Eugene Domingo to star in Bona

Award-winning actress Eugene Domingo (Cinemalaya, Enpress Golden Screen Awards and Asian Film Awards) for the indie film “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” makes her return to theater via PETA’s Bona, a contemporary adaptation of the 1980 movie which starred Nora Aunor. This comes on the heels of the box-office triumph of her movie “Kimi Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme” which affirmed Uge’s stature as a new box office star.

The actress says she had her schedule blocked off in order to concentrate on the play which centers on the life of Bona, a spinster call center agent who becomes a fan of aspiring talent show contestant Gino (played by Edgar Allan Guzman who, like Uge, was a winner at the Cinemalaya and Enpress Golden Screen Awards for Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me for best actor).

“My producers know that I have a play come August and September. I’d like to thank them because they respected my decision that I’d want to concentrate on Bona by not accepting any TV show or movie at the time that I’d be busy rehearsing for it and for the duration of the show as well. Kaya naghihirap na ako kasi wala akong kikitain sa play na ito,” Eugene said in jest.

What makes the play Bona different from the movie version is that the stars, the director Soxie Topacio and the writer Layeta Bucoy made researches and corroborated with the material that is not detached with the germ of the movie but tweaked it to suit the times.

“Lahat kami nag-share ng experiences namin and we gave our input on how we think the story of Bona should be during this time. Dapat reflection ito ng panahon natin but we retained the vision of Direk Lino Brocka. Pero in the same manner, dapat maka-identify din ang audience sa kuwento kasi contemporary na ang setting,” explains Uge during the Bona presscon held last August 14 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

Set in contemporary Manila, PETA’s adaptation of “Bona” revolves around Eugene Domingo as a call center who becomes a fan of the “Star of Tomorrow” wannabe Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman). Blinded by her obsession on Gino, Bona turns her back on everything she values and gives nearly everything she has. Caught in a quicksand of worship and pity, Bona proves how obsession may overpower love and even lead to a person’s demise.

For her role, Eugene had to lose weight she gained while shooting Kimmy Dora 2. “Nag-diet ako ulit. Tumaba naman ako ng husto sa Kimmy Dora kasi matakaw si Dora ‘di ba? Pero this time hindi ako puwedeng maging mabigat dahil halos dalawang oras ako nasa entablado na kilos ako ng kilos. Kung mabigat ako mapapagod ako agad. At hindi dapat nakikitang hinihingal ka eh. I have to be healthy, yung stamina ko kailangan priority ko at walang bisyo.”

The talented comedienne admits she is happy that she has Nora Aunor’s blessing to play her character. “Napaka-suwerte. Natatanggal ng konti ang kaba ko. Nagkakaroon ako ng kumpiyansa. Kung na-intimidate ako, oo naman. Kaya ang gusto ko mangyari, maaliw si Ate Guy sa Bona naming ito. Alam mo, ilang taon, ilang dekada niya tayong inaliw sa mahusay niyang pagganap, panahon na na siya naman ang ating aliwin. Ang dami na niyang binigay sa atin. So I really hope this time itong aming palabas na ito ay yun talagang matuwa siya at kiligin siya.”

The 41-year-old actress admits she used to be intimidated with Nora even before they worked together in the drama series “Sa Ngalan ng Ina” which was aired on TV5. “Oo, pero nasanay na lang ako sa Sa Ngalan Ng Ina, pero nung una hindi ko alam paano kakausapin. Kasi baka nag-ko-concentrate. Diyos ko, makalipas ang ilang linggo, mas joker pa siya sa akin. Siya talaga yung mahilig tumawa,” she recalls.

Eugene expects there will be comparisons to the original version on Bona once people start watching but she hopes people will appreciate what they have to offer. “Of course, everything mako-compare, yung istorya, lahat, yung execution, yung pag ganap ko, mako-compare. Given na yun na mako-compare but consciously we try to show you something different and I think ma-a-appreciate ninyo because lahat tayo makaka-relate,” she says. 

“But I know na hindi ko kayang pantayan ang ginawa ni Ate Guy sa Bona kasi original siya. Walang magagawa sa ginawa niya sa movie. She’s the one. Diyos ko. Aminado po ako na walang ibang makakagawa nang ginawa ni Ate Guy! Nag-iisa lang siya. Isa pa, comedy ang forte so that is another factor that makes this stage play different. Sana magustuhan ng mga tao ang mapapanood nila.”

At the presscon of Bona, Eugene says she is a true-blooded Noranian. She had a chance to talk with Nora via Facebook and she told her that she will surprise her by watching her performance of the stage play adaptation of the Superstar’s classic movie.

Catch Eugene Domingo in theatrical adaptation of Bona which will run from August 24 to September 23 at the PETA Theater Center. To get your tickets, contact 725-6244 or 0917-5765400.

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Lovi Poe is surprised of the issue linking her to newcomer Benjamin Alves, her leading man in the movie “Guniguni.” The guy supposedly stands in the way of her alleged relationship with Jake Cuenca.

“Well, in the first place, before they can say that Benjamin is the third wheel, there should be a couple first but no, not at all. Benjamin is a good friend and is an amazing person. I am glad that I had the chance to work with him. I mean to work with someone who is game with anything and he’s smart,” says Lovi of his Guniguni co-star.

Lovi says that for her to like a guy, he must be smart and funny. She said before that she is not yet ready to enter into another relationship. But is she ready now?

“You know, if given the chance, why not? Oo, it’s probably nice to have something na steady lang. But then, with my work din, mahirap din na mabigyan ng time. And wala, it’s basically hard to adjust naman. Wala lang.”

Is Lovi ready to be called the Horror Princess? She will be appearing in two horror movies one after the other. She appeared in the horror flick “Aswang” in 2011 and then here comes Guniguni. Come October, her other horror film “Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles” with Dingdong Dantes will be released.

How did she make each portrayal in a horror film different?

“I think, one of the things that I’ve learned from Direk Jerrold [Tarog], who was my director in Aswang, is for you to actually get into character of being an aswang, think that as if you’re an animal. So now, I am thinking that I am really a psycho person. I really have to get into the character.”