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Versatile TV and movie actress Glaiza De Castro is beaming with pride as she sat down with members of the GMA-7 press following the successful run of the GMA Pictures animated documentary '58th' at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands.

The pride of Sparkle is the lead star of '58th,' which tackles one of the bloodiest moments in Philippine history: the Maguindanao Massacre in 2009.

In the project, Glaiza portrays Reynafe Castillo, daughter of the late journalist and 58th victim, Reynaldo Momay.

Preparing for this GMA Pictures masterpiece was no easy task, according to Glaiza. She told GMANetwork.com about her preparations:

“May mga available clips naman on YouTube so ayun 'yung isa sa mga talagang pinagtuunan ko ng pansin, pero isa rin sa mga naging preparation ko ay i-meet si Ms. Reynafe [Castillo] online lang kasi hindi na siya based dito. So, we had an interview with her na parang halos isang araw din.”

“We have to take a break, kasi ang bigat talaga!” Glaiza remembered.

Meeting Ms. Reynafe also gave Glaiza the opportunity to better understand her role and the nuances of the person she is portraying in '58th.'

“Ang hirap dun nun for her kasi kailangan niya ikuwento lagi. Pero in a way, baka nakatulong din 'yung pag-shi-share niya ng story to alleviate 'yung dark memories niya of what happened.”

“Through meeting her kahit na online lang, I was able to empathize with her more and to study her mannerisms—kung paano siya magsalita. Kasi, ang goal ko dito, para hindi talaga nila si Glaiza 'yung pinapanood nila. Ang gusto ko makita dito 'yung character ni Ms. Reynafe.”

Glaiza also had the best time working and collaborating with the director of '58th,' highly esteemed filmmaker Carl Joseph Papa.

She shared: “Isa sa mga key learnings ko kung paano siya mag-tell ng story. Ang strength niya is galing sa totoong buhay—real events, real stories—and 'yung unique way of telling it kasi animator siya. Tapos, he has a different job, IT siya, pero love niya talaga 'yung filmmaking.”

“Yung love na 'yun, I guess, nakapagpa-recognize sa talent niya—hindi lang sa Philippines, kung hindi abroad.”

Also part of the stellar cast of '58th' are Mikoy Morales, Pinoy Big Brother housemate Marco Masa, Zyren Dela Cruz, Biboy Ramirez, and the late actor-director Ricky Davao.

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