On June 25, Ella Cruz, Diego Loyzaga, and Ruffa Gutierrez discussed their research for their characters as the Marcoses at the media conference for Maid in Malacañang.
Ella cited the challenges she had while researching for her character, the youngest daughter of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Irene Marcos.
“Sa akin po nahirapan ako kasi siyempre po kilala natin si Miss Irene na the quiet one. So naghanap ako sa Youtube kung paano siya magsalita, paano ‘yung posture niya. Pero, ang konti sobra. Feeling ko isa si Miss Irene sa hindi natin pinaka nakikita.
“So I tried to research, buti na lang mayroon akong nakita. Mas recent kasi ‘yung mga nakikita ko, hindi tulad noong mga 1980’s, wala kasing videos si Miss Irene. So I really have to look pa talaga ng marami at read some articles.”
She also expressed the hopes of meeting Irene in person to ask more about her during the last 72 hours of the Marcos family in Malacañang.
“If given a chance, I would love to talk to her to ask what she feels during those days.”
As for Diego, he researched President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s mannerisms and way of speaking for his role in Maid in Malacañang.
“It’s hard to find a lot of videos of sir Bongbong when he was in his ’30s. And ‘yung mga nahahanap ko naman, panay English po siya, hindi po talaga siya– the way he speaks English is a lot like how I speak English. His mannerisms are a lot like mine, I’ve been studying him also but mas maraming video sa YouTube ng campaign niya which is recent.
“So, it’s the older him already. Every now and then I find some new videos na hindi ko nakikita pala of sir Bongbon in his 30s. Ginagaya ko lang po kung paano siya magsalita ng Tagalog niya and English.”
Ruffa revealed that she had watched documentaries about Imelda Marcos before landing the role.
“Even before this project was /offered to me–and the role, I was watching a lot of documentaries of Madam Imelda. Because she is my favorite, and that is the reason why I accepted this project because she is one of the world’s most glamorous women, and she’s truly an icon.
“The setting /is in 1986, but also it doesn’t stop me from watching everything about her, from the time she gave birth, from the time she was born to her love story, until today.”
Maid in Malacañang, directed by Darryl Yap, also stars Cesar Montano, Cristine Reyes, Karla Estrada, Beverly Salviejo, and Elizabeth Oropesa.
Produced by Viva Films, Maid in Malacañang premieres in theaters worldwide on July 20.
