She was presented the Vic Silayan Award for Best Actress, International Category at the Dekada Cinemanila Awards in the film, “Melancholia,” following a Gawad Buhay citation for Outstanding Female Lead Performance for playing Irina in Tanghalang Pilipino’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters titled “Tatlong Maria” in 2010.
A year after, she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Ka Oryang” in the Cinema One Originals and the 35th Gawad Urian. Now, Angelia Bayani is making a mark in the history of filmmaking as Auntie Terry in this year’s Cannes Best First Feature Film, “Ilo Ilo.”
But despite all the recognition, Angeli also has her share of criticisms. She, however, has learned how to roll with the punches. For her, life—just like in the movies—is meant to have a villain or two.
The path to where she’s standing now was not mapped out in front of her. There were many struggles and dilemmas. Though her confidence on stage stemmed from innate talent, which earned her the admiration of renowned playwrights and directors, none was handed to her on a silver platter. The more she learned about the craft on stage and on camera, the more she realized that in reality, she knows very little. She began to see the huge room for improvement, but slowly shrank it as she strived to give nothing less than her very best.
Play! turned the spotlight on the soulful actress, who stars as a Filipina nanny who worked in Singapore during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
The film is inspired by true events as recounted by the Singaporean director, Anthony Chen. It won audience acclaim in more than 21 international film festivals and in theatrical releases in five countries including France, Thailand, China and Singapore. Learn more from Angeli in this interview:
When did you first know you wanted to become an actress?
Kung magsisimula ako sa acting talaga, sa high school pa ‘yun at ginawa ko lang siya kasi trip-trip ko lang gawin. Nagkataon na stage manager ako noon tapos hindi dumating sa rehearsals ang dapat gumanap so ako na ang gumanap for the entire run.
Hindi ko inisip na hanggang college gagawin ko siya o hanggang ngayon. Kahit sa college, course ko was Bio. Wala talaga siya sa utak ko, sa plano ko, wala talaga. But circumstances brought me to a place na naturally kong pinili kasi pumasok ako sa organization ng UP, ang UP Repertory Company. Kaya ko ginawa ‘yun kahit nag Biology ako kasi nababaliw na ako sa course ko. Ayaw kong sumali sa mga org na may kinalaman sa science o kahit na ano. Gusto ko ‘yung super opposite. Sanity first. Hindi naman ako umaarte while I was there. Staff ako—publicity, finance, stage managing, iyon ‘yung mga ginagawa ko. Strangely, isa sa barkada, may commercial siya, kung meron mag-aartista, siya ‘yun kasi maganda siya tapos nagkataon kumakanta pa. We naturally thought she would be the performer in the group and yet … (laughs)
What was your first audition like?
I auditioned for an operetta, ”La Viuda Alegre.” After ko mag-Biology, nag-Music ako kasi na realize ko na marunong akong kumanta (laughs). Habang nag-vo-Voice major ako, nag-audition ako nitong operetta. Ang kinanta ko pa ay kay Ella Fritzgerald. The director, hindi niya alam kung bakit niya ako kinuha kasi hindi ako impressive. Pumasok ako bilang isang maliit na babae.
Dapat natakot ako sa kanya. Kilala ko siya pero hindi ako natakot. I think malaking factor ‘yun. Nakakatawa kasi noong wala akong alam, doon ako mayabang. Ngayong mas marami na akong napagdaanan, mas marami na akong natutunan, nakapag training na, ngayon ako mas careful, ngayon ako mas nakakaba. Nakikita ko na ‘yung room for improvement. Malaking room for improvement! I would like to think malaki-laki na ‘yung nahakbang ko in terms of my career in acting but I’m beginning to feel that there’s more na hindi ko pa alam, that I’m just scratching the surface.
Tell us about that day you auditioned for “Ilo Ilo.”
Dalawang araw lang ang nilaan ni Anthony for the auditions—Friday and Saturday. Hindi ko makalimutan ‘yan kasi may musical play akong ginawa na ako si Sisa. Last weekend na ng play namin so you can imagine ang pagod ko. I got an e-mail from this local filmmaker. He said a Singaporean friend of his is a filmmaker who wants to invite me to the audition. He gave me the schedule pero ang nasa isip ko noon ay si Sisa. Nag thank you ako pero nag sorry ako kasi di ako makapunta. Akala ko ‘yun na ‘yun. Tapos nangulit, sabi, “Kailan ka free?
Sa Sunday?” Sabi ko, thank you talaga pero mukhang malabo. Finally, tinawagan niya ako. Sabi niya, “Anong oras sa Sunday matatapos ang show?” I was being polite. Sabi ko, “Sa Cubao ang audition, mag commute ako, ang layo, tapos gabi na kami matatapos. Magliligpit pa.” I was trying to discourage him pero sabi niya, “Okey lang. Maghihintay sila.” Kaya nag audition na ako. If you ask Anthony, he will always say “I think because she was so tired.” (laughs).
Is there a scene in “Ilo-Ilo” that you found awkward or hard to do?
There are moments na hindi ko kayang dayain, like cutting the hair. Unang-una, hindi sila mga artista. Napadaan lang sila. Sabi ko papatayin ako ng mga ito pag nasira ko buhok nila. Hindi ko alam na ganoon ‘yung extent sa paggugupit. Had I known, I would’ve studied.
Was there a drastic change in your appearance when portraying Terry in the film?
Actually, Anthony wanted a no-makeup look. Ako naman, okey, walang problema. Tapos ang pinagtatakahan ko, mag effort pa siya na i-powder ako. Hindi ko kasi ugali na tumitingin sa monitor so I didn’t know what I looked like. Ngayon ang powder pala is in darker (skin) tone. Pinapangit pa talaga niya ako! (laughs). Kaya pala ang tagal. (laughs).
