Aga Muhlach stars as Lito in the Philippine remake of South Korean drama-comedy “Miracle in Cell No. 7.” Image: Instagram/@viva_films
Not winning Best Actor at the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival awards night, held last Dec. 27, 2019, was no big deal for Aga Muhlach.
Muhlach starred as the “intellectually challenged” Lito in the Philippine adaptation of South Korean drama-comedy “Miracle in Cell No. 7.” The movie was a hit in the Philippine box office and saw sold-out screenings in multiple cinemas. Muhlach seemed to be the popular choice to bag the Best Actor trophy, but lost to “Mindanao” actor Allen Dizon.
During his recent guesting on “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” Muhlach was asked what he felt when he did not win best actor. The interview was posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
“Sinong may ayaw nun, ano? Pero sa’kin, sa tinagal tagal ko na rin sa industriyang ‘to (Who wouldn’t want that? But for me, in the years I’ve spent in this industry) I’ve had my share of yung mga ganyan na, even when I was younger, I would really expect. Parang I wanna win in this awards night, in this award giving body, I wanna win, biglang talo ka (then you suddenly lose). So, I’ve learned. I’ve learned not to expect,” said Muhlach.
He added that he has learned not to take trophies seriously.
“Para sa’kin, ang tropeo ko, hindi ‘to showbiz ha, ang tropeo para sa’kin pag ang pelikula ko pinanood nila,” he said. “Gusto ko siya, masarap sa gabing ‘yon pag nanalo ka, pero pag hindi ka nanalo, it doesn’t change you.”
(For me, my trophy is when people watch my movie. I like it, it feels great when you win, but if you don’t win, it doesn’t change you.)
TV host Boy Abunda, however, was quick to remind Muhlach that he in fact has around 13 best actor trophies, a point of information that even Muhlach seemed unaware of.
“And it’s not easy to get thirteen best actor trophies,” Abunda added.
“Thirteen ba, thirteen?” Muhlach asked, before laughing.
In the end, he extended his congratulations to Dizon, adding he knows exactly what Dizon must’ve felt when he won the Best Actor award, while his “Mindanao” co-star Judy Ann Santos won Best Actress.
“Kaya kung sino man ang manalo, masaya ako para sa kaniya (Whoever it is who wins, I am happy for them). Like for Allen, he won best actor, I’m like, wow! I know that feeling, alam ko yung feeling ng nananalo, masarap (I know what it feels like to win, it feels great),” said Muhlach.
“Congratulations, really,” he added. “Congratulations. Walang masama, walang masama, okay lang ‘yun, okay lang talaga ‘yun (There is nothing wrong, there is nothing wrong, it’s okay, it’s really okay).” Cody Cepeda /ra
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