Kapuso actress Althea Ablan is officially a movie star.
The 20-year-old Sparkle talent made her big-screen debut in ‘Faney’ (The Fan), a tribute film for the late National Artist and Superstar Nora Aunor, written and directed by Adolf Alix Jr. The premiere took place on May 21, 2025, Nora Aunor’s 72nd birthday, at Cinema 11, Gateway Mall, Cubao.
“Speechless po ako at nararamdaman ko po ngayon, sa totoo lang po, hindi ko po ma-explain dahil ang laki po ng screen dito! Hi! Hi! Hi!” Althea said after watching the film. “First time ko pong makita yung sarili ko, pinapanood ng maraming tao, at lalung-lalo na po, hindi lang basta-bastang film. Ito po ay tribute para kay Miss Nora Aunor. Isang Superstar po.”
In ‘Faney’, Althea stars alongside veteran actresses Laurice Guillen and Gina Alajar—both acclaimed directors in their own right. Sharing the screen with them was both intimidating and inspiring for the young actress.
“Sa una po, siyempre, na-intimidate po ako,” she admitted during the film’s mediacon. “Dahil veteran po sila, ang tagal na po nila sa industriya na ito. Pero siyempre po, hindi ko kailangang iparamdam yun sa kanila. Kailangang iparamdam ko na kaya kong gawin para di ba po, naibibigay ko yung best ko, naibibigay ko yung lahat ko.”
Althea revealed that ‘Faney’ was a unique challenge—not only was it her first film, but the production didn’t use a traditional script.
“At sa totoo lang po, napansin niyo po ba? Na ito pong film na ginawa namin ay ‘no script’! Dahil nga po mabilisan lang ito ipinalabas. Nung sinabi po ni Direk Adolf yun, sabi ko, ‘Direk, first time ko po ito na walang script pero kayo na po ang bahala.’ So, nagtiwala po ako sa tatlong direktor na kaeksena ko. Hi! Hi! Hi!”
Even the cast playfully teased her on set.
“Opo, tatlong direktor. Kaya po pag tinatawag nila ako sa tent, ‘Direk Althea, tara na po!’ Hi! Hi! Hi!”
Veteran actress Gina Alajar, who had previously directed Althea in Prima Donnas, praised her former student’s performance.
“Siyempre sasabihin ko, magaling siya! Totoo namang magaling siya,” said Gina. “Si Althea, bata pa ito, lalaban ito… she’s 20 years old and then she reminded me that I directed her when she was 14… Para yang sponge.”
Though she never got to meet Nora Aunor in person, Althea felt the weight of the tribute throughout the project.
“Never ko pa po na-meet or naka-work si Miss Nora Aunor,” she said. “Kaya sabi ni RS [Francisco], ‘Ah, e, di mabuti, ginawa mo itong film na ito!’ At para po sa akin, pasasalamat po ito kay Miss Nora Aunor sa mga alaala na iniwan niya po sa atin.”
She recalled talking with real Noranians on set, including Lola Lourdes, whose stories brought her closer to understanding Nora’s legacy.
“Pag-upo ko pa lamang, bumati ako kay Lola Lourdes… ‘Alam mo ba, si Nora, ganyan-ganyan. Ganyan.’ Andami na po niyang ikinukuwento. Doon po ako mas nalinawan or mas nabigyan din po ako ng idea kay Miss Nora Aunor… At totoo nga po na isa siyang napakabuting tao.”
Produced by Frontrow Entertainment, Intele Builders, Noble Wolf, and AQ Films, Faney features an all-star cast including Angeli Bayani, Roderick Paulate, Ian de Leon, Perla Bautista, Bembol Roco, Henrie Chavarria, Bianca Tan, Atty. Aldwin Alegre, and the P-pop group Bilib. It also includes real-life Noranians Lourdes Recella, Marcy Santos, and Teresita Magallanes in special roles.
While no public screening schedule has been confirmed yet, Faney stands as one of the most heartfelt tributes to the Superstar—told not from the perspective of fame, but through the eyes of those who never stopped believing in her.
