MANILA, Philippines — After three years in the making, Call Me Papi by Feast Foundation in cooperation with Viva Films is finally showing in cinemas nationwide.
Direk Alvin Yapan’s film tells the story of Sonny (Enzo Pineda) who gets busted for having an affair with a married woman. He crashes in with his friend Lito (Royce Cabrera), along with three other working guys: Ben (Albie Casiño), Mario (Lharby Policarpio), and Roy (Aaron Concepcion).
They all share an apartment in Manila to make ends meet as Mario and Lito both work as call center agents. Ben, on the other hand, is a restaurant waiter while Roy is a bartender. Sonny’s supposed brief stay will reveal long-kept secrets among the roommates, and will test their friendship.
The sexy-barkada comedy poses the question, “Will their responsibilities as men outweigh the joy they get from their relationships with each other and the women in their lives?”
Since the movie explores friendships and relationships, the cast members were asked in a virtual call about whose company they prefer when going out and most of them answered with friends rather than with their girlfriends.
“Friends din ako talaga kasi ‘pag lumalabas ako, I really go out to have a good time,” began Albie. “Like kunwari kasama mo yung girlfriend mo, if you have a GF kasi you have to watch over her. You’re the protector. So, if you’re with the boys, kapag nalasing isang kaibigan mo, ‘OK bahala na sya dun (laughs).’ Parang mas free din, mas free yung isip ko ‘pag kasama ko lang yung friends ko.”
And whenever he hangs out with friends, they usually talk about life. “We’re getting older. A lot of my friends are having kids. They’re getting married. Minsan na lang talaga lumalabas kami. ‘Pag lumalabas kami, dinner na lang or dun sa bahay nila… I would cherish those moments that I spend time with friends,” he added.
It’s also the “tropa” for Lharby when it comes to “chill-numan.” With his friends, they get to discuss career, travel, future and work. “I get inspired (by talking to) them. Magkakaiba kami, even we have the same goal to become successful in the future, natutuwa din ako sa kanila kasi (we would converse about) how they handle their journey and the things that they want to happen in the future and in their lives.”
Most of Lharby’s pals are already married. He shared, “They have different views in life and responsibilities. In a way, I learn from them when it comes to handling my money, expenses and business as well. Mas nagiging eager kami to put up more business na alam namin na magiging successful at magbe-benefit kami and our family. I love my friends.”
Aaron, on the other hand, remarked, “Hi, babe (girlfriend). Sorry, ha. But for me, mas gusto ko yung barkada kasi sa barkada mas na-sho-show natin yung mga hindi dapat na tayo pala yun. Sometimes, with family, dahil sa sobrang kilala na nila tayo, minsan parang hindi na natin kailangan sabihin yun, medyo napipikon tayo.”
With his group of friends, he would feel the “excitement.” “Nandun pa yung mga secret-secret. Pero depende sa friends. May mga friends na naglalaglag. Sana wala ng ganun. So, for me, kaibigan, especially in this movie, mas nagustuhan ko yung kaibigan kasi mas naramdaman ko yung parang talaga nandun sila lagi ‘pag kailangan ako and hindi yung kailangan lang ako kahit nandun sila,” he added.
When asked the same question, Enzo quipped in response, “Since my girlfriend (actress Michelle Vito) is listening, joke lang. It’s both — girlfriend and tropa. But I get where Albie and Lharby are coming from. Most of my friends are already married and I’m very blessed to have friends whom I can look up to. And I see their growth.”
Being the youngest among his friends, Enzo appreciated his buddies for being there to “guide” him. He has learned life experiences from them as well. “With my barkada kasi dun ka rin naman nakakapag-release ng mga emotions na hindi mo usually napapakita sa loved ones mo, parents and family.”
He added, “Sa GF kasi may mga times na nahihiya ka. Of course, you always want to show your best foot forward to them. So, maganda talaga na may barkada that you can trust, one call away lang sila. For me, they are both important. The value nga na may barkada ka na you can open up to is something else.”
Meanwhile, Enzo also gets advice from Michelle when accepting “sexy” roles. “Siguro ang advice lang ni Michelle sa akin maghinay-hinay ka kasi may tendency na baka ma-typecast na lang ako sa mga sexy roles at hindi na ‘ko makapag-progress or makakuha ng ibang roles outside that.”
As an actor, he is also “conscious” of the sexy roles he is portraying because “there are people who look up to us and idolize us.” Hence, it is still important for Enzo to assess the kinds of sexy roles he is doing.
He still looks for the “purpose and value” behind the characters that he is representing on screen. “Kumbaga at the end of the show, ma-re-realize nila na, OK there’s depth to the film and the character. Kailangan lang talaga mamili ng tamang role if you’re gonna have to do sexy. You also have to see kung may sense ba siya, may purpose kasi siyempre marami ding maapektuhan, especially most of us have endorsements.”
“Kailangan mag-ingat din kami sa mga roles na ginagampanan namin. It should have meaning and value,” he stated.