The power and glory of love

Two-time Asian Television Awards best actor winner for his lead performances in Abo and Wristwatch and the original box-office sensation Roderick Paulate makes the grandest cinematic comeback in Julius Alfonso’s Mudrasta, screenplay written by Joni Son Fontanos, produced by CreaZion Studios, and showing in cinemas this 20 August.

“Mudrasta is about a love that’s worth the fight, the lessons learned along the way, and the family shaped by that shared journey,” said Fontanos. “I was inspired by the concept presented to me by Sir Rex Tirim, the first gentleman of T-Rex Entertainment. Also, the main character of the movie, Beki Labrador, I can relate much to his experience, most especially on the part of loving till it hurts that he shared with Enrique.”

“It’s every Filipino gay scriptwriter’s dream to write a Roderick Paulate project,” Fontanos said. “This is the realization of a far-fetched dream that UI did not expect, but it happened, so I immediately grabbed it wholeheartedly.”

Alfonso’s directorial notes

“Kuya Dick, Roderick Paulate is the main reason why I readily said yes to the project,” said Alfonso. “He’s forever my idol since his High School Circa 65 days. This is truly a dream come true.”

The Mudrasta director carried on: “When he said during our initial meeting that Deadma Walking was his favorite entry when he sat as a juror during the MMFF 2017, hearing that from an icon, it was a goosebumps moment for me and our team.”

Working with the showbiz icon was easy-peasy, said Alfonso: “He’s very collaborative. Before we got into the final or official working script of Mudrasta, our writer Joni Mones Fontanos and I had numerous meetings with Kuya Dick on Zoom and face-to-face.”

He added: “They were countless and fruitful creative meetings that were our bonding moments with him. Sequence by sequence, we discussed thoroughly and the three of us even acted out some scenes to come up with the best dialogues and potential iconic lines. It was a very fun and memorable experience.”

“During the first day of the shoot, I was initially consumed by nervousness since totoo na ito, I am directing a legendary icon,” Alfonso recollected. “But, as we went along, excitement and fun energy took over. He’s inspired me to be the best that I can be. Oftentimes, we both came up with additional punch lines that made the scenes even funnier.”

“Talking about work ethics, he’s very serious with his craft,” said Alfonso. “So, every shoot, every department is inspired to give their best. In between shoots, we discuss the scenes for the next day. And yes, ‘di pa rin nawawala ang mga bonding with him and the whole team during our rest days.”

What Mudrasta reinforces, said Alfonso, is “the very essence of agape love. True love is unconditional. We meet people along the way who touch our lives like never before. Keep them, fight for them. Otherwise, you’ll regret having them as your TOTGA (The One That Got Away). It’s never cliché to say that love is universal.”

“Every person has a way or manner on how he or she will make you feel his/her love,” Alfonso continued. “Mamahalin ka sa paraang alam niya. Hold on to that. You’ll know if that person is worth keeping. It is your heart that will let you know. When it stems cerebrally, that my dear is a delusion. But when it comes from the heart, then it is for real.”

Actor’s take

“The title of the movie, which I found to be very catchy, made me curious,” Paulate answered when asked what made him agree to do Mudrasta. “I wanted to know immediately why and how my character became a Mudrasta. Also, when I read the script, the narrative offered something. Dito (here), it is not just all-out comedy; there are serious themes and story arcs. What Mudrasta presents it’s not all laugh-out-loud for laugh-at-loud sake. There is a solid narrative filled with interesting and relatable characters.”

Paulate describes Victor Labrador as: “He is a simple gay person. He lives and grows up in a province. He shares to help his family by selling empanadas made by his mom. Studious, has high grades. He had a good childhood because he grew up in a home where he was fully accepted and embraced. No judgment. His father is strict but also protective of him. His mom dotes on him as well.”

“Beki is a lovable character because he cares and is sincere,” said Paulate. “He is a romantic in the truest sense of the word. His heart throbs, bounces, and is full of kilig and happiness because of Enrique, the character of Tonton Gutierrez.”

Speaking of his leading man Gutierrez, Paulate said: “It is a given that he continues to be good looking, but what I like most about Tonton, magaling talaga siya (he is really good). This is not the first time we worked as partners. There is a lightness about him that makes working with him feel not like work. He is congenial, professional and he always adds on and gives that special extra to the character he plays. Alam mo naman 'di ba acting is reacting, so if you have an actor like him, the reaction will always be honest.”