Introducing si Nicole Laurel Asensio sa martial law movie na Katips bilang Lara, love interest ng student leader na si Greg (Jerome Ponce).
Si Nicole ay anak ng singer na si Iwi Laurel, na nagpasikat ng mga kantang "Falling In Love Again" at "Special Memory" noong 1980s.
Great-granddaughter siya ng dating presidente ng bansa na si Jose P. Laurel. Pinsan ni Nicole sina Denise Laurel at Rajo Laurel. Tiyo niya si Cocoy Laurel. Grandparents niya sina Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Celia Diaz Laurel, at VP Salvador “Doy” Laurel.
Jerome Ponce and Nicole Laurel Asensio
Kaisa ba si Nicole ng Katips director na si Vince Tañada sa advocacy nito na patotohanan sa mga tao ang mga kaganapan sa batas militar noong 1970s?
“Honestly, this is not an easy question for me to answer,” pag-amin ni Nicole matapos ang press screening ng Katips noong Nobyembre 27, Sabado ng gabi, sa Gateway Cinema, Cubao, Quezon City.
“I am from a political family. I am a granddaughter of Doy Laurel, and a great granddaughter of Jose P. Laurel.
“My mom is a single mom, and so I grew up very, very close sa lolo ko. I was there for a lot of the political functions for a lot of the guests that would come over and I saw how he worked.
“And I love my grandfather. And I’m grateful for his time here on earth and everything he did.
“If there’s one important thing I learned from him, it’s that — no matter where you stand, you need to respect all sides — even if they don’t respect you, even if they hurt you.
“Kapwa Pilipino pa rin, you need to help your brothers and your sisters. And… my lolo fought a great fight during his time here on earth.
“Ahhm, but I also saw that he was a sportsman. He was respectful to both sides. And I think that’s the legacy he left behind.
“And that’s what I carry with me as Nicole Laurel Asensio, but as Lara …Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ahhm, I’m just an actor.
“I’m here to tell a story, that’s why I’m here. I’m not here to paint myself a certain color, or to paint any of you any color.
“I’m just here to be an actor. And I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to tell this story, because now is the time to tell your story, whatever that story may be.”
ADELLE IBARRIENTOS
Gumanap si Adelle Ibarrientos, sa pelikula bilang aktibistang si Alet, na ‘Tandang Sora’ ng mga katips o makabagong katipunero.
May unrequited love si Alet sa subersibong manunulat na si Ponyong (Vince Tañada, who’s also the writer and director of the film).
Adelle Ibarrientos in a scene from Katips
Paninindigan ni Adelle, “Kaisa ako ni Direk Vince sa paggawa ng pelikulang ito. Siyempre, mahirap naman po na tumanggap ng isang proyekto na labag sa kagustuhan mo rin, di ba?
“At naniniwala ako na yung prinesent ng pelikula ay para makapagturo at makapagpakita ng istorya na nangyari sa mga totoong nakaranas noong panahon ng Martial Law.
“So, ako rin ay umaasa na sana, makita rin po yun ng mga tao na nagsasabi na, ahhh… fake ito.”
CARLA LIM
Pumapel si Carla Lim bilang Lally, ang love interest ng college student na si Art (Johnrey Rivas).
Pananalig ni Carla, “Kaisa po ako ni Direk. Isa po sa advocacy ni Direk ay mag-educate po talaga, especially ng mga youth.
“Gustung-gusto ko po talaga… sobrang privileged po ako na maging parte ng isang matapang na