Alike in many ways

MANILA, Philippines - Carla Abellana and Andi Eigenmann were together in their first movie, the comedy Mamarazzi. They’re together again in their second one, Shake Rattle & Roll 12. “But we belong to different episodes this time,” says Carla. “I’m in the Funeraria episode while she’s in Isla Engkanto episode. We’re just together in the promo of the film, like in this presscon.”

Carla and Andi are quite close. “We see each other in Eigenmann family gatherings,” says Carla, whose boyfriend, Geoff Eigenmann, is a first cousin of Andi. “And in Funeraria, I star with Andi’s brother naman, Sid Lucero, who’s Timothy Eigenmann in real life.”

Carla’s Funeraria episode in Shake 12 is directed by award-winning indie filmmaker Jerrold Tarog. “It’s his first mainstream film and he’s got plenty of fresh ideas,” she says. “Kakaiba ang style niya in scaring people, so even if you’re used na to horror flicks, this offers something new. Matatakot ka talaga. I’m the private tutor of two kids who can’t go to school due to some illness. They live in a funeraria with Sid and Odette Khan. Slowly, I discover that they’re aswang.”

What can Carla say about her dad Rey “PJ” Abellana’s disapproval of her having a boyfriend in Geoff? “I just want to clarify that he’s not against Geoff. He’s against it kasi I’m still very new raw in showbiz at dapat, career muna ang focus ko. I love my dad and I want to thank him for being protective, but I told him I’m old, responsible and wise enough to make decisions for myself and I think he respects that. Geoff is a good person so he doesn’t have to worry about him.”

Some folks say it might affect their work, like when they taped for GMA’s Puso ng Pasko when they seem to be having an LQ as Geoff is said to be jealous of Sid. “That’s not true. Our material ni Sid isn’t a love story so there’s no need to link us. Geoff and I had a minor tampuhan but it’s not about jealousy and it’s all settled na.”

How’s it working with Sid in Shake 12? “It’s great. We had fun working together even if we’re doing a horror film.” So who’s more handsome and the better actor? “Magkaiba sila, they’re both good-looking, both intense actors, pero siempre sasabihin ko, si Geoff.”

Carla’s mom, Rhea Reyes, was at the Shake presscon. She was just starting her career when she met PJ on the set of Anna Liza on GMA in 1984. PJ was then paired with Leni Santos but he fell in love with Rhea who later got preggy and left showbiz. They had two daughters, one of whom is Carla. We asked Rhea about PJ’s statements objecting to Carla’s having a boyfriend and buying a new house without consulting him. “I‘m surprised that he wants to be consulted to protect Carla raw. As a mom, nandun din ang concern ko sa anak ko and being the parent who really raised her and saw her grow up, I know when Carla is making the right or wrong decision. She’s already 24 and she’s very responsible so, buhay niya yan, I know I can trust her to make right decisions for herself. I like Geoff.

“He’s very nice, decent and respectful. Two months pa lang sila officially on and he really makes sure she’s well taken care of. I trust him because my daughter trusts him. I’m just surprised na ngayon lang siya nag-react (PJ) when Carla has had a boyfriend before (cager JC Intal) and they were on for five years. Bakit ngayon lang siya naging concerned, di ba? It’s funny kasi he can talk with Carla ng personal, bakit kailangang i-course pa sa media? About the house, kasama kasi akong nag-decision diyan kasi naipon na niya yung pera for its purchase. It’s a good investment, maganda ang location, has four-bedrooms, reasonable ang price so I don’t understand his reaction.”

As for Carla, she doesn’t want to say anything about it. “Basta I love dad and respect him. Yun lang.”

Efforts to get PJ’s side proved futile. Obviously, someone told him it’d better if he’d just keep quiet.

Andi, on the other hand, is a fan of horror films so she enjoys being part of the successful horror franchise, Shake Rattle & Roll 12.

“Hindi ako matatakutin and I only got scared when my friend, Matteo Guidicelli, told me that he has a third eye and he can feel a lot of uncanny things around, so I felt naku, friend ko ito, baka mamaya, madamay pa ako,” she says. “I’m in the Isla Engkanto of Shake 12. My boyfriend broke up with me so I go on vacation to this island with my friends without knowing na may mga engkanto pala roon and the king of the engkanto falls in love with me. He wants to abduct me and take me to his kingdom to be his wife. When I get there, I meet Rayver Cruz, whose girlfriend pala also got lost in the island kasi nakuha rin ng engkanto. My most difficult scene here is when I get attacked by small-winged fairies called lambana. I am made to act like I’m trying to fight them off but dahil CGI effects lang sila, siempre, wala naman talaga akong kalaban and they’ll just be added later as animation. At first, I find it very difficult to do the scene as it’s hard to fight something that’s not really there, so our director, Topel Lee, guided me to get it right.”

This is the year that she gained stardom in Agua Bendita and did two films, Mamarazzi and Shake 12.

“So memorable talaga sa’kin ang 2010 at ngayon, as I earned quite well kaya marami na kong pambili ng Christmas presents for my loved ones, both sa mother’s side and father’s side ko.”