Why project without KD Estrada ‘significant’ for Alexa Ilacad

Alexa Ilacad —Photo by MARINEL CRUZ

Alexa Ilacad will be shooting a movie soon, but her onscreen partner, KD Estrada, will not be part of it.

“I feel that the story can stand on its own, and my character doesn’t need a love interest. The story revolves around family love,” Alexa told Inquirer Entertainment after she attended the recent story conference of Randolph Longjas’ “Mujigae.” “KD is excited for me. I was able to tell him that this is sort of a significant acting piece for me. I’m excited to do something and grow as an actor and individual because my partner is not with me.”

Alexa and KD have been love team partners for three years now. Their teamup was launched soon after their stint as contestants of the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10” in 2021.

“Of course the project is a blessing for me. I’m honored to be chosen for the role. I don’t feel any pressure because the people I will be working with showed me nothing but warmth. From the looks of it, it’s going to be a riot, but in a good way. It’s a drama film, but we have a lot of light moments, especially with Ms Rufa Mae around,” Alexa explained.

Other cast members include comediennes Donna Cariaga and Cat Cortez, as well as Kate Alejandrino, Lito Pimentel, Peewee O’Hara, Lui Manansala, Rolie Inocencio, Ryrie Turingan as Mujigae and Korean actor Ji Soo. It is a production of Unitel Straight Shooters (UXS Inc.) with Madonna Tarrayo as executive producer and Noemi Peji as line producer.

‘Rainbow’

“When it was presented to me, I accepted and prayed that everything would align so that I’d be able to do it,” Alexa said of her character Sunny, who is forced to take care of her niece after her sister passed away.

Alexa explained that Sunny’s sister, Rainalyn, ran away from home and ended up in Korea, where she gave birth to a daughter named Mujigae. “The word means ‘rainbow’ in Korea. I’m called Sunny and my sister is Rain, and we both form a rainbow. The story revolves around the kid and the grief she is going through. With her mother’s passing, Mujigae is forced to relocate to the Philippines because our father (Pimentel) wants to take care of her. She slowly changes the lives of people around her, without her knowing it. As for my character, Sunny initially resented Mujigae’s presence. She didn’t like it that Rainalyn left her, so she wanted nothing to do with the kid,” Alexa began.

“Because of all the trauma that my character went through, she learned to become independent and put up high walls. Sunny thought that since she had to figure everything out by herself, she would be fine on her own. Sunny’s trauma had a lot to do with the abandonment she experienced from her sister and mother. And so she thought, ‘If I invest feelings in this kid and she leaves one day, then I will get hurt once more. I’m OK on my own. I just want to leave the country and become rich.’ She had everything planned before the kid came along,” The actress said.

Alexa said she could not exactly relate to Sunny, except for the fact that she has nephews and nieces. “I’m also an aunt and a godparent, and there were times when I would be left to babysit them. I understand how Sunny feels. I wasn’t so fond of kids in general, and I liked animals more. That changed when I met my nephews and nieces and got to know them better. I feel that’s what Sunny’s journey with Mujigae would be, too.”

As early as now, Alexa is banking on the support of her fans and the followers of KDLex (her partnership with KD) for the successful commercial release of “Mujigae.” She added: “I’m thankful to them. They know this because I never get tired of telling them. Their support is really all-out every time I have a project, whether big or small, whether or not it’s with KD. I’m sure they’ll be so excited for this movie, too,” she said.

Alexa was last seen on the big screen in Mae Cruz-Alviar’s drama “Four Sisters Before the Wedding,” which was released in 2020. The tentative release of “Mujigae” is in October.

Formerly known as Unitel Pictures, UXS is the same entertainment company that produced “Crying Ladies,” “Santa Santita” and “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank.”