Jericho Rosales Breaks Away

MANILA, Philippines - When STARweek interviewed Jericho Rosales in 2010, he had just finished his soap “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” and was in the midst of building his singing career. When asked during that interview what his dream project was, he said he wanted to make a father-son movie. Three years later, Jericho has fulfilled his dream with “Alagwa” (Break Away).

“I’m a big Will Smith fan, so when I watched ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ that made me want to do a father-son movie,” says Jericho, who is himself a father. Alagwa – an indie film about a father whose son is kidnapped, and the ensuing search – is his dream come true.

“Binigay siguro ni Lord sa akin... Siguro naisip niya that I’ll be capable of portraying the role and standing up for the cause,” Jericho adds, noting that it is also an advocacy film on child trafficking.

The script of Alagwa, written and directed by Ian Lorenos, was sent to Jericho in 2011. “After a few pages, I said yes to the project,” Jericho says. “I’m an opening kind of guy,” he explains. He bases whether a movie is worth seeing by its first few scenes. The opening of Alagwa captured his attention right away, he says; the character of Robert, the father, captured his heart.

“I was hungry for a role at that time... Looking for a really good character to play.”

Alagwa did not only fulfill Jericho’s dream to do a father-son movie. During his interview with STARweek three years ago, he shared that he would like to venture into producing as well.

“I’ve been co-producing my albums and a couple of concerts,” Jericho says. When he was offered the opportunity to co-produce the film, he jumped at it. “That was the beginning of the best time of my life,” Jericho enthuses, adding that it was a baptism of fire of sorts as he had to learn how to co-produce on the job – and learn fast.

“I love doing indies because it’s art house, you have so much freedom,” says Jericho, who is quick to add that he enjoys doing mainstream movies just as much and he would never say no to commercial film projects.

“Indie is the perfect venue for Alagwa. If it were a commercial film, it would have been different – mawawala yung grit, yung suspense,” says the first-time producer.

“I found the perfect partner in Ian in terms of production,” he adds. “He trusted me with this project. Ian had the vision, but he was open to inputs.”

When Jericho first read it, he described the script as very dark material. As co-producer, one of his biggest contributions was suggesting that they make the film a little more mainstream in terms of casting, adding some light scenes, and taking out some of the strong language.

“Every filmmaker should get their money back, or else it’s a losing battle. If you don’t get your money back, you can’t make more films,” Jericho explains. He adds that since the film has an important advocacy, “People should be able to watch it and not be scared or intimidated. There’s a message that we need to share.”

One of Jericho’s suggestions was to cast Bugoy Cariño as his son, Brian. Bugoy had previously played Jericho’s son in “I’ll Be There.”

“We had good chemistry, we bonded,” says Jericho. “Bugoy is a fantastic actor,” he adds, praising the young actor’s naivete as a child, coupled with the intelligence of a professional actor. “He is sensitive, fun, everybody loves him. I love him. In the movie I really embraced him as my son.”

Alagwa has already been screened in various international film festivals and has received local and international awards including Gawad Urian for Best Actor; Star Awards for Best Child Performer, Indie Movie Director, Writer, Editor, and Indie Film of the Year; Newport Beach Film Festival’s honors for Outstanding Achievement in Acting; and most recently, the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature and Achievement in Acting at the 3rd Guam International Film Festival.

“Amazing... I wish there was an English term for kilig,” Jericho shares on how he feels about the acclaim the film has received internationally. He recalls that audiences are often silent as the movie ends. “Then they start clapping, then they start wiping their tears.”

After its success overseas, Alagwa – through the support of Star Cinema – is finally being shown in the Philippines.

“We traveled so far, but all we really wanted was to show our film in the Philippines,” says Jericho. “The sail kept being blown elsewhere. Finally, we’re back on our home shore.”

“It means a lot to me to share the movie, to share our hard work,” he says on finally being able to show the film to the Filipino audience.

“People should know more about kidnapping and human trafficking,” he adds. “It’s that kind of movie that you watch again and again. I’ve watched it more than ten times and something new comes out every time.”

Even as he enjoys the success of his latest film, Jericho already has many projects in the works. He recently signed with Viva for a few films and will soon be appearing in the movie adaptation of Bob Ong’s “ABNKKBSNPLAko.”

He is also preparing for a new TV drama with Angel Locsin and Maja Salvador and is hoping that a TV series planned in Malaysia will push through as well.

On his music career, he is currently promoting his album’s second single.

He and Ian, who have formed a solid working partnership, are already preparing to produce their next film.

On top of all of that, Jericho is busy planning his wedding to fiancee Kim Jones. “I am really so excited. I’m just stoked about it,” he says. “Some people said that things will slow down once I get  married. It’s the other way around,” he adds on his many upcoming projects.

Amidst all this, Jericho remains thankful to his many fans. “They are my fuel. Everything that I do now, they are involved. I think of my projects now socially – social awareness. It’s always inspiring, there’s always a message.”

Now that he has been able to fulfill his goal of doing a father-son movie, Jericho once again shares with STARweek his new dream roles – “I want to do a superhero movie and a movie about a fireman... Hopefully, this time, it will only take a year.”