Ina Feleo will be seen in two independently produced films for the first quarter of 2011.
In the political thriller Deadline, she will play a Mindanao-based journalist who incurs the wrath of a governor (to be portrayed by Tirso Cruz III) because she exposed his wrongdoings.
Her other film is the family drama Ikaw ang Pag-ibig, which depicts how a dysfunctional family becomes united after finding out that one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
"Na-excite ako dito kasi I've never played a journalist before," said Ina during the story conference of Deadline held last December.
"And it's a Joel Lamangan film. Nung nabasa ko, yung mga sitwasyon, never ko pang na-experience. May eksena na parang maa-ambush kami. Na-challenge ako kasi hindi ko alam kung paano pa gagawin.
"Ang character ko, isang journalist na lumaki sa Mindanao and ang boyfriend ko Muslim, si Allen Dizon."
How does she feel about portraying a woman whose life is in danger for fulfilling her duties as a member of the media?
"Parang hindi ko siya mapaniwalaan kasi it's so unreal to me," Ina said.
"Si Direk Marilou [Diaz-Abaya], ikinukuwento niya sa akin na sa Mindanao, kung saan nag-shoot siya before for Bagong Buwan (2001), after a certain hour, pinapaalis na talaga sila kasi nga may mga Abu Sayyaf. Parang part na talaga ng buhay nila at hindi ako makapaniwala."
PREMIERE OF PEÑAFRANCIA FILM. Aside from starring in Deadline, Ina is also part of Ikaw ang Pag-ibig, a drama about a family seeking intercession from Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the patroness of Bicol.
This project is written, directed and co-produced by Direk Marilou Diaz-Abaya. The film is graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board and endorsed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
"Very successful ang special screening ng Ikaw ang Pag-ibig sa Naga," said Ina.
"Doon muna siya pinalabas kasi ang producer niya ang Archdiocese of Caceres, pero idi-distribute ng Star Cinema. Premiere niya on January 10 pero ang run niya sa theaters on February 7.
"May part sa film na na-feature ang Peñafrancia festival pero in a documentary way.
"Nate-tense ako nung una kasi baka magmukhang preachy. Pero nung napanood ko, ang ganda ng pagka-real niya kasi mas nanaig ang istorya ng family," explained the daughter of Johnny Delgado and Laurice Guillen.
