Sue Ramirez now appreciates tech-free lifestyle

Until now, rising young actress Sue Ramirez still could not believe that she was cast by acclaimed filmmaker Jun Robles Lana in the title role of his latest film, Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi.

SUE Ramirez is excited to be in the film, playing Norma, a typical teenager addicted to social media. “The feeling is so surreal for me. There are many good actresses around and for Direk Jun to choose me for this very special project is something that I will be grateful for beyond words. I feel so fortunate,” the actress told reporters in mostly Filipino during the recent press conference for the film that took place at Prime Hotel in Quezon City.

“What interested me most about the idea, when I came across a 2009 news report about a British man who was allergic to WiFi, is the opportunity to explore the underlying sadness and emptiness of modern relationships,” Direk Jun recalled.

In the film, Ramirez portrays Norma, a typical teenager addicted to social media. When her nose starts to bleed and she goes to see a doctor, she is shocked to find out that she has developed an allergy to certain frequencies including WiFi, the technology that allows wireless connectivity to the Internet. The doctor then orders her to avoid triggering devices and connecting to the World Wide Web via WiFi.

“Nowadays, with the advances of technology, no matter where we go, it’s so easy to get in touch with our loved ones, but a lot of our correspondence has also been reduced to emojis and likes and superficial interactions online. What happens if the technology that’s supposed to connect you to the whole world suddenly isolates you literally and takes away your freedom and the life you once lived and knew?” Lana wondered.

As her character finds herself “exiled” in her grandmother’s place in a technology-challenged province, Ramirez said her involvement in the movie has also allowed her to figuratively and literally stop to smell the roses and to appreciate the simpler and finer things in life that most people tend to overlook and take for granted with the popularity of the Internet.

“I would say it’s a very wonderful movie. It brings out so many emotions and serves as a constant reminder what life was like before cellphones, before technology took over. It’s refreshing,” quipped the actress who won the PMPC Star Awards for Movies New Movie Actress of the Year award two years ago and was FHM Philippines’ 100 Sexiest Women list last year. “When you watch the movie, you will feel what it was like when there were no such things as fake news and bashers and all you have around you are the people who truly love you.”

Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi stars Sue Ramirez, Jameson Blake and Markus Paterson. After doing the film, Ramirez said she now feels that she can live without her mobile phone for one full week, perhaps even for an entire month.

Ironically, the film that centers on the adverse effects of constant connectivity has become a big hit on social media.

With its strong millennial appeal and cast of rising, young sensations that also include Jameson Blake and Markus Paterson, it’s not surprising that Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi has become an instant hit on social media ever since its first teaser trailer emerged and generated one million views in eight hours last November. To date, the same teaser trailer has generated over 1.2 million views.

Just two hours after its announcement as an official entry in the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), the film’s second trailer became the number-one trending topic on Twitter. To date, the full trailer of Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi has over 480,000 views on Facebook and YouTube combined.

Markus Paterson plays Leo, Norma’s love interest. In the movie, Norma, because of her illness, has to live in a remote place where there is no cell phone signal, making it impossible for her and Leo to communicate regularly. Ramirez, its charismatic lead star, is also now a household name, thanks to a string of pivotal roles in popular teleseryes in ABS-CBN including her memorable turn as Anna in Hanggang Saan last year while co-stars Jameson Blake and Markus Paterson are now blessed with strong followings of their own.

Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi is an official entry in this year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino film festival happening from 15 to 21 August in cinemas nationwide. The film is produced by Cignal Entertainment, the new original content division of Cignal, in partnership with The IdeaFirst Company and Octobertain Films.