Let’s welcome Maricar de Mesa, the latest addition to the bold bunch hitching their wagon to a (bold) star. In her forthcoming starrer, World Arts Cinema’s Bedtime Stories, a trilogy of sex-dramas directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes, Maricar will strut her own stuff. Could she be a threat to, say, the Rica Peralejos, the Assunta de Rossis and the Maui Taylors? Too early to tell but never too late to try.
Maricar bares her breasts – "With a good reason and not just for the sake of baring them," she says – in all three episodes. In the first, entitled Sado-Masochism, she plays the sex-deprived wife of Anton Bernardo who rapes her the only time he gives in to her "request" for intimacy; she also has a kissing scene with Ynez Veneracion who plays a lesbian. In the second, Necrophilia, she plays twins, one naked and dead, shown at the morgue with only her breasts within camera range but not her lower part, with newcomer Yras Melchor as the necrophiliac (and Leandro Baldemor as the leading man of the "living" Maricar). In the third episode, Ecstasy, Maricar has a bed scene with Wendell Ramos while under the influence of "E" to show all and sundry that the fleeting ecstatic effect could have long-term harmful repercussions.
Not being a newcomer in showbiz, having done a few movies (Katayan with Jomari Yllana, Onsehan with Carlos Morales, Huwag Mong Ubusin ang Bait Ko with Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid, Buko Pandan and Utang ni Tatay), Maricar makes showbiz-watchers wonder why she’s going bold only now when in Katayan, her very first movie, she already gave a preview of her bountiful breasts.
"I would say that at that time (Katayan)," Maricar told Funfare, "medyo nabigla ako. I wasn’t really ready yet. I was barely 18 then. Now that I’m 21, I feel that I am psychologically and physically ready. I’m already of legal age so I can decide for myself."
But just the same, Maricar asked her mom, Senna Estevez, to read the script of Bedtime Stories first before she gave her nod to direk Maryo and company.
"My mom said, ‘The script is fine, but you have to talk to direk Maryo about some scenes which may not be suitable for you.’ So I did. I underlined the scenes Mom pointed out to me, especially the ones where my leading men were supposed to touch my private parts. And then, direk Maryo and direk Erik Matti did a two-day workshop with me. They knew what my limitations were."
Aside from no touching of private parts, what?
"I’m not ready to show my ‘lower part’," said Maricar. "At ayoko rin ng pumping scenes."
It’s a good thing she doesn’t have a boyfriend who lays down do’s and don’t’s. Maricar’s dad, Nelson de Mesa (who runs his own outdoor-advertising business), told Maricar only one thing: "You’re old enough to take care of yourself. I’ll just be here to guide and support you." The truth, according to Maricar, is that her dad doesn’t want her to go bold. "I am the middle of three children," said Maricar who has a degree in advertising. "The eldest, 25, is a boy; and the youngest, 15, is a girl. We are all still living with our parents. We are a typical Filipino family. We children were brought up to be God-fearing and to respect other people, especially elders. We were also trained to be independent and to think for ourselves. We can’t forever be dependent on our parents, can we?"
Had Maricar agreed, she would have been a big bold star by now. After doing Katayan, Regal Films, with which she has a non-exclusive contract, offered her one of the lead roles in Jeffrey Jeturian’s Tuhog, with Ina Raymundo as co-star. But Maricar recoiled from the prospects of going very bold (read: totally nude) and the role landed on the lap of Klaudia Koronel. Tuhog turned out to be a beautiful film, acclaimed both here and abroad where it is still doing the rounds of international film festivals. It also won acting honors for Ina, one of them a Best Actress trophy from the Urian (the critics’ circle).
"Pana-panahon ’yon," said Maricar. "Maybe it wasn’t my time yet. But now, I could feel it, is the right time. My time has come."
Showbiz has been on Maricar’s mind ever since she was small.
"During family gatherings," she recalled, "I would be the center of attention as I imitated Madonna, my favorite singer. Even then, mahilig na ako mag-perform."
It was German "Kuya Germs" Moreno who acted as her fairy godmother. One time, Kuya Germs went to Diamond Motors where Maricar’s dad was then working and he saw Maricar’s photo on her dad’s table. Before she knew it, 13-year-old Maricar was being introduced by Kuya Germs as one of the co-hosts of That’s Entertainment ("alma mater" of many of today’s big stars, including Lea Salonga) where Maricar stayed for two years, later moving to the short-lived D.A.T.S., also produced and hosted by Kuya Germs.
"And then I stopped because I had to concentrate on my studies," said Maricar. "But I would soon find myself co-hosting GMA 7’s Go Bingo with Arnell Ignacio, directed by Uro dela Cruz, but only for a while. It was back to school for me. After college, I sought out Uro and told him, "Gusto ko nang mag-comeback.’ Uro set up a meeting between me and Douglas Quijano who’s now my manager," added Maricar who is also in the cast of the GMA 7 gag show Bubble Gang.
Soon, Maricar will be lined up with the likes of Rica Peralejo, Assunta de Rossi, etc.
"Sana, sana!" she wished. "I don’t mind. Rica yata ’yan! Assunta yata ’yan!"
Assunta was launched in a trilogy (Red Diaries) also directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes and her friends are telling Maricar that she is following in Assunta’s footsteps, teasing her, "We won’t be surprised if you also fall in love with a congressman," like Assunta did with Negros Occidental Rep. Jules Ledesma.
Anticipating Funfare’s next question, usually popped on boldies, Maricar swore that every part of her body "is original, natural, untouched, nothing has been enhanced." But if and when she needs to resort to such measures, said Maricar, "I’d love to add a little bulk to my butt. They say it’s too thin for my frame (5’6")."
Saying she doesn’t mind being called a bold star, Maricar hopes someday to do (bold, naturally!) movies with either Richard Gomez ("Nice body; very fit") or Albert Martinez ("Immense talent in a body to die for").
Meanwhile, let’s wait for Maricar to tell us her, uh, "bedtime stories."