Alex and Toni Gonzaga, on Friday, December 3, believed that the reason their film The ExorSis was included in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) was because of their co-star Melai Cantiveros.
“Si Melai ang lucky charm namin. Kasama kami kapag nand’yan si Melai,” expressed Toni during the film’s virtual media conference.
She was also grateful to have their film be included in this year’s MMFF, given that the pandemic has caused uncertainties, especially in the film industry.
“Sobrang grateful. Siyempre nagpapasalamat dahil nga ‘di ba hindi naman tayo sigurado sa mga pangyayari sa cinemas,” thanked Toni. “Yun, thankful kami na nabigyan kami nang chance na maipasa. Tapos sobrang bonus na in-announce na nakapasok.”
The Gonzaga sisters also believed that Melai deserved to be recognized as an excellent artist; they said she deserved to win an award through The ExorSis.
“Sobrang dami naming nagmamahal kay Melai and I think it’s really about time na she’s recognized as a really serious actress,” Alex said.
Knowing Melai, Alex stressed that the former would always give her best not because she was chasing recognition but because she wanted to provide entertainment and joy.
“Pero I think Melay, parang she will still do her best even if without yung mga awards na ‘yon because she really loves what she’s doing. Ang pinaka mas importante kay Melay hindi awards, yung relationship niya sa tao, yung impact niya sa tao. And I think walang award ang makaka-ano sa kanya because she is Melai.”
Toni added that she and her younger sister always considered Melai a great actress and host.
“Kahit noong nagshu-shooting kami lagi naming sinasabi sa kanya yung appreciation at paghanga namin sa kanya. Alam ni Melai ‘yan. Kami talagang dalawa ni Alex eh mga Melai fanatics.
“Lagi kong sinasabi ko sa kanya ‘yan! Kahit sa pagho-host niya.”
Toni then concluded that Melai has never changed since she entered the industry, that it was the reason she kept on getting better as an entertainer.
“Kasi si Melai sa tagal niya sa industriya, na-keep niya yung kanyang core. Hindi siya nagbago. Kaya talagang pagaling lang nang pagaling sa tagal ng panahon,” she observed.
Melai said that working with Alex and Toni was already an award for; they were her trophies, and so did Paul Soriano’s family.
“Kaya nga sinasabi ko, ‘pag kasama ko silang dalawa, grabe parang nanalo na ako ng mga award-award na ‘yan. Kasi grabe talaga silang magkapatid,” confessed Melai. “Trophy ko talaga sila, ang buong Soriano at Gonzaga.”
The ExorSis is directed by Fifth Solomon and also includes Dennis Padilla, Kat Galang, Joel Saracho, Tess Antonio, Kedebon Colim, and Isay Alvarez.
The movie will premiere in cinemas nationwide, December 25.
