Aswang in Italy

MANILA, Philippines - On April 25, while John Lloyd was busy breaking up with Shaina, and Derek with Angelica, one actress quietly flew to Italy to grace the international premiere of her film in Udine, Italy. She didn’t make it to the headlines; she’s not Claudine Barretto, but she created quite a stir in Italy. You can check Marco Polo International Airport and Teatro Nuovo. May CCTV sila.

Her name is Lilia Cuntapay, and she made news in Udine not by losing any luggage. She just acted brilliantly in a small film called Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, directed by this author, Antoinette Jadaone.

Our mockumentary follows Nanay Lilia around as she prepares the perfect “thank you” speech. This, after learning she has been nominated for a fictional Best Supporting Actress award — her first nomination in a 50-year showbiz career.

In 2011, Nanay Lilia did actually win an award for our film — a Best Actress trophy from Cinema One Originals. And now, we’ve just gotten back from a three-day all-expenses-paid trip to Italy for our film’s international premiere at the 14th Far East Film Festival.

We talk about gondolas, the paparazzi, Italians, Lilia’s recent Gawad Urian Best Actress nomination, and how this all still feels like a dream.

ANTOINETTE JADAONE: Ciao, Nanay Lilia!

LILIA CUNTAPAY: Buon giorno! That’s good morning in Italian. Buon giorno, anak!

How was Italy, Nanay Lilia? Did you ride the gondola?

Gondola? What’s that?

It’s the traditional boat, po, in Venice that transports tourists around the Grand Canal. May Italyano pong magsasagwan, the gondolier. Nasa 50 to 80 euros po yata yun.

Lilia poses for the Italian paparazzi.

80 euros?!? Ano’ng problema ng bangkang yun?!?

Baka po gwapo yung gondolier.

E ayun naman pala.

What was the first thing you did when you arrived in Udine, Italy?

Natulog.

Natulog?!

First time ko sa jet lag, anak. Gusto kong ma-experience.

Kumain ka ng gelato Nay?

Hindi anak, e. Nabusog na’ko agad sa lasagna, prosciutto, corn soup, spinach soup at red wine.

Pa-red wine-red wine ka na lang dun Nay a.

‘Yung mga pasta nila dun anak, maasim no?

Ganun talaga ‘yung authentic Italian pasta Nay e, maasim.

Na-miss ko tuloy ang Jollibee. (Laughs) At kanin!

May risotto naman sila Nay.

Yes, anak, but kanin is kanin. Pero hindi ako nagutom dun anak. Binigay nila mga requests ko. Thank you mga anak na Sabrina, Thomas, Clara and Max! Isasama ko kayo sa thank you speech ko.

Who are they?

They are the very warm organizers of the film festival. Ang babait nila sa akin anak, kaya I won’t forget their names. FEFF is a very intimate film festival. Parang magkakakilala lahat. They welcomed me with open arms. They were very kind to me. They were like one big family, at ako ang lola nila.

Nakaka-artista ‘yung pa-red wine-red wine lang ako sa Italy no?

I heard a lot of Italians asked for your autograph and picture.

Ang dami! Ang dami-dami! When I arrived at Teatro Nuovo for the first time, I sat on one of the chairs outside, tapos bigla na lang nila ako pini-picture-an anak! Click dito, click doon!

Wow, paparazzi! As in yung authentic na paparazzi! Paparazzi nay, Italian term for photogra—

Alam ko ‘yung paparazzi anak. I’m from showbiz, remember? Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, ahh… Saan na nga ba ako anak?

Sa paparazzi, po.

Right. And because I love the paparazzi, I gamely posed for them! Ginawa ko yung signature pose ko na nakataas ‘yung buhok at nananakot, pati ‘yung gumagapang ako sa sahig. They loved me! Ang haba-haba ng pila anak sa autograph and picture-taking! I am not kidding! Feeling ko ako si Kim Chiu! First time yata nila sa aswang anak! Hihihi. One journalist even asked for an ambush interview with me that afternoon. He is from La Repubblica.

