“Being with her on the set was a masterclass for me.”
This is how Bianca Umali described her first experience working with Superstar Nora Aunor, who is her co-actor in the upcoming movie Mananambal.
At the movie press conference, Bianca recalled two memorable moments she had with the National Artist for Film and Broadcast.
“Una po ay yung unang beses na kami ay ipinatawag at nakumpleto po kami na kasama siya,” she excitedly shared.
“We had a meeting, together with Direk Adolf [Alix, Jr.], para po pag-usapan yung script. 'Tapos po, dumating si Ate Guy.
“Actually, that moment, we weren't sure if she's going to arrive because nga po Ate Guy is in a very sensitive condition. Kaya po yung pag-uusap po na 'yon, in my head, somehow I was wishing and hoping na, mami-meet ko kaya siya ngayong araw? Pero kung hindi, ayos lang din. Pero kung oo, it would be wonderful kasi naririnig ko lang po yung istorya niya sa lola ko po, sa mga tita ko na talagang naging fans niya.
“Then, dumating siya noong araw na 'yon, parang slow-mo po, e, sa paningin ko. Pagpasok po niya, si Ms. Nora Aunor is such a lovable… Ms. Nora is very tiny and very huggable. Meron po siyang ganung pakiramdam. She has this magic na kahit malayo ka sa kanya, gusto mo siyang yakapin.
“At yun ang una beses na nakita ko yung mga mata niya, nasilayan ko ang kinang ng mga mata niya. Alam ko na kapag nakasama ko siya, alam ko na yun ang tatandaan ko na isa sa mga gusto kong ma-achieve sa pag-arte kapag po ako ay papalarin din na tumagal sa industriyang ito at ginagawa ang mahal ko.”
Bianca also recalled her fangirl moment during her first meeting with Nora.
“Nakapagpa-picture po ako sa kanya nun,” she smiled.
“Bihira po ako ma-star-struck pero isa po yung sa mga moments na talagang nag-slow-mo, parang tumigil ang mundo ko, uminit yung mukha ko. Nakatabi ko siya and nag-picture kami sa sofa, and selfie ko pa yung point five na may flash. Sabi ko, 'Ate Guy, puwede po bang magpa-picture? Ipapakita ko po ito sa lola ko. Tuwang-tuwa po siya nang malaman niyang may pelikula tayo.”
Another moment with Superstar Nora that Bianca wouldn't forget was when they shot their final scene for Mananambal.
She remembered, “I was so nervous doing that scene. It was one of those days na kaming dalawa lang po kasi ang magkasama on the set, together with Direk Adolf, nasa gitna kami ng bundok, may falls… It was not a very comfortable situation to be in, but being with her and seeing her acting as if she's as young as she used to be, it was magical.”
It was at this moment that Bianca realized she would want to become like Nora.
“Yun po ang sinasabi kong parang masterclass. I aim to be like that. No matter how cruel this world is, you hold on to what you love doing and you do it to inspire people and to be kinder to the people around you.”
Meanwhile, here are other anecdotes of 'Mananambal' actors about Nora Aunor
Bianca Umali also noted that working with Nora Aunor was “an opportunity that I already knew na hindi ko palalagpasin. It was a dream that I never thought I would achieve this early in my career.”
EA Guzman appreciates Nora Aunor for being a giver to her co-actors. He explained, “Siguro 'yung tatak ka sa eksena, tatak ka sa co-actor mo. Yung give and take. Yung pag-moment mo, hindi ka sasapawan. Kapag moment niya, ise-share niya sa 'yo. Kahit hindi niya sabihin yun, pinaparamdam niya sa co-actor. Naramdaman ko yun nung mga nakaeksena ko siya.”
Kelvin Miranda says he admires Nora Aunor because, “Sobrang relaxed niya kapag nagtratrabaho siya. Alam niya yung ginagawa niya. Hindi siya nagpapadala sa kung anumang meron sa paligid. Yung mga mata niya kasi, e, kahit wala kayo sa eksena, totoong kumikinang talaga yung mata niya, e. Yun yung kumukuha ng connection kapag magkaeksena kayo. So, titingnan mo lang siya, affected ka na. Napapadaling maka-relate sa nararamdaman niya kasi nga nagta-transcend sa kanya.”
Jeric Gonzales echoed Kevin Miranda's observation about the Superstar. He said, “It's a third time na nakasama ko si Nanay Guy, ang hirap kasi talaga ipaliwanag kung paano niya ginagawa yung acting niya. Kasi, hindi siya gumagalaw, hindi malikot, hindi malaki ang acting niya… It's the eyes talaga, e, yung soul, yung purity ni Nanay Guy. I remember noong humingi ako ng advice sa kanya kung paano umarte, sabi niya lang, yung natural lang. Sabi nga niya sa akin, huwag kang mag-method, huwag mong gawin yung kung anu-ano. Yung natural lang, kung ano lang yung nasa puso mo.”
Martin Escudero, who has worked with Nora Aunor several times, attests to the actress's powerful acting skills. He said, “Kapag si Ate Guy ang kaeksena mo, alam naman natin na sobrang galing niya, hindi mo na kailangang i-effort, i-pressure o pilitin kasi tingin pa lang ni Ms. Nora, buong pagkatao mo dama mo na, e. Kaya hindi mo na kailangang kontrahin yun. Ibigay mo lang kasi kapag naramdaman mo, kusa ka na ring aarte, e.”