Ryza Cenon is at her boldest in ‘Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B’
For Ryza Cenon, “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” will always be her most memorable movie.
“Memorable kasi siya sa akin kasi ito ang first lead role ko. First full length ko rin siya at first time ko ring ginawa iyong mga pinaggagawa ko rito,” she said.
She also declared that the movie is also her baptism of fire to daring roles.
“I was really all out here. First time kong magkaroon ng sex scene at masturbation sa pelikula,” she pointed out.
She admitted that at first, she had qualms in doing her first masturbation scene in the movie.
“Medyo nag-atubili ako noong una. Pero, dahil tiwala naman ako sa director namin, kinundisyon ko muna ang sarili ko bago siya gawin. Binibiro ko nga noon si Direk, sabi ko, a day before the shoot, magma-masturbate ako para alam ko iyong feeling,” she recalled.
According to Ryza, her launching movie as a lead will always have a soft spot in her heart.
“Dito kasi kami nagkakilala ni Cholo at siya ang unang naka-sex scene ko pero meron din kaming kissing scene ni Martin (del Rosario),” she told PSR.
Cholo Barretto is Ryza’s current inspiration and boyfriend.
Having passed her initiation to daring roles, Ryza said she’s ready to do more challenging and gritty characters.
“Nasa edad na naman ako. Kasama siya sa trabaho, as long na feeling mo na hindi ka naman nae-exploit at professional iyong mga kasama mo. Ako naman, hindi ko ginawa itong pelikula para gumawa ng porno o para malibugan iyong mga manonood. Basta sa akin, trabaho lang ito,” she explained.
“I’ve already reached this point in my career, so dapat pangatawanan ko na ito,” she added.
She also believes that the ‘manananggal’ does exist for real.
She also confessed that she accepted the role because of its unique character.
“Hindi lang siya ‘blood sucker’, kakaiba siyang monster dahil may hugot siya. Kakaiba siya kung humalik sa biktima niya at kakaiba rin siyang humalik kapag love niya iyong kahalikan niya. Kakaiba siya dahil hindi siya iyong tipong nakakatakot kumpara sa mga nasulat na o napanood tungkol sa folklores, ibang klase siya dahil may puso iyong karakter niya,” she expounded.
On the personal side, the actress is proud of her boyfriend, Cholo.
“Very protective siya sa akin. Medyo conservative siya pero nauunawaan ko naman iyon dahil gusto nga niya akong protektahan,” she said.
She also said that their relationship is getting stronger but marriage is still far from their minds.
“Minsan nag-o-open up siya pero ako naman, sinasabi mo na medyo maaga pa dahil may gusto pa akong gawin sa career ko. At saka dapat kung papasukin namin, ready na kami,” she revealed.
She also confided that she’s close to Cholo’s parents and relatives.
She’s also happy that after doing her first lead role, her career is now on an upward trajectory.
“Sobra akong nae-excite dahil dumami ang offers ko. Nabigyan ako ng pagkakataong gumanap sa mga character roles, sa mga roles na out of my comfort zone tulad na lang noong sa “Ika-6 na Utos”. Tapos may gagawin din akong rom-com sa Viva to be directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo of “Kita Kita,” she said.
Ryza is an alumnus of the second season of Starstruck where she was named ultimate survivor in 2005.
“Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” is an official entry to the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino that will be shown from August 16 to 22 in theatres nationwide.
