Edgar Allan Guzman, Chai Fonacier, Maxine Medina and Hannah Ledesma at the “Pinay Beauty” presscon in Cebu
THE DRAMEDY (drama-comedy) “Pinay Beauty,” one of the entries to this year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), aims to show viewers how to be comfortable in their own skin.
But the stars of the film acknowledge that doing so is a personal process that they themselves had to go through.
Lead star Chai Fonacier admitted that when she was in high school, she was insecure of her brown skin color and wanted to change it.
“When I was younger, ma-insecure ko kay I can see the difference sa treatment sa among classmates. Na’ay experience na ma pressure ka,” she said at the press conference prior to their mall tour in Cebu last Sunday, August 12.
She narrated that one time, she snuck a bottle of whitening lotion from her aunt.
It was her mother and sister who told her that what she did was wrong. First, because it was stealing. And second, because her she already has a nice skin color.
Fonacier said she can relate to her character Annie, who wants to change the way she looks in order to fulfil her dream of becoming Snow White and joining the parade in Hong Kong Disneyland.
“You know … insecurities because of messaging sa entire world sa imoha and labaw na og brown skin ka ‘di ba? You see these billboards (of fair-skinned women) and stuff,” she said.
Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Maxine Medina who plays Lovely G, daughter of an action star, said she also went through a phase where her brown skin color made her insecure.
“I even talked to God. Bakit ganito ang kulay ko? I mean, gusto kong maging maputi like them,” said Medina, who is the cousin of actress-host Dianne Medina and niece of Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1990 Germelina Padilla.
But when she joined the modeling world, she started to appreciate her skin color.
“I learned to fix myself, how to groom myself. Tapos ayun na dumating ‘yung pageant. Tinuruan nila akong mag make-up. Tinuruan nila akong manamit. Doon ko na appreciate ‘yung sarili ko,” she added.
All these experiences helped Medina boost her self confidence, especially when she joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2016, her first pageant, where she won no less than the most coveted title, Miss Philippines-Universe.
After her stint in the Miss Universe 2016 pageant where she was part of the top 6, she was encouraged to try acting and take acting workshops.
“I discovered na andami ko palang tinatago. ‘Yung mga insecurities ko na kailangan ilabas. From there ‘yung mga workshops na yun, nailabas ko lahat ng inis ko, yung galit ko, ‘yung insecurities ko. Siguro ngayon sobrang confident na ako,” she added.
Edgar Allan Guzman, who plays Fonacier’s loving and martyr boyfriend, Migs said that everyone can relate to the movie.
“Especially na usong uso ngayon. ‘Yung iba nagpapa retoke at nagpapaganda. Karamihan halos ‘yung goal is gumanda. Dito makaka-relate sila kasi pag-uusapan talaga ‘yung beauty at kahalagahan ng beauty ng isang Pinay at kahalagahan din ng mahal mo sa buhay,” he said.
Guzman said that men can relate to his character in terms of dealing with relationships.
“Ibibigay ang lahat ng gusto. Ibibigay ang kaya nilang ibigay doon sa taong mahal nila. So, kumbaga gagawin ang lahat para mapasaya ang taong mahal nila,” he said.
Guzman’s character Migs gets into trouble when he helps Annie fulfill her dream of being transformed and borrows P180,000 from a loan shark.
He gets help from his circle of friends: Japo (Hannah Ledesma), Bas (Nico Antonio), Nino (Janus del Prado), and Isabel (Mariko Ledesma).
“Ako po ‘yung astig at tomboy sa barkada na tutulong kay Migs para ma resolba ang problema niya. Makikita niyo po adventure namin, ‘yung pagdadaanan din po namin dahil sa pagmamahal sa barkada namin na si Migs and kay Annie,” Ledesma said during the presscon.
Directed by Jay Abello and produced by Quantum Films, MJM Productions, and Epic Media, “Pinay Beauty” opens today in cinemas nationwide as part of the weeklong Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.