picache to bag Dekada Award

Award-winning actress and versatile performer Cherry Pie Picache is getting her first Dekada Award from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino when the critics’ group holds its annual awards night on May 17.

Cherry Pie is in good company as she’s sharing the honor with veteran actress Ms. Gina Pareño and hottie actor Coco Martin. They are the only Dekada awardees for the period 2001 to 2009.

“Parang ang bata ko pa to receive a Dekada Award (It seems that I am still quite young to receive a Dekada Award),” said Pie in an interview last week. “But I am very thankful. Before I only used to dream winning an Urian Award. Now I am a Dekada awardee. Wow! It’s such a great honor.”

She says winning a Dekada award is like getting a bonus. Cherry Pie won two best actress awards from the Urian – her first was for the comedy “Bridal Shower” in 2003, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and followed it up with a win for “Foster Child” in 2007, directed by Brillante Mendoza..

The actress won the same accolade from the Golden Screen Awards (given by the Entertainment Press Society), winning the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy) for “Bridal Shower” then in 2007 as Best Actress Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama) for “Foster Child.”

Those awards were significant for Pie because those were the first acting awards she won from the major award bodies. Aside from that, she also won Best Supporting Actress from the Golden Screen Awards in 2006 for “Twilight Dancers.”

Pie is likewise elated that she’s in good company with Gina Pareño and Coco Martin.

“We have one thing in common. We all rose from the ranks. Tita Gina was star during her heydays (Star 66) then bowed out of the scene then resurfaced later. Me, I was never a star but slowly I was able to make a name for myself. Even Coco had a long hard climb before he was recognized as an actor and became a star that he is now,” said Pie.

“I guess I can say that our triumphs will serve as an inspiration, especially to the younger generation na it doesn’t stop with good looks. I mean, hindi lang good looks at popularity ang puwede ninyong asahan. You have to work hard and never cease to learn about your craft,” she said.

Now that she’s receiving a Dekada Award, Pie says it’s like a look back to the time she started and give thanks as well to her acting idols before who served as her inspiration and made her what she is now. Same thanks goes to her directors who helped honed her craft. And it is her wish that the younger stars of this generation would also look up to her as an inspiration as well.

Pie says it never crossed her mind that one day she will see herself getting a Dekada Award. She was in fact surprised when she learned about it and feels humbled by the accolade upon learning who are her co-awardees and the others that came before them. She’s also very grateful and considers the award as a pat on the shoulder.

“I was surprised tapos nang malaman ko kung sino ang iba pang awardee, plus ‘yung ibang nabigyan ng Dekada Award, you are humbled and you realize how grateful you are. I must admit that it is also a pat on the shoulder,” she said.

After her award-winning film “Foster Child,” Pie takes on another interesting film project titled “Isda” about a woman who gives birth to a fish. The movie is being directed by Adolf B. Alix Jr., who also directed “Donsol,” “Kadin,” “Presa,” “Muli” and other noteworthy projects.

“I am excited with this project because after Foster Child, I have another very interesting role,” says Pie who concedes the role is giving her a hard time. “For one, it has a very good story and very good script. I really like the way it was written and even if I knew from the start that it is a role that is hard to do, I accepted it for the sheer beauty of it.”

She considers the role as great challenge. After doing a slew of soap operas, Pie returns to a different acting piece. “The culture of movies is different from the culture of soap. Plus our director Adolf requires non-acting, no excesses. I need to adjust. Plus we are shooting in a dumpsite in Malabon. It’s a different kind of experience talaga,” said Pie.

Your role is a mother who gives birth to a fish. How do you reconcile that?

“That’s exactly part of the challenge. If you, the audience, is having a hard time reconciling that fact, what more with me who is playing the role? My job then is how to make you understand what seems to be irreconcilable. That’s what I am balancing in my head each day I report for shoot. It’s getting me some kind of headache as to how do I reconcile it. Plus it’s my first movie with Adolf so it’s an honor and pleasure to work with him.”

She was very pleased when she learned that Adolf wants her for the role and when she read the material, it was to her liking. “When one matures, you already have certain preference for the role. I am not saying I have become choosy but rather more discerning when it comes to accepting film roles. If I want to do a movie, then it has to be that good to take away the time I should be spending with my son. I am happy with my role in Isda. It’s about a woman who gives birth to a fish and her journey through that experience that makes the role interesting,” Pie relates.

Pie says her passion with acting remains. Despite the many projects she has done both in the movies and on TV, her passion for acting is definitely on high. But she recognizes the need to be more discerning in choosing acting assignments. The role has to excite her and give her that adrenalin rush to make her accept it. “It’s a role of a lifetime,” she says of her role in Isda.

Aside from getting good acting projects, Pie also has endorsements like Champion Detergent, Hunt’s Tomato Sauce and Boardwalk. She’s hoping to get more endorsements. She’s taking a respite from doing soap operas for the meantime to give way to possible interesting film projects that might come her way.

Despite her busy schedule, Pie finds time to spend with her son – accompanying him to his tennis games, and taking on the game herself. She would find time to join in his son’s games or chaperone him when he plays, bringing him water to drink or anything that he needs. She looks forward to their bonding time, their pillow talk at night before mother and son goes to bed. It opens her eyes to the many things and changes that his son is undergoing as he matures. She also cooks him his favorite dishes – caldereta, sinigang and pochero.

What is more endearing to hear – Actress of the Decade or Mother of the Decade?

“Both terms are nice to hear but being called Mother of the Decade has a special ring to it. If there’s such an award that will be given, I’d surely cherish that.”

Pie is turning 41 on May 27 and she’s looking forward to another decade in her life. Her birthday wish is for continued good health and more projects to come. She will be seen in an ABS-CBN soap opera titled “Binondo Girl,” with Ai Ai delas Alas and Kim Chiu. And she’s still looking forward to doing a dream project – a passionate love story. And there’s also that wish to be able to do a movie with Sharon Cuneta and Miss Lolita Rodriguez.