JC Santos shares top billing with Bela Padilla in “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” one of 12 entries in the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP).
JC has only high praises for her leading lady in the film. He expressed his admiration for the actress in a recent interview with InterAksyon.
“Bela’s a lot of things. She’s funny. She’s witty. She’s very smart. She’s wonderful. She’s hardworking. She’s very open and generous. Wala akong masasabi dito. Talagang nakasundo ko siya, first time pa lang. Nung first day and everything, nag-enjoy kami kaagad sa mga ginagawa namin,” he said.
Working with Bela was a breeze for JC.
“Sobrang pinadali niya ‘yung buhay ko, sa hirap ng role ko ha. Kasi nga ang dali lang nung mga eksena namin pag siya yung kasama ko. Sana nga lahat ng artista parang ganyan eh, alam mo yun? Although wala pa akong masyadong nakakatrabahong mga artista — iilan pa lang. Pero sobrang gusto ko yung work ethic niya,” he said.
In the film, JC stars as Fidel Lansangan, a college student with a speech disability that allows him to utter only three words at a time. He befriends and falls in love with Bela’s character, Stella, and decides to write 100 poems for her in hopes of winning her heart.
While he has never personally written poems for another person in real life, JC says that he does love to write, but in a different manner.
“I write a lot of journals. I’m a journal guy. Especially sa mga projects na pinupuntahan ko, kasi may mga natututunan akong bago, every time. And pag may natututunan ako sa co-actors, sinusulat ko agad yun, all the time. Para akong nagthe-thesis lagi. Ganun ko nakasanayan yung process eh, sa acting,” he said.
JC also admitted that he has portrayed a role similar to Fidel for a theater production, and that he can personally relate to the character.
He explains, “Malapit din siya sa character ko (laughs). Kaya ako theater actor, kasi meron akong stage fright. Di ako magsasalita sa stage o sa harap ng classroom nang walang script. Isususlat ko yan. Kasi mag-i-stutter talaga ako and wala akong masasabing matino. At tsaka dati hindi ko kaya ito (refers to interview). Di tayo magkakausap nang maayos, walang conversation na mangyayari.”
JC sees “100 Tula Para Kay Stella” as a film that many can relate to. Apart from being a quirky love story, it tackles sensitive issues surrounding college life such as depression and family-rooted conflict. He says that he is very much pleased with his performance in the film, but also has apprehensions.
“Excited na akong mapanood niyo pero kinakabahan ako. Kasi hindi ko alam kung ano pang puwedeng ibigay ng audience after ng ‘Kita Kita.’ Na-pressure ako,” JC said.
As in “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” one of the protagonists of “Kita Kita” has a disability. Now on its fourth week in cinemas, the latter has grossed over P300 million in the box office and was given generally positive reviews by critics. It is already the highest-grossing Pinoy indie film of all time.
“Aminado ako, na-pressure ako. Kasi nga successful yung ‘Kita Kita’ tapos parang ine-expect nila siguro, siguro lang, na ‘100 Tula..’ yung susunod. Hopefully.”
“Masaya naman ako sa nagawa ko sa pelikulang ito. Kung anumang reaction ng tao, ia-accept ko pa din,” JC said in conclusion.
Starring JC Santos and Bela Padila and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, “100 Tula Para Kay Stella” will be shown in cinemas nationwide from August 16 to 22 as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.