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Bukod sa Sundo ang unang horror movie ni Robin Padilla, bagong team-up din ito with three gorgeous leading ladies and a talented director.
Robin Padilla has many firsts in GMA Films' "Sundo." Aside from this being his first hardcore horror flick, it'll also be a new team-up with three gorgeous leading ladies and a talented director. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco, with character descriptions taken from the Sundo press release. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio and Jason John S. Lim. His approval Robin began shooting right after Carlo J. Caparas' Joaquin Bordado, because as GMA Films project development director Noel Ferrer explains, "Kakaiba siya pumasok sa personalidad at karakter ng pelikula." Robin is the type of actor who really imbibes a role, which is why he prefers to do one big project at a time. "Noong pinag-uusapan po namin ng aking magaling at mabait na boss, [si] ma'am Annette (Gozon-Abrogar) ang Sundo, marami pong dinaanang script ito, pagtatalo, [at] dumating pa po sa punto na humingi na ako ng paumanhin dahil baka hindi ko magawa. "Ako po ay buong pusong nagpapasalamat sa staff ng Ouija, sa aming director, producer, ma'am Elaine (Lozano, GMA Films supervising producer), na hindi po nila ako minadali. Binigyan nila ako ng dalawang linggo para pag-aralan yung script, at kung ano man ang aking mga hindi nagustuhan, kanila pong ibinigay." Sundo is headed by the production and creative team of GMA Films' Ouija. Robin continues, "Hindi naman po ako nagsisisi, dahil habang aming ginagawa ang pelikula, wala po akong hiniling na hindi ibinigay ng aming producer. Masasabi ko pong malaking pelikula ito. Sa tekstura pa lang, ang aming ginamit na camera, yan po ngayon ang numero-unong camera. Ang aming negatibo na ginamit, yan ang pinakamahal. At ang aming cinematographer, masasabi kong yan din ang pinakamagaling! At yung aming director, si Topel Lee, napakagaling [rin] po. "[Pero] ang pinakamatindi po sa lahat, ang Sundo ay kultura nating mga Pilipino. Doon po ako talagang bighaning-bighani sa konseptong yun dahil alam na natin ito, bata pa lang tayo, naririnig na natin na sasabihin ng lola natin, 'Naku, nakita ko na ang lolo mo, malapit na akong mamatay!'" His character As Robin shared, the movie's concept is based on the superstition that one will sense a relative's presence when death is near. He plays Romano, an ex-soldier (thus the new buzz cut) who goes into seclusion in Baguio upon learning that he has supernatural gifts. He has the ability to see ghosts who come to pick up their loved ones on the brink of sudden, tragic deaths. Robin has actually portrayed military roles before—a preference which has a deeper meaning for him. "Parang tribute na yan, e. Bukod sa gusto kong mag-sundalo noon, ngayon, parang binibigyan ko ng pagkilala ang mga sundalo at ang kanilang kabayanihan na ginagawa. Kaya sa totoo lang po, sa lahat ng mga teleserye ko, sa mga telebabad ko, laging may sundalo, [at ipinapakita ang] kabayanihan ng pulis." Is his performance here Best Actor material? "Aba, e, isa pong malaking katuparan ng pangarap yan!" he replies. "Kasi talagang bawat detalye ng acting dito, talagang dumaan sa karayum ni Topel. Kahit okay na sa akin, sa kanya, talagang kahit gaano kahaba yun, pero dahil hindi siya kumbinsido, [gagawin namin ulit]." His leading ladies Joining Robin here are Sunshine Dizon , Rhian Ramos , Katrina Halili , and Iza Calzado in a very special cameo role. Iza was a recent addition to the cast, so Robin was only able to comment about the first three actresses during the Sundo pocket press conference a few months ago. He speaks fondly of Rhian, saying that of all the actors her age that he has worked with, the La Lola star is the "coolest." "Napakagalang—unang araw pa lang namin magkita sa shooting, nagulat ako, nilapitan ako, sabi sa akin, 'Isang karangalan po ang makasama kayo sa pelikula.' Nagulat ako kaagad, hanep ito, ha!" Rhian is Romano's blind sister in the film. "Napanindigan naman namin yun," Robin says of his onscreen sibling. "Nagkukulitan kaming dalawa sa set! Alam na nila kung sino yung dalawang nagkukulitan [pag may maingay!]." Katrina Halili plays Kristina, an aspiring actress who hitches a ride with Romano on his way to Manila. "Yung kanya po kasing ginagampanan sa pelikula, ang kanyang [mga] kasuotan ay talagang ang lahat ng kalalakihan ay mabibighani!" remarks Robin. "At isa lang ho ang masasabi ko—ang sexy niya!" Sunshine Dizon portrays Louella, Romano's childhood friend who harbors affection for him. "Napakagaling na artista," Robin raves. "[At] napakagaling na kasama. Kasi ito, tagahanga ako nito, e—noong Bakekang [pa lang]. Talagang magaling siyang artista at higit sa lahat, ang sarap nitong patawanin! Walang corny joke diyan, e!" Ferrer says the cast had to work with an incredibly tight schedule, especially since Robin's co-actors had their own projects which coincided with the shooting. For instance, Rhian was promoting I.T.A.L.Y. and taping for La Lola, and Katrina was busy with Miss X and One Night Only. "Kaya humihingi kami ng paumanhin talaga kasi yung ibang artista nahuhuli sa set nila dahil galing nga sa Sundo na 24 hours," explains Ferrer. "Ang pinakanatamaan sina Katrina at Rhian." Robin agrees, and adds, "Pero nakakatuwa yung dalawang yun enjoy sila!" A dream come true "Mahaba ang istorya namin ni Topel Lee," Robin starts off when asked when he first encountered the Ouija (2007) director. "Kasi nasa commercial pa lang si direk Topel, [sa] katunayan, alam ito ni Mother Lily, noong kinukuha nila ako sa Regal [Films] dati, ang sinasabi kong gusto kong director, si Topel Lee. Pero noong mga panahon na yun, talagang struggling pa lang si direk, hindi natuloy ang project. "Kaya ito, isang pangarap naming dalawa na nagkatotoo. Matagal na kaming magkaibigan niyan—gustung-gusto namin gumawa ng mga digital [film], [pero] hindi natutuloy. Yun pala, ang gusto ng Maykapal ay isang malikang pelikula!" Robin shares that Topel is such an organized and diligent director, refusing to shoot any scene without a storyboard. "[Nandoon ang] bawat detalye, ni pikit ng mata!" Robin remarks. The lead actor continues his accolades: "Si direk Topel po ang masasabi kong isa sa mga pinakamasipag na director na nakilala ko. Kahit may sakit siya, hindi po siya kahit isang beses nag-pack up. Yung taong yun, ginagawa niya homework niya. Kung mayroon pong isa dito na dapat bigyan ng medalya sa pagmamahal sa trabaho, si direk Topel yun. Kaya mga kapatid, suportahan niyo po kami, tulungan niyo po kaming mahikayat ang mga manonood na panoorin ang ating kulturang Pilipino." Text ROBIN to 4627 to bond with him via Fanatxt! Each SMS costs P2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, TM and TALK N TEXT, while it costs P2.00 for SUN subscribers. To receive picture messages, text GOMMS ROBIN ON and send to 4627. Each MMS costs P5.00 for all Networks.