After almost a decade, Derick Cabrido once again worked with Kapuso actress for GMA Pictures' upcoming mind-bending horror movie

July 23 2025

By AARON BRENNT EUSEBIO

After almost a decade, Derick Cabrido once again worked with Kapuso actress for GMA Pictures' upcoming mind-bending horror movie P77.

Their last film project was the 2016 Cinemalaya entry Tuos, starring Barbie and the late Superstar Nora Aunor.

"Ayun, lumaki naman," direk Derick said during the press conference of P77 on July 22.

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Turning serious, he added, "Malaking improvement, ibang-iba na siya noong nakatrabaho ko siya, parang minor pa ata siya noon. Pero nandoon pa rin 'yung kung paano ko siya nakatrabaho before, sobrang collaborative, there were times na kahit mahigat 'yung shoot, gumagaan."

Direk Derick also sang praises for Barbie's professionalism as an actress.

He said, "Aral niya 'yung materyal bago siya tumungtong sa set. So, mas madali katrabaho for the staff, for all of us sa paggawa ng pelikula."

The director also revealed that Barbie was hand-picked for the role of Luna, a breadwinner who was thrust to carry the weight of her family when her mother suddenly goes missing while working in P77.

"Hand-picked siya for the role. Nung sinusulat pa 'yung materyal, from the conceptualization pa lang, siya na talaga 'yung nasa utak namin na gagawa ng materyal," he said.

Barbie, on her part, expressed her gratitude for the trust that was given to her once again.

She said, "Gratefully, well aware po ako na hand-picked ako, gratefully, kasi honestly nakailang tawag kaming dalawa [ni Direk], 'Sige na, let's make this work' kasi 'yung schedule, kasama siya ng Pulang Araw."

"Talagang nagtatawagan kami ni Direk, sabi [niya], 'Sige na, Barbie, let's make this work.' Sabi ko, 'Sige, Direk, I will make sure na kung mag-aaraw araw ako, Pulang Araw tapos P77, bahala na si Lord kung paano ko gagawin 'yun.

"I'm super, super grateful and thankful."

P77 is a mind-bending horror film directed by Derick Cabrido and written by Enrico Santos, based on an original concept by Anj Atienza and Kristian Julao.

Barbie portrays Luna, a breadwinner who was thrust to carry the weight of her family when her mother suddenly goes missing while working in P77.

P77 will be distributed by Warner Bros. Philippines. It will be shown exclusively in cinemas on July 30.