La Repubblica? That’s the second-largest-circulation newspaper in Italy!

I know, right? Hihihi...

How was the reception of your film?

Anak, ang haba ng pila! Ang daming tao! They clapped three times during the whole screening. The first was when I arrived inside the theater in my pink Avel Bacudio gown. Grabe ‘yun anak. Hindi ko in-expect na papalakpakan nila ako nang ganun kasi sino ba ako diba? They don’t even know me. Pero yung pagpalakpak nila, it’s like they’ve known me forever. I cried when I saw everyone in the theater clapping. The second time was during the film. They clapped in the scene where I introduced the movie posters I have in my house. Tumawa sila nang malakas na malakas, tapos bigla silang pumalakpak. The third time was after the film, when the credits rolled. Anak, pumalakpak sila hanggang matapos ‘yung closing credits!

Look, I belong!: Lilia Cuntapay with three of her many newfound fans in Italy

Wow, ang tagal nun Nay!

Oo, anak! Ang tagal! I could not believe it! It’s as if they would not stop. Naiyak ako lalo anak. Ngayon lang ako napalakpakan nang hanggang sa dulo ng credits anak. Tumigil lang sila nung bago mag-all rights reserved kasi naglakad na ako palabas ng theater. Nauuhaw na’ko e. Hihihi.

Congratulations, Nay! Seems like the Italians love your film, too!

Gracie, anak! I did not expect it. They were laughing sa mga punchlines at naiyak din sila. May mga nakita akong pinapahid ang luha nila paglabas ng theater. Nakurot din pala ang puso nila anak. Tumama din pala nila yung movie ko sa kanila. Akala ko kasi pang-Pinoy lang yung movie ko, kasi hindi naman nila kilala si Kris Aquino, ‘yung Shake, Rattle and Roll, o kung bakit nagta-“tabi-tabi po, nuno.” Siguro Pinoy sila nung past life nila. Hihihi.

You learned that you were nominated as Best Actress in Urian this year for Six Degrees while you were in Italy?

Nasa hotel pa ako nun anak, hinihintay yung van from FEFF that will take us to the theater. Tapos tinawag ako ni Direk (Jadaone), may ipapapanood daw siya. She played the video of the announcement of nominees. “Ang mga nominado para sa Best Actress ay sina… Lilia Cuntapay sa Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay.” Ako yung unang sinabi, anak.

Ano’ng una n’yong naramdaman nun? Gawad Urian na ‘yun Nay, at si Eugene Domingo lang naman ang ka-hanay mo.

(Silence)

Nay?

Ganun reaction ko anak. Speechless.

I found love in a hopeless place, mga anak!: FEFF’s publicist Max Mestroni kisses Lilia on the lips. Siya talaga yung humalik sa’kin, mga anak!

Bakit naman Nay?

Hindi ko in-expect anak. Hinding-hindi talaga. Hindi ko in-expect lahat ito. Hindi ko in-expect na gagawan ako ng movie na ako ang bida, hindi ko in-expect na makakapunta ako ng Italy, tapos ito pa. Sobra na. Masayang-masaya ako. Up to now, I still feel like I’m dreaming. Thank you, Gawad Urian! Isasama ko kayo sa thank you speech ko.

Ano’ng susuotin mo’ng gown sa Awards Night sa CCP? Yung pink gown mo uli ni Avel Bacudio? Bagay sa’yo yun Nay.

Ay, ang artista anak, hindi nag-uulit ng gown. That’s a no-no!

E sino magde-design ng gown mo?

Try ko anak si Monique Lhuillier.

Wow, ang taas ng pangarap Nay!

Ginawan na nga ako ng movie, nakapunta sa Italy, pinalakpakan, tapos na-nominate pa’ng Best Actress sa Urian. Ano pa ba ‘yung mangarap uli ng isa pa?

Ano pa pong ibang pangarap n’yo Nay?

Ngayon anak, gusto ko lang ng kanin.

* * *

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay will be released in theaters this July. The film is distributed by Origin8 Media, producers of Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington.