Cherry Pie: On the wings of hope

MANILA, Philippines – In September 2014, multi-awarded actress Cherry Pie Picache faced the biggest storm of her life when she lost her mother, Zenaida Sison. Zenaida was a feisty, happy and caring mother. The loss and the manner by which Zenaida died were simply too heavy for her youngest child, Cherry Pie.

The actress was forced to take a nine-month hiatus from work. Except for the 2014 Metro Manila Filmfest entry, Feng Shui 2, which she had already committed to, Cherry Pie did not accept any other project. “Almost one year din akong hindi nagtrabaho,” says Cherry Pie, one of the three Dekada awardees of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for 2000 to 2009. “I had to recover.”

But while trying to regain a sense of normalcy in her life, Cherry Pie set herself on a mission: Find her mother’s killer and place him behind bars. “On the contrary, I was also busy attending to matters related to the investigation of the case. I was grieving because I lost my mom and yung pag-asikaso sa kaso ang lalong nagpabigat para sa akin.”

Still, the pain was all too real. But Cherry Pie found strength in prayer and comfort in family and friends. “I held on to my faith and I found a good support system in the people around me.”

Slowly, the actress got back on track starting with the top-rating teleserye On The Wings of Love which aired on ABS-CBN from August 2015 to February of this year.

The guilty verdict handed down by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on her mother’s killer also came as an early Christmas gift for Cherry Pie and her family.

Among those that were affected by her mother’s passing was Cherry Pie’s prison advocacy, which she had been involved with prior to her mother’s death. She was an active member of the Prison Pastoral Care Ministry of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Cherry Pie admits it was difficult to reconcile the thought of helping criminal offenders with the fact that a criminal ended her mother’s life. But Cherry Pie explains that the Prison Pastoral Care Ministry is not just about visiting and counseling inmates, but works under the principle of “restorative justice.” She says under restorative justice, offenders, victims and the community are all involved in the rehabilitation process. It promotes healing for both offenders and victims through dialogue.

“We do not believe in capital punishment. We believe in rehabilitating the offender. We believe in helping the offender repent and accept the consequences for the evil that he has done so that he or she can regain his dignity and face his Creator with the same goodness he was created with.”

Cherry Pie’s faith, her desire to heal from the tragedy and her belief in efforts to create a safer, more peaceful community has brought her back to the ministry’s fold.

Cherry Pie also stars in the new socio-political film Whistleblower along with Nora Aunor and Angelica Panganiban. Inspired by the pork barrel scandal that rocked the country in 2013, Whistleblower tackles the lives of three women who are caught in the web of deceit and greed. Nora is an accountant hired by politicians to cook their books. Cherry Pie is the powerful lady who gets Nora’s services while Angelica plays the reporter who investigates the controversy. Noted filmmaker Adolf Alix directs from a script by award-winning Rody Vera.

Whistleblower, graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB), is now showing in theaters. It features a star-studded cast: Laurice Guillen, Art Acuña, Benjamin Alves, Carlo Aquino, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Bernardo Bernardo, Minda Casagan, Menggie Cobarrubias, Ricky Davao, Cogie Domingo, Ina Feleo, Ronnie Henares, Glenda Kennedy, Vangie Labalan, Celeste Legaspi, Anita Linda, Gigi Locsin, Liza Lorean, Gerald Madrid, Pancho Magno, Dennis Marasigan, Allan Paule, Leo Rialp, John Rendez, Rosanna Roces, Flor Salanga, Lloyd Samartino, Yul Servo, Erlinda Villalobos, Lauren Young, Yan Yuzon and Kevin Zonnenberg.

The film features major confrontation scenes between Cherry Pie and Nora, leading observers to call the Nora-Cherry Pie match-up a “combustible combination.”

In an interview, direk Adolf, who has worked with Nora in Padre de Familia, and with Cherry Pie in Isda and Ang Alamat ni China Doll said that Nora’s quiet portrayal is a perfect foil to Cherry Pie’s bravura of performance.

Cherry Pie says she is proud to be part of an important and daring film and to be working with the country’s top actors. “It’s an honor to be with Ms. Nora Aunor.”

Another source of joy and satisfaction for Cherry Pie is seeing her son Jose Antonio “Nio” Tria grow up to be a fine young gentleman. Nio, who turns 14 this month, is a Grade 8 student at Ateneo and is part of the Philippines’ 14 and Under National Tennis team. Cherry Pie recently accompanied Nio to the ITF Asian Championships Division 1 tournament in Vietnam where Nio, along with his teammate, Michael Francis Eala Jr., bagged the gold in Under 14 Boys’ Doubles.

Mother and son will again leave for another tournament. From April 18 to 23, they will be in Thailand for the World Junior Tennis Competition where Nio is joining teammates Michael and Venz Anton Louise Alforque.

To say that Cherry Pie is supportive of Nio, her young tennis star, is an understatement. Life stops for the mom-actress when Nio has a major tournament. Since 2012, when her son started representing the country in international matches, Cherry Pie has refused to accept any taping or shooting on days when Nio has a match.

And Cherry Pie can only be grateful to her ABS-CBN bosses especially to Deo Endrinal and Cory Vidanes for understanding.

Cherry Pie goes into “full mommy mode” as she prepares Nio’s gear and attends to his needs during the two-week international gig. “Naglalaro rin ako ng tennis kaya alam ko ang sacrifice ng parent para sa anak nila na athlete. Kailangan ng mga athlete ng support so that they can be inspired to excel.”

This mom is pleased that Nio is as disciplined in tennis as he is in his academics. In late March, Cherry Pie was so thrilled when Nio showed her not one, not two, but four certificates: Excellence in Christian Life Education, Excellence in Filipino, Excellence in Music and Second Honors. “He makes me so happy and proud!”

And, speaking of excellence, Cherry Pie’s Alab Restaurant (which she co-owns with two partners) was chosen the Best Filipino Cuisine Special Restaurant in Metro Manila by the Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business. Her niece Jozen Curva and Alab’s Chef Moises received the recognition. Alab has two branches, one in Scout Rallos and one in UP Town Center. Another branch is set to open in Mckinley Hill soon.

These days, downpours and stormy winds still take Cherry Pie back to that fateful night almost two years ago. The scars left by the tragedy will never be erased, the pain may never completely subside. But with faith, hope and the love of those around her, Cherry Pie has found many reasons to smile again.

“I am working on it,” she says. “It’s not easy to forgive but I want to.”