The upcoming film “Mantsa” is set to bring conversations about mental health, self-image, and personal struggles to the big screen, with its cast offering a glimpse into the issues explored by the story during its media conference at Astoria Plaza.

Veteran actress Pilar Pilapil leads the ensemble alongside Gelli de Belen, Khai Flores, Shira Tweg, Miles Poblete, and other cast members. During the event, the actors opened up about their respective characters and the realities behind the film’s central themes.

Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, “Mantsa” tackles the emotional challenges that people often experience privately. The film explores how personal struggles can affect an individual’s perception of themselves and their relationships with others.

One of the topics that stood out during the discussion was the pressure surrounding physical appearance.

Gelli de Belen shared her perspective on the many ways people can now enhance their appearance, pointing to the changing standards of beauty and the expectations placed on individuals.

“Sa dami ba naman din ng paraan ngayon ng pagpapaganda, kapag hindi ka maganda kasalanan mo na ’yon.”

While delivered with Gelli’s characteristic humor, the remark reflected a larger issue connected to the film—the pressure people face to meet society’s expectations of what is considered beautiful.

The growing influence of social media has also made conversations surrounding appearance and self-image more complicated, particularly among younger audiences.

Khai Flores also became part of the film’s more personal conversation after sharing some of her own experiences during the media conference.

Her stories prompted an emotional reaction from her co-star Gelli de Belen, who reflected on what she had heard from the young actress.

The exchange highlighted one of the film’s central ideas: people often carry experiences that are not immediately visible to others.

For the cast, portraying characters dealing with personal struggles required more than simply understanding the script. It also meant approaching sensitive subjects with empathy and allowing the characters’ experiences to feel grounded and believable.

With decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Pilar Pilapil also had an important role in the discussion.

The veteran actress shared advice for the younger members of the cast, drawing from her own experiences in show business and the lessons she has learned throughout her career.

Her presence in “Mantsa” also gives the film an interesting generational dynamic, bringing together established performers and younger talents who are navigating their own paths in the industry.

For young actors, Pilar emphasized the importance of remaining committed to the craft and continuing to learn despite the challenges that come with the profession.

At the center of “Mantsa” is the idea that not every struggle can be seen.

The film uses its characters to explore experiences involving mental health and personal challenges, offering audiences a closer look at the emotions and circumstances that can remain hidden beneath someone’s outward appearance.

Its subject matter is particularly timely as conversations about mental health continue to gain attention in the Philippines.

For many people, however, talking about emotional and psychological struggles remains difficult. By bringing these issues into a fictional story, “Mantsa” creates an opportunity for audiences to recognize experiences that may also exist in their own lives or within their communities.

The discussions during the media conference showed that the cast sees “Mantsa” as more than another acting project.

For Pilar Pilapil, Gelli de Belen, Khai Flores, Shira Tweg, Miles Poblete, and the rest of the ensemble, the film became an opportunity to explore characters dealing with complicated emotions and circumstances.

The cast’s personal reflections also added another layer to the upcoming movie, particularly as some of them connected the film’s themes to their own observations and experiences.

Ultimately, “Mantsa” aims to remind audiences that struggles are not always obvious.

Through its exploration of mental health, beauty standards, and personal struggles, the film hopes to encourage audiences to look beyond the surface—and perhaps approach other people’s stories with greater understanding and compassion. (with reports from Carlos Aragon)