Stars of Viva’s newest movie Sa Haba ng Gabi, Candy Pangilinan, Kim Molina, and Jerald Napoles faced an intriguing question during their virtual media conference on October 8: “Takot ba silang malaos?”
Apparently, they were not. They then took turns explaining why.
First to explain was Napoles, who said that an artist must be prepared to exit the limelight when it is time.
He then said those in the entertainment industry must accept such a fact before entering the business.
“Hindi. Kasi ano eh, maraming bagay sa buhay na pagtutuunan ng atensyon at enerhiya na naka-allocate ‘yan eh.
“Dapat aware ka na ang bagay dumarating at nawawala. Tumatanda tayo, may mga bagay na dumarating o nawawala.
“So dapat umpisa palang aware ka na para wala ka nang takot kung malaos ka man o hindi eh. Para lang may troubleshoot ka pagtanda,” he explained.
Molina explained her side next. However, the actress admitted she was afraid of it at first.
“Ako honestly, it scared me before. Lalo kasi I started late na eh kung titignan as a female na biglang nag-artista.
“Tapos medyo gusto ko lang maging singer lang. So basically my journey all throughout. It scared me kasi nga baka hindi ako umabot. I was launched parang late na eh,” she admitted.
But when the pandemic came, Molina’s perception changed, pointing that she is satisfied with what she contributed and will contribute to the industry.
“Pero nung nag-pandemic, it really changed me. The pandemic did really change me. My perception in life it did na meron ako na, ‘it doesn’t matter anymore.’
“If you think that you delivered what you want as an artist, which I think I already did kahit paano with Je, so I’m happy with what I got to share with people already and to be able to continue in the long run pa.”
She then reiterated she is not afraid to have people lose interest in her, stressing she is happy to share her talent with the next generation.
“In terms of malaos or pagsawaan ng mga tao, hindi ako natatakot. Kumbaga hindi ako natatakot kasi ako I’m just still going to be very happy for the younger generation na ‘di ba, nakakapag-share pa ng talent nila. That’s me now.”
Pangilinan, on the other hand, was not afraid to have the audience get tired of her. But as a single mother, she pointed that she needed to find ways to feed her family.
“Pero nandoon ako not because malaos but andoon ako sa wala akong trabaho. And I have to feed my family, I have to take care. Take care kasi I’m a single mom and I have to take care of my child. So andoon ako sa I have to do ways and means na mabuhay.”
Being the most experienced among the cast, Pangilinan said that an artist terrified of not being popular must be resourceful and re-invent themselves.
“Pero eventually, popularity and ano, mawawala. Dapat ano lang, you find ways na ma-reinvent ang sarili mo eh.”
Nevertheless, exiting the spotlight is inevitable for artists, just like how life ends through death or how a person ages.
“Nakakatakot bang malaos? Siguro para mo na ring nasabi na nakakatakot tumanda pero lahat tayo papunta do’n. Parang sinabi mo na nakakatakot mamatay pero lahat din papunta do’n. Yun ang mga bagay na hindi natin matatakasan,” she ended.
Sa Haba ng Gabi is directed by Miko Livelo and produced by Master of Horror, Erik Matti. It will premiere on October 29 via Vivamax.
