Why Rica doesn’t want to repeat herself

"It’s a blessing," is all Rica Peralejo can say about her fourth consecutive Metro Manila Film Festival starrer via Canary Films’ horror trilogy Matakot Ka Sa Karma which opens on Christmas Day. For the last three Metro filmfests, Rica was seen in Malikmata, Spirit of the Glass and Kutob, all Canary Films produced.

Many say Rica is the filmfest queen of horror-suspense movies giving Manilyn Reynes, the Shake, Rattle and Roll queen, stiff competition.

Whether this is a good karma or a case of coincidence, Rica welcomes Matakot Ka Sa Karma as manna from heaven.

"I’m playing a different character that requires a totally different attack," Rica replies to a comment that she might now be approaching her role mechanically, since she has starred in a horror movie three times over – and for three straight years at that.

"I will definitely not duplicate any previous performance," assures Rica.

Does she expect to win her first Best Actress filmfest award? Rica explains, "In the Philippines, award-winning means doing drama or playing totally unique roles."

Although she has mastered the art of screaming or running from an unknown attacker, Rica says she has to go beyond her comfort zone to get noticed and take her acting trophy home.

"Mangyayari kung mangyayari," as the saying goes. In the same breath, Rica denies that she and Piolo Pascual are an item.

"He never courted me," clarifies Rica. "Hindi kami. We’re good friends."

Rica adds Piolo is someone any woman can easily like or even fall for. She is not closing a door or two to the possibility that they could be sweethearts, though.

Besides, Piolo is a trophy boyfriend or husband, someone who is family-oriented and God-fearing. These are traits that will surely melt her heart.

After her relationship with Bernard Palanca, now married to Meryl Soriano, Rica’s perspective on love has changed. "Gusto ko may magic. I should feel that he is really made for me – and perfect for me."

If this is a sign of anything in Rica’s life, it’s that she is thinking of having her own family – similar to the character she plays in Matakot Ka Sa Karma.

Rica topbills the second episode Aparador as Mariel, a rich young wife who is into a shopping spree to beautify their abode. Born and raised with a discriminating taste for finery, Mariel buys a vintage closet among the furniture she culled from an antique shop. Little did she know that she’s also buying a kid’s soul inside the closet. The haunting, eerie encounters start from there. Whether or not Mariel is projecting a desire to have her own kid is up to the viewers to see.

"I’m not afraid of karma," says Rica of the persistent intrigues, failed relationships and career lows she went through and survived.