Coco Martin (left) and Jodi Sta. Maria
After being sidelined by the pandemic for nearly three years, Coco Martin decided to field an entry into the Metro Manila Film Festival in the hope that the Filipino moviegoers will return to cinemas.
“Naisip ko ‘yung project na ito kasi ‘di ba, almost three years tayong hindi nakalabas ng mga bahay natin tapos hindi tayo nakapanood ng sine, which is iyon ang tradisyon natin na kapag Pasko, ito ‘yung reunion natin ng mga barkada, asawa, anak,” he said during the grand mediacon for “Labyu With An Accent”, November 30.
(I thought of this project because for almost three years we were not able to get out of our house then we were not able to watch a movie, which is the tradition during Christmas. This should serve as a reunion of our peers, spouses, children.)
It is with this thought that Martin did the movie.
“Parang sabi ko, bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng isang pelikula na baka sakali ay matulungan natin ‘yung industriya na makabalik. Na ito ‘yung magiging dahilan, ‘yung mga pelikula ng Metro Manila Film Festival ay nagagawaan,” he said. (Like I said, why don’t we make a movie which can hopefully help the industry to return. That it will be the reason, those films of the Metro Manila Film Festival which are being done.)
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Martin is glad that even his friend Vice Ganda has an entry in the forthcoming MMFF.
“Nakakatuwa kasi lahat nagtutulung-tulong sa industriya para makabalik tayo dito,” he mused. (It’s heartwarming because everyone is helping the industry to return.)
With this, Martin thought of making a romantic comedy which is for the entire family.
“Kaya naisip ko, dapat ang gawin nating pelikula ay ‘yung makaka-inspire ng mga tao dahil alam naman natin ang hirap ng pinagdaananan, ‘yung lungkot dahil ang tagal nating hindi nakalabas ng bahay. Siyempre, kung gagawa tayo ng pelikula, dapat ‘yung mapapaligaya natin sila, mapapatawa natin sila at mai-inspire natin sila. Kaya ‘yung konsepto ng pelikulang ginawa namin ay completos recados,” he said. (I thought, what movie we need to do is something which can inspire people because we know the hardships they went through, the sorrow because they were not able to get out of the house. Of course, if we are to make a movie, we should entertain them, make them laugh and inspire them. This is why the concept of our movie is a complete package.)
“Labyu With An Accent” also stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Joross Gamboa, Rochelle Pangilinan, Nikki Valdez, Nash Aguas, Marc Solis, John Medina, Bassilyo and Nova Villa. EDV