Actress Carla Abellana stars in two Metro Manila Film Festival entries for this year—Yesterday Today Tomorrow and Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.
This unusual situation has created a hullabaloo.
As a Regal talent, Carla is required to give priority to the Lily Monteverde-produced film, Yesterday Today Tomorrow over the Jorge "ER" Estregan, Jr.-starrer, Asiong Salonga.
Yesterday, December 8, at the press conference of Asiong Salonga, Governor ER expressed his fury at Mother Lily and Regal for allegedly disallowing Carla to promote the film; otherwise, the production would press charges against Carla and talent manager Arnold Vegafria.
(CLICK HERE to read related story.)
At the press launch of Torque mobile phones today, December 9, the actress-endorser clarified the issue.
She denied being held back by the Regal Film honcho to promote Asiong Salonga, saying there is no "legal threat" at all.
"Wala naman! Wala namang legal threat! I'm not even not allowed to promote," stated Carla.
"Hindi ko lang talaga kakayanin mag-promote ng dalawang movies, but wala namang legal threats, wala namang anything na ganun.
"I'm just really thankful that I have two movies. Bihira lang yun sa isang artista na dalawang movie sa filmfest.
"Ang ganda pa pareho!"
The Kapuso actress stressed that Mother Lily had nothing to do with her absence at the press conference of Asiong Salonga the previous day.
Carla said, "Hindi naman. Wala naman siyang sinasabing, 'Bawal, bawal!'
"Wala naman siyang sinasabing ganun but because Regal is my...exclusive producer [at] exclusive movie talent ako ng Regal, siyempre ang priority ko is Yesterday Today Tomorrow."
Carla also said that Governor ER does not hold a grudge against her.
"Of course not. Di naman sasama ang loob niya sa akin.
"He perfectly understands why I cannot, you know, be in two places at the same time.
"I cannot do anything, unfortunately, busy ako talaga. Wala akong time.
"I don't even have time to promote Yesterday Today Tomorrow, all the more Asiong Salonga."
The actress expressed how grateful she is for being given the leading lady role in Asiong Salonga.
"I'm very thankful that I was given a chance to be a part of Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story.
"I believe that this is a once-in-a lifetime-opportunity—working with so many veteran actors in the industry—bihira lang 'yan.
"Thankful ako kay Governor Ejercito na ako yung nabigyan niya ng chance.
"Napakabait niya sa akin."
HOW ASIONG SALONGA BECAME AN MMFF ENTRY. Carla says acting in both films has been difficult.
It's a conflict, she said.
She narrated, however, how the two acting jobs accidentally landed on her lap.
"There's a conflict, because originally naman talaga, wala silang plans ilaban ang Asiong Salonga sa Manila Filmfest, e.
"Nung tinray nila pumasok, na-decline yung Asiong Salonga, kasi I think either kulang sa plot or they found it too violent for children.
"But because nga hindi natuloy yung kay Mr. Robin Padilla [Mr. Wong], nakapasok ang Asiong Salonga. Nabigyan ng chance.
"So, hindi talaga namin ine-expect yun! Next year pa nila [dapat] ilalaban.
"Nagkataon [lang] that I have two movies for the filmfest this year, which I'm thankful for also.
"Not naman that I cannot but, my gosh! With my hectic schedule, kung puwede ko lang hatiin yung katawan ko, I will ride on both floats, I will go to all the mall shows.
"Sobrang busy ako, I have tapings and shootings and promos every day talaga!"
Carla, who juggled shooting two films and taping for her GMA afternoon soap Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, said she found the past months exhausting.
Carla said, "Hindi naman ganun kadami yung shooting days in total, pero nahirapan ako kasi mabigat.
"Siyempre, dalawa siya, and I also have an ongoing soap opera.
"So, na-experience ko talaga for sometime yung every day ako may taping and shooting.
"I would go 24 hours with no sleep.
"Mahirap, you know, to juggle a soap opera and a movie.
"What more kung dalawa pa yung pelikula?
"Ang hirap talaga."
WORKING WITH GOVERNOR ER. Asked if working with the actor-politician was a daunting task, Carla replied, "Siyempre I was uncomfortable at first.
"Unang-una, hindi ko naman siya kilala.
"Pangalawa, you know, he's a politician before he's an actor.
"At first, medyo nailang ako. But because he took care of us well, naging comfortable naman ako easily."
Carla said the Laguna governor is a gentleman.
"Sobrang maalaga siya sa buong cast.
"He's a gentleman which is just right because siya ang bida ng pelikula, siya yung leading man kumbaga.
"So we were very well taken care of during the making of the movie.
"So, wala, wala akong reklamo, wala akong anything.
"And sobrang laki ng pasasalamat ko dahil sa akin niya nabigay yung opportunity na yun."
Carla said she will definitely be on the float of Yesterday Today Tomorrow at the Parade of Stars on December 24.
She added, "As much as I want to be on two floats, I have to promote Yesterday Today Tomorrow more because Regal is my exclusive movie producer."