Cherry Pie Picache to play lead role in PETA's 'Under My Skin,' a play about HIV and AIDS

Award-winning actress Cherry Pie Picache is set to play the lead role in PETA's new offering, Under My Skin, a play about HIV and AIDS written by Rody Vera and directed by Melvin Lee.

The play is part of the multi-faceted Acting on HIV campaign, launched by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), and its partner advocacy organizations: The Red Whistle, LoveYourself and UNAIDS.

It tells multiple stories of Filipinos living with HIV, and will revolve around the lead character, Dr. Gemma Almonte, to be portrayed by Cherry Pie.

During the press launch for Under My Skin, one of the actors, Gio Gahol, details the backstory behind the characters in the play. He reveals, “The characters that our writer, Rody Vera created for Under My Skin, are based on real people. These are based on actual research. Dr. Gemma, the lead character, is an actual doctor that Sir Rody interviewed to get this information.”

When asked whether she has already met the real Dr. Gemma, Cherry Pie replies, “No. Not yet. But I hope I get to meet her soon and get to study more of Dr. Gemma.”

Cherry Pie also shares that she is thankful to be part of Under My Skin.

“I'm very happy and grateful that it's very timely…na 'yung ginawa kong materyal ay part ng isang advocacy campaign.

“Maganda 'yung campaign kasi ayaw naman nating dumating sa point na tini-treat na ang sakit. Ang gusto mo is to prevent it,

“I know somebody na namatay at nawala kasi nahihiyang sabihin. So it's sad 'di ba?

“Kung sana sinabi niya, then buhay pa sana siya. Kasi ngayon sinasabi nila bawal nang mamatay sa HIV, kasi available na ang medication.

“So we would like to inform everybody about HIV. Marami pa kaming ibang information na masasabi all throughout the play.”

The theatrical production, Under My Skin, will begin its run next year (2020), from February 7 until March 22, Fridays to Sundays, at the PETA Theater Center.