How are your co-stars in this film?
I’m so thankful because they are such generous actors. Si Yann-Yann (Yeo Yann-Yann, the father) is
also from theater kasi so we have mutual friends. Si Tianwen (Chen Tianwen, the mother), hindi siya masyadong ma-Ingles pero okey kami kasi generous siya. The thing with acting is that it’s universal so if you are conveying something real, it shows. It communicates no matter what language that is. That’s how I feel toward her. Si Jia Ler naman ubod na kulit na bata pero ako ‘yung nanay sa set. Ako talaga ‘yung nanay kasi si Tianwen buntis pa. Wala talaga akong takot, pinapagalitan ko siya kahit ako ‘yung foreigner. Na-issue kaya kasi nag-away kami one time at na-bother talaga sila kasi baka may ginawa ang bata at nakakahiya sa akin. Sabi ko, he’s just being a kid.
Would you prefer acting on stage or film?
I miss theater, the surreal feeling that you get when you’re in the moment and you’re sharing that energy with the hundred people. All of you are going through everything at the same time. Ibang energy ang kailangan for that at ibang klasing preparation for that. The thing about film acting that I like are the nuances. All those nuances, those little things, which you could only hope the audience will see on stage, will surely be captured on cam. So, walang sayang.
What is the best role you’ve portrayed so far?
Irina in “Tatlong Maria,” a Filipino adaptation of “The Three Sisters” by Anton Chekhov. Our director was Loy Arcenas. Ibang klase siya. I wish all actors could work with him. Irina is the youngest sister. She started out as hopeful with all these enthusiasm for life which will slowly run out. The play opens on the death of their father. They never had to work a day in their life while their father was still alive. Now, when the father died, they obviously have to work to live. To her, it appeared exciting at first. She started out so young and naive and she slowly went through this change. She realizes that life is not about roses, not a game. She has to work and the problem is she has no talent, no great skill. Anong gagawing niya? Akala niya special siya pero hinid pala. No matter how much she does, eto lang kikitain nya. Is there nothing more to life than this? That’s her journey!
Is there a character that you wish to play?
Gusto kong bumalik sa mga classics. I want to see kasi ang hirap noon. Gusto ko mag try na sa akin
naka-angkla ang buong kwento.
What about Shakespeare’s?
Romeo and Juliet. Ako ‘yung mother ni Juliet.
What is the hardest thing about acting?
When you are an actor, you are your own tool— your body, your experiences, your thoughts, fears, desires—it’s all in there. The hardest part is letting go of something, when you are protecting yourself. I feel that sometimes. There are moments na hindi ko kayang gawin. That fear of knowing you are not giving your best. The hardest conflict is man versus himself. As an actor that conflict is very real. How would you open yourself to the truth and accept it and use it.
And the best part?
It’s the giving. The sharing when you know you have successfully shared the story, when you have successfully made a connection with the other actors and the audience. That is the best part. Parang ang laki ng puso mo and you are just thankful for everything. Gusto ko mag-thank you sa kasama ko. “That was a good scene, thank you!” I say that to my co-actors. You can feel na lahat kayo bukas. Mararamdamin mo rin kung meron isa sa inyo sarado.
Was there a role you wanted but wasn’t given to you?
First thing in mind is Lulu. It’s a Frank Wedekind play. Siya rin ang nagsulat sa “Spring Awakening.” Lulu’s character is controversial. Wedekind is the kind of playwright who likes to explore on the human nature which we considered as taboo. Si Lulu naman, ang daming lalaki na attract sa kanya, nababaliw sa kanya, either nagpapakamatay o pumapatay para sa kanya but Lulu is totally unaware of her effect on these men. She became a victim of the society and punished for something that came naturally to her. I was in that play but they cast me as the lesbian admirer. But don’t get me wrong, I loved my character, too. Some of the best lines are mine.
How does an aspiring actor go about an acting career?
You have to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself why? If you want to be famous, fine. That’s a valid reason. But why? If you want to share your talent, then great. But why? Where is this desire coming from? Once you answered the why, you can answer the how… how badly do you want it?
Would you recommend the acting career to your son?
If he wants, but I won’t impose it. It’s a hard life, really. We are on this level of understanding na, we know that there are people who do this as a profession. But there are still people out there who don’t think it’s that serious. Up to know, I still have family members who joke about it. “Yung artistahin natin
kamag-anak na nag-e-extra,’ sabi nila. Hindi ko ma explain na hindi po ako nag-e-extra. You want to educate them pero alam mo na pagginawa mo ‘yon, magtutunog mayabang sa ka sa kanila kaya hahayaan mo na lang. Nalulungkot ako doon sa lack of information. Example, a few days ago, mga estudyante ang kasama ko. I was at this thesis, there was this kid na kausap ng sound man namin. I was about to ask anong theater group niya pero hindi na ako lumingon nang sinabi niyang “Oo, matagal na akong umaarte pero hobby ko lang ‘to.” I know someone who heard this once and she said: “How dare you call it a hobby. This is our bread and butter. This is what puts a roof over our heads, food on our tables. Do not insult us.” At totoo naman talaga.
What is it like to work with international artists?
You get to see their work ethics. You get to see what they are like, learn from them. We have this one film actually, ang tawag namin United Colours of Benetton kasi ang DOP, Hapon; ang sound man, French; ang gaffer, Italian-American; ang director, Fil-Am! (laughs) Ang saya! You can see that all of us are bound by the same rules, the same discipline, the same commitment, the same passion. What made it different were the cultural differences, but they also made the experience richer.