Richard Gomez had nothing but praise for the cast of ‘Midnight Girls’ after attending the film’s star-studded premiere night at SM Megamall.
The veteran actor-politician, fondly called “Goma,” commended the performances of Jodi Sta. Maria, Jane Oineza, Sanya Lopez, Loisa Andalio, Zaijian Jaranilla, and the rest of the ensemble cast.
Directed by Irene Villamor, ‘Midnight Girls’ tackles the lives of Filipino workers abroad, particularly those trying to survive and chase dreams while working in Japan.
“Ang ganda! Totoo! Ang ganda ng istorya, tungkol sa mga Filipino survivors, na nagtatrabaho abroad. Ang ganda!
“Ang gagaling ng mga artista!” Gomez said after watching the movie.
When jokingly asked if the film was more emotional than the impeachment proceedings in Congress, Gomez burst into laughter before replying:
“Hahahaha! Oo! Hahahaha! Ikaw talaga!”
The film reportedly moved many viewers during the premiere night, with audiences reacting emotionally to both the heartbreaking and comedic scenes.
Viewers particularly praised the emotionally charged confrontation scenes among the four lead actresses, noting how the performances relied heavily on subtle expressions and restrained emotions rather than dramatic shouting matches.
Each actress was also given her own standout emotional arc in the story.
Jodi Sta. Maria portrays a mother longing for her child while working abroad.
Jane Oineza delivers one of the film’s major revelations tied to her character’s identity and emotional journey.
Sanya Lopez plays a woman dreaming of a better life with a Disney princess-like optimism.
Meanwhile, Loisa Andalio portrays a young woman forced into working at a club at an early age, eventually hardened and changed by her experiences.
Aside from the emotional storytelling, audiences also praised Villamor’s direction for balancing humor and heartbreak throughout the film.
The premiere night itself turned into a celebrity-filled gathering attended by several personalities including Jericho Rosales, Iza Calzado, Bianca Umali, Kris Bernal, Priscilla Meirelles, RK Bagatsing, Charo Santos-Concio, Glaiza De Castro, Faith Da Silva, Ronnie Alonte, and many more.
Gomez also expressed support for local films, acknowledging the current challenges faced by the Philippine movie industry, particularly the declining number of moviegoers compared to the peak years of commercial cinema.
