Article posted May 19, 2008
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In GMA Films’ ‘I.T.A.L.Y.’, the exuberant Eugene Domingo plays the role of a secret keeper. But while she remains mum on what the secret is about, and what impact it will have on the lives of each character, the comedienne instead shares her experiences while filming the movie. Text by Jason John S. Lim; with an interview by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Jason John S. Lim and Mitch S. Mauricio.
Eugene Domingo plays Lovely Mercado, a senior staffer aboard the Costa Magika cruise ship and a woman desperately looking for love before her time runs out.
“Ang tagal-tagal na niyang naghihintay, papunta na siya pagkatandang dalaga!” the comedienne begins as an introduction to her character in I.T.A.L.Y. She reveals that Lovely was supposed to be married already, but because of circumstances that forced her to be late to her own wedding, her would-be-groom leaves her for another woman. “Tinandaan niya talaga ‘yun; never na siyang male-late sa kahit anong gagawin niya sa buhay.”
This, of course, quickly puts a crimp in her relationship with the new staffer that Jolina Magdangal plays. “Ang first impression [sa kanya], stricta!” But, according to Eugene, this gets turned around eventually as both are looking for something aboard the ship. “Parehas pala silang may hinahanap na love.”
On board Costa Magica
“Unfogettable.” That’s the word that the whole cast uses to describe their experience filming I.T.A.L.Y. on board Costa Magica, and Eugene is no different. “Kung pwede lang ma-extend pa.
“Ang sarap-sarap kasi tulungan.” The actress shares that on board the ship, everyone was equal. In short, there were no divas behind the scenes.
“Una pa lang, sinabi na ‘wag [kaming] umasa na mag-iintayan. Go, go, go! By the hour, every hour!” Eugene says that everyone involved with the movie was constantly ready to film scenes. “Kasi stricto sa ship, so kung hindi ka trooper, hindi ka makaka-survive.
“Laging nakadikit ang false eyelashes ko, walang tanggal! Parang studyante kaming lahat na may binubuong project!
“Pero ang sosyal, kasi cruise.” She says that everyone cooperated without complaints, “kahit hindi mo na trabaho, gawin mo na. Kami [nina] Rufa Mae [Quinto], si Jolina, kung pwedeng mag-assist sa isa’t-isa, maga-assist! Basta ma-take mo ‘yung eksena.”
But Eugene says that it was all worth it, especially after the gratitude that the Filipino crew members showed them while still aboard the ship. “Sasabihin nila, ‘napasaya niyo kami, kasi kami ang bida ngayon’. Alam mo ‘yun? ‘Yung ‘meron din tayong, kahit papaano, mapagmamalaki’.”
In fact, she adds, whenever the cast needed something during their stay there, the crew was very willing to accommodate their requests. “Kahit saan ka magpunta, pag nakita ka nila, tuwang-tuwa sila.”
Hitting close to heart
Though the movie’s main plot moves around the cruise ship, there were some scenes that still needed to be filmed out of the ship. And in Europe, Eugene shares that the cast was able to have some time to bond while filming.
“Nakwento na ba ni Jolina ‘yung bonding namin sa Barcelona?
“Naglalakad kami sa La Rambla, Barcelona. Kanya-kanya kasing gimmick doon eh: ‘yung iba parang unano, kunwari walang paa, kunwari clown, tapos didikit ka [at] bibigyan mo sila ng barya. So lumapit kami [sa] may unggoy, ‘yung parang bakulaw, doon kami nakipaglaro habang kinukunan ng camera. Kunwari natatakot kami.”
Eugene says that what happens after was very emotionally touching for her, “at the same time, proud ka rin kasi iba ang diskarte.
“Biglang nagsalita ‘yung unggoy. ‘Huwag kayong matakot.’ Pilipino pala siya!
“Pilipino? Unggoy lang?” Usually loud and jolly, Eugene shows a different side of herself as she talks about the Filipino portraying a monkey in the streets of Barcelona. “Wala tayong mini-mean doon, pero tumagos. Parang ‘wala na tayong magagawa, kailangan kumita, dumiskarte’.
“[Pero] okay naman siya. In fact, feeling ko siya ‘yung pinaka-malaking kinita.”
The actress emphasizes, “nagkalat talaga ang mga Pilipino sa mundo, lahat nagta-trabaho, masipag.” And she’s happy that whenever the cast sees Filipinos abroad, they make the overseas workers smile. She’s happy that with the little they are doing, making a film about destiny and the Filipinos working abroad, they’re able to put the spotlight on the unsung heroics of the OFWs. “Na sa buong mundo, saan ka man nandoon, asahan mong mayroong Pilipino. Nagtatrabaho.
“[And] we were able to experience what they were experiencing, kahit role lang. [At] sobrang tuwang-tuwa, at sobrang proud sila, kasi bida sila.”
I.T.A.L.Y. will hit theaters soon, but in the meantime, catch more articles on how the casts’ experiences filming the movie, and more updates on what else you can expect from the film.
Talk about it at the iGMA forums! If you’re not yet registered, register now. Who knows, you might even get the chance to chat with your favorite Kapuso star!
And if you want more I.T.A.L.Y. kuwento, feel the fun of bonding with the cast through Fanatxt! Just text JOLINA, DENNIS, MARK or RHIAN and send to 4627 for any telcos! Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is available only in the Philippines)
