Reel foes, real pals

MANILA, Philippines - Maricel Soriano and Eugene Domingo play warring mothers out to upstage each other in the Wenn Deramas-directed comedy film Momzillas, a co-production of Viva Films and Star Cinema.

In real-life though, Maricel and Eugene are great friends — a bond that blossomed on the set of their first movie together, the 2007 movie Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po.

Naturally, being on the set with people who are your friends makes the work feel like it is hardly work.

“This is one film wherein I always looked forward to reporting early on the set because it’s fun (to do)! Masaya! You know when you’re happy (to be working),” Maricel said during a recent presscon for the movie that hits cinemas nationwide on Sept. 18.

“(Maricel) is actually so early on the set that she’s already there even before the tent is set up. Nasasaksihan niya ang pagtatayo nito!” Eugene jokingly offered, adding, “And every single day of our shooting, the first thing she tells me, ‘Don’t you miss me?’ That’s how she is. We’re like how classmates are in school.”

Eugene also revealed how talkative Maricel can be on the set. She said Maricel can chat up a storm. “Kahit sabihin mong â€˜let’s be quiet,’ daldal pa rin siya nang daldal! She wants us to chat all the time! Of course, sometimes you get sleepy, right? Pero siya, sige pa rin siya. Talk show, talk show, talk show!” Eugene related with a laugh. “But I won’t change that in her. I find it endearing.”

Amidst all the ribbing and roasting (with Eugene being the one mostly poking fun at Maricel who — despite having a showbiz reputation as outspoken and mataray — didn’t take offense and appeared genuinely amused instead), the two didn’t shy away from expressing their admiration for each other.

When Maricel was asked to cite the qualities of Eugene that brought the comedienne to where she is now (from perennial sidekick to lead star with the most number of topbillers this year), the multi-awarded actress specifically commended Eugene’s professionalism and dedication to her craft.

Maricel said, “Napaka-professional niyang tao at napaka-dedicated niya sa kanyang trabaho. Kasi maraming magaling pero marami rin bang dedicated? There are a lot out there who are talented but the question is, are they dedicated and do they truly love their job?”

She added that even with her successes, Eugene has remained humble. For Maricel, she can understand actors who become a bit hot-headed owing to the pressures at work, but what she finds harder to comprehend is when they become swell-headed.

As for Eugene, she and Maricel have “great blending” as co-actors — from the eye contact to the body movements. Because they know each other so well, “direk Wenn gave us the freedom to be spontaneous,” said Eugene, adding, “And every now and then, Maricel and I, we surprise each other.”

Even if their respective characters in Momzillas forever lock horns, direk Wenn said that the two leads are on the same footing in this movie, being both equally generous in their acting.

With Maricel long-known as the Diamond Star, will Eugene mind being (playfully) called as the “Rough Diamond Star”?

Eugene was quick to welcome the tag because she does feel like a “diamond in the rough” compared to the work experiences of Maricel. “We all know how good she is — in drama, comedy, everything!” Eugene said. “Talaga namang pipinuhin pa ako. Dahil kumpara naman sa karanasan ng Diamond Star na 184 years (laughs) na sa business, I’m really nothing (compared to her)!”

Because the big-screen comeback of Maricel is not without a reference to a few controversies in the recent past, her director and co-stars took the presscon as an opportunity to come to her defense.

Regarding the issue with Gerald Anderson, with whom she was supposed to co-star in a TV series, direk Wenn said that he has heard both sides and chalked it up to “wrong timing, bad day — it happens to everyone.”

Eugene, for her part, said, “Be it her personal life or career, Maricel Soriano has been through a lot. That’s why every day, or in every chance that I get to interact with her, tulala lang ako sa kanya.

“My god! Susmaryosep! Iniisip ko na napakatibay ng babaeng ito. She’s so solid and strong. She’s still standing!” added Eugene before joking, “(She must be a) former bus conductor!”

And it is because of that, Eugene declared that she’s a bigger fan of Maricel now than ever before. “I always tell her, ‘Whatever intrigues people say about you, you continue to keep your silence. And that’s what makes you a real Diamond Star.’”

Meanwhile, Momzillas also pairs up Billy Crawford and Andi Eigenmann as the children of Maricel and Eugene who fall in love, consequently, fanning the flames of the rivalry of the mothers and turning it into an all-out war.

Rumors were rife that Andi was the third party being blamed on the recent demise of Billy’s relationship with Nikki Gil.

Billy no longer wanted to discuss it because for him, the public has already made up its mind, and any comment from him pertaining to it will only prolong the issue. But Billy addressed it just the same at the presscon “out of respect for a co-actor.”

He, for one, admitted that “we (Andi and I) became close, that’s really true... Andi became a friend of mine through the film.”

Billy also said that he felt embarrassed for his co-stars when word came out linking him to the actress. “People have already made their decision and they will speculate whatever happens kasi ang buhay namin is really an open book.”

He further said, “It wasn’t Andi’s fault that’s why I apologized to her. She’s being dragged into my personal life. And that (apology) is out of respect for a co-worker. I don’t mean harm to anyone or for anyone.”

The singer-actor is wishing for closure on the issue as “I have already closed the chapter and closed the book, and I am ready to move on.”