Maricel Soriano recalls dismay over billing in ‘Batang Quiapo’ film

Maricel Soriano and the late Fernando Poe Jr. in “Batang Quiapo” | Image: YouTube/Regal Entertainment

Award-winning actress Maricel Soriano recalled how she resented the treatment she had received in the 1986 film “Batang Quiapo,” where she starred alongside the late Fernando Poe Jr.

Sitting down with entertainment writer Aster Amoyo on Feb. 16, the Diamond Star remarked that she felt disrespected in the billing she received in “Batang Quiapo,” in which she got little credit for the role she played. 

Amoyo even clarified if Soriano was referring to the TV series now being led by Coco Martin, but the actress said that she meant the movie with “The King.”

According to Soriano, the movie billing, which usually acknowledges the actor’s contribution or participation in the project, initially gave her such a small billing, demonstrating with her fingers just how little her name appeared in the official poster of the film even if she played a significant role opposite the lead. 

“Masyado akong nasaktan noon. Dahil ang billing ko noong ginawa ko ang ‘Batang Quiapo,’ — Fernando Poe Jr., Maricel Soriano. Do I deserve it? Bakit nila ako ginanon? Ganito kaliit ang pangalan ko. Sabi ko, deserve ko ba ‘yan? Whether I’m nice or not, I don’t deserve that,” she said.

“Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, kaya ka Maricel Soriano dahil kinaya mo lahat ‘to. Kaya kaya mo ito, Mary. Laban tayo,” the actress said. 

Looking back on her experience working in the movie with “The King,” Soriano admitted that she felt slightly depressed after experiencing the mistreatment, but stressed that her work should not have affected who she was personally.

“O sige Lord, papalagpasin ko ‘to para Sayo, so hindi na ako nagsalita. Nadepress ako doon, kung buhay ang daddy ko ipapakita ko ‘to sa daddy ko dati, deserve ko ba ‘to. Kahit kasi sabihin mo, ‘Ang tapang kasi ng babaeng yan,’ ‘Ang taray kasi ng babaeng yan,’” Soriano said, referring to her onscreen father, the late ace comedian Dolphy, her co-star in the defunct “John en Marsha” sitcom, with whom she was very close to.

The “Soltera” star said that the work she did for the movie should have been distinguished from whatever perception people have of her attitude.

“Huwag mo isasama dito ‘yung trabaho ko. ‘Yung body of work na nagawa ko. Huwag naman ako bastusin masyado na ganon, komo mabait ba ako o impakta ba ako. Sana hindi nila ako ginanon. Pero ako nilampasan ko na lang ‘yon, tapos na ‘yon,” she said.

However, she emphasized that all of these are now in the past and she has learned to move on from this episode in her career.