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Glaiza de Castro recalls how she auditioned for the 2011 indie film, 'Rakenrol'

By Bong Godinez
Published February 11, 2021 10:21 AM PHT

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Rakenrol


'Rakenrol,' top-billed by Glaiza and Jason Abalos, debuted on Netflix last February 4.

Glaiza de Castro posted a throwback photo of her Rakenrol days in celebration of the film's inclusion into Netflix's roster of Filipino titles.

Rakenrol came out in 2011 and was described by the film's director and writer Quark Henares and co-writer Diego Castillo as their “love letter” to the Philippine rock scene.

Glaiza's post came after the cast members, along with Quark and Diego, had a virtual reunion on Tuesday (February 9), to reminisce about the movie.

“I don't even know where to start...” Glaiza wrote on Instagram.

“But if you tuned into 'Rakenrol's' online reunion last night, perhaps you had an idea of how special this film is to me.

“I will be forever grateful and proud that I was able to work with my friends and the people we looked up to who eventually became a family.

A post shared by Glaiza De Castro (@glaizaredux)

Second time's the charm

The coming-of-age movie was top-billed by Glaiza and fellow Kapuso, Jason Abalos.

Joining them were Ketchup Eusebio, Alwyn Uytingco, Ramon Bautista, Jun Sabayton, Diether Ocampo, and Matet De Leon.

Rakenrol tells the story of best friends Odie (Jason) and Irene (Glaiza) and their bandmates Mo (Ketchup), an ex-punk turned barista, and school bully Junfour (Alwyn).

The twist is that Odie harbors secret feelings for Irene but would rather pour his pent-up emotions into the songs that he's writing.

The entire movie though is more of a pop culture montage and a snapshot of the local rock scene at the time rather than a straight out love story.

“Twice ako nag-audition sa Rakenrol. 'Yong unang audition sa Regal, basta doon kung saan 'yong Regal dati. May isang mahabang table ng mga directors so nandun si Quark Henares. Basta siya lang natatandaan ko kasi nga nababasa ko 'yong mga articles niya sa Pulp [magazine] dati tsaka napapakinggan ko sila ni Diego sa NU 107,” Glaiza recalled during the virtual reunion.

Photo by Rakenrol Facebook

Photo by: Rakenrol (Facebook)

“Sinabi sa'kin ni Ketchup na 'Uy, parang banda banda 'to kailangan magpakitang gilas tayo.'

“So nung turn ko na sabi sa 'kin ni Direk Quark, 'Hello, so this movie is may music na involved so can you sing?'

“Sabi ko, 'Ok.' Pero at the back of mind alam ko na na pakakantahin ako so nag-ready na talaga ko.

“Sabi niya [Quark], 'Siguro 'yong medyo alternative like Vanessa Carlton,'” Glaiza laughed in recollection.

Glaiza ended up singing 'After Hours' by the '60s rock group, The Velvet Underground, to Quark's pleasant surprise.

“'Yon 'yung time na medyo talagang [I'm] into mga music na hindi ko naabutan so parang feeling ko lang merong special factor kapag sobrang hindi mainstream 'yong kinanta ko,” said Glaiza.

“After nung audition na 'yon wala na kong narinig, as in years. Sabi ko ay parang wala na yatang nangyayari dun sa pelikulang 'yon.”

A second audition was organized and it was again Ketchup who informed and encouraged Glaiza to re-audition.

“Sabi ko, 'E, nag-audition na ko dun. Baka naman meron na silang file ko.' Sabi ni Ketchup, 'Hindi, mag-audition ulit tayo.' So 'yon nag-audition ulit ako, [a song by] Life Without Buildings naman 'yong kinanta ko.”

Glaiza eventually clinched the lead role of Irene.

“Gusto ko rin mag-thank you kay Ketch kasi siya 'yong talagang nagsabi sa'kin nung mga auditions. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya hindi ko talaga pupuntahan 'yong second audition.”

She continued, “Tsaka ang saya din makatrabaho sila Ketchup and Alwyn kasi kilala ko na sila before.

“Mga idol ko kayo, e. Kayo talaga nag-influence sa akin sa music. 'Yong time kasi na 'yon kaya ko alam 'yong mga Velvet Underground na 'yan dahil din sa inyo. 'Yong mga time na 'yon sobrang gusto kong ma-explore 'yong iba't-ibang genres [of music].”