Xia Vigor hopes to balance Oxford youth program, MMFF comeback
MANILA, Philippines — Former child star Xia Vigor is looking forward to an eventful December with two major happenings — a sponsored youth program in Oxford and her return to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The young actress is set to reprise her role as Yesha opposite Aga Muhlach in Viva Films’ “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7,” one of the first four official entries announced for the 52nd MMFF.
Directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval from a screenplay by Mel Mendoza-del Rosario, the film expands the story of the hit 2019 Filipino adaptation of the South Korean movie “Miracle in Cell No. 7” through both a prequel and sequel.
Before Xia learned about the film’s inclusion in the festival, however, she had already received an invitation to participate in a one-week youth program in Oxford.
“I got an invitation nga po to study for a week there, to experience Oxford life as an Oxford student there,” Xia shared during a recent interview with The STAR.
“Nauna po itong offer na ’to before ko nalaman ’yung sa MMFF, so medyo magsasabay ’yung schedules,” she said.
Having experienced the hectic promotional period of her first “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” Xia knows how busy December could become. Nevertheless, she is determined to make both commitments work.
“I hope the schedule works out because these are two big things that are happening right now in my life. And I know kung pumili ng isa… I want to do both talaga,” she said.
Xia added that her management had already been informed about the possible scheduling conflict.
“Nasabi naman na po namin ’yung schedules with my RM (road manager), and I think magiging okay naman po. Hopefully, everything works out smoothly because it’s a big opportunity,” she said.
The Oxford-based program is being sponsored by YouthFuel Global, which describes itself as a youth-development organization offering leadership, learning and real-world experiences. Its website says its directors have managed a youth leadership program in Oxford since 2017.
According to Xia, the organization reached out to her directly and offered to cover her travel, accommodations and participation in the learning sessions.
“YouthFuel po siya, so they messaged me. Nag-e-mail po kami back and forth, and they want to sponsor everything, including the flights and my stay there,” she said.
“May dorm po silang ibibigay for me there and the whole studying sessions with really great Oxford professors. We will be studying critical thinking and public speaking.”
Xia, who is half-British, is particularly excited about the subjects because she believes the skills will benefit her long after the one-week program ends.
“I really want to learn that kasi madadala ko ’yun forever and my whole life,” she said.
“Kung ano ’yung matutunan ko dun, kahit one week lang ’yun, I’m gonna be a sponge sa Oxford dahil gusto kong ma-absorb lahat ng mga matututunan ko po dun,” she noted, adding that she plans to fly home immediately after the program and join the MMFF promotional activities.
“Ayoko siyang palampasin. Pero at the same time, gagawin nga po itong ‘Miracle,’ so I guess uuwi na lang po ako agad after Oxford to promote,” she added.
Xia also said she was the only Filipino invited to participate in the program. Based on her conversations with the organizers, they are interested in introducing the program to more Filipino students.
“They actually told me, itong program na ’to, gusto rin nilang i-promote sa mga Filipinos na makapag-study dun,” she said.
She believes her advocacy work with WWF and Save the Children was among the areas that caught the organizers’ attention.
“They asked a lot about that — how I got into it nung bata ako at bakit ko siya hilig. They asked a lot of questions and were very interested,” she said.
Aside from the academic experience, the trip will offer Xia a taste of independence. Although her brother is studying in England, she will attend the program on her own and stay in a dorm with young people from different countries.
“Sa Oxford, hindi po kasama ’yung brother ko. Ako lang po, so actually, there’s a little nervousness kasi siyempre, sobrang independent ko dapat. Wala rin si Mommy dun,” she said.
“I’m gonna be living with people from different countries and, siyempre, I don’t know what to expect yet. Pero sana everything goes smoothly at maging very memorable po ’yung pag-study ko doon.”
Xia said her friends consider her an introvert, although she sees herself as an ambivert. She can be outgoing while performing but tends to become shy when meeting people for the first time.
Nevertheless, the Oxford experience could be a fun moment for Xia, who has seamlessly transitioned from child star to teen actress.
Her return to the MMFF also carries a different meaning this time around.
Xia was only 10 when “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” topbilled by Aga as her father, became an MMFF entry in 2019. At the time, she admitted that she did not fully understand how important the annual festival was to Filipino moviegoers.
“Super excited po ako kasi this is my second pa lang, at parang ngayon ko po mas na-feel ’yung enjoyment kasi 10 years old po ako last time,” she said.
“Hindi pa masyadong pumapasok sa isip ko kung gaano ka-big deal ang MMFF at kung gaano siya kaabangan ng mga tao. Hindi pa siya super clear sa utak ko before.”
After watching MMFF films over the succeeding years, she now has a greater appreciation of what it means to be part of the annual festival.
“Lagi po akong nanonood ng mga movies ng MMFF, so mas nafi-feel ko na ngayon ’yung excitement,” she said.
“Finally, after seven years, may entry po ang Viva with me. ‘Miracle’ is a big part of my career, so being able to do it again with the same people, very excited po talaga ako.”
Xia recalled that Viva Entertainment chairman and CEO Vic “Boss Vic” del Rosario Jr. was the first to tell her about the new “Miracle” movie. She initially misunderstood what he meant.
“He was the first one to mention it to me at the Viva office. He said, ‘Xia, you’re doing the second ‘Miracle’ movie.’ Tapos sabi ko, ‘Ano’ng meaning ni Boss Vic with second ‘Miracle’? Ito ba ay reunion o magkaka-dinner ba kami lahat ng cast?’ That’s how I initially thought of it. Hindi ko po talaga in-expect,” she recalled.
“Later on, na-realize ko, ’yun pala ang meaning ni Boss Vic — that it was an MMFF movie. Dun lang nag-sink in. Oh my gosh! Gagawin ng Viva bilang entry nila for MMFF. Sobra akong na-shock at na-realize ko kaagad ’yung reaction ko kay Boss Vic. Hindi man lang ako nakapag-thank you kasi wala akong idea.”
While thrilled about returning to the role, Xia also wondered how the filmmakers would continue a story that appeared to have already reached its conclusion.
“But I’m super happy, super excited. At the same time, naisip ko rin, ano kayang atake ang gagawin ng Viva dito? I felt like the story was finished. Mabubuhay ba ’yung father ko? Pero siyempre hindi naman kasi magiging horror na ’yun,” she said, laughing.
Xia had yet to receive the complete script at the time of the interview, but she said the new film would explore Yesha’s life after the tragic loss of her father, Joselito, while also looking back on his life before he became a father.
“Prequel and sequel siya, at tingin ko talagang kailangan natin itong prequel and sequel dahil hindi pa dapat natapos dun ’yung story,” she said.
“I’m sure people would want to see how Yesha lived after the tragic events that happened in her life and how she coped with that. At si Joselito din, ’yung buhay niya noon — noong panahong wala pa si Yesha at kung paano niya nakilala ang kanyang lover, ang nanay ni Yesha, if that will be shown. I don’t know. Very exciting! Sana maraming manood talaga.”
She also appealed to viewers to give the continuation a chance before judging the film.
“I hope they will give it a chance because they haven’t seen it yet,” she said, promising that she and the rest of the team would do their best.
“I think there’s more to tell in the story. It’s going to be very inspiring how she became a lawyer because in the first film, it was shown that she became a lawyer to give justice to her father.
“It’s a family movie. I hope they will enjoy at huwag munang gumawa ng negative comments tungkol dito kasi wala pa naman po,” she added.
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