90s star Jao Mapa on August 31 explained why he chose Viva’s Paraluman, an erotic film, to mark his return on making full-length films.
Apparently, this is not something new to Mapa since he had done a similar project with Rosanna Roces.
“Well actually gumawa na ako ng Matrikula before [with] Rosanna Roces. This is like a… it’s not new,“ the actor said during the film’s virtual press conference.
He chose to accept the project because Viva’s head of production, June Torrejon-Rufino, told him not to think of Paraluman as “sexy” but as his “comeback” film.
“‘Jao we have this film for you baka magustuhan mo, ano lang sexy lang siya pero don’t think of it as a sexy film but think of it as a comeback film.’ So yeah, that’s what triggered me to get back to this and the rest is already history,” recalled Mapa.
In his return to doing movies, there were challenges along the way. Mapa admitted he had ‘reservations’ about returning or not, given that he is already 45 years old.
“Actually para sakin, yung pagbabalik. Kung matatanggap pa ba ‘ko for me as an old actor, I mean, returning actor.”
More than that, amid the pandemic, where film productions have been restricted, the actor was also concerned about the locked-in taping.
“Lalo na in this pandemic, alam mo yun, and the fear of makakayanan ko pa kayang gumawa ng isang full length film.”
Luckily for him, Mapa had no problems getting along with the crew and cast.
“I’d like to say na open arms naman ako na tinanggap ng crew, production ni direk. It was really a surprise for me na yung mga fears ko ‘di naman pala gano’n. Niyakap naman ako nang industriya. Eto, niyayakap ko siya pabalik.”
His family also supported the actor, especially with his comeback movie being a sexy film.
“My wife (Cecille Mapa), first and foremost, is very supportive. If she wasn’t supportive, I wouldn’t be doing this film actually.
“Of course, I consulted her first before doing this. She’s full support and I love her for that really. I can’t find any other woman like she’s very special to me. I’d like to put that note,” he admitted.
In Yam Laranas’ Paraluman, Mapa is joined by actresses Gwen Garci and Rhen Escaño. It tells the story of a soon-to-be husband (Mapa) falling in love with a girl (Escaño) twice his age.
Catch Mapa’s comeback movie on Vivamax, September 24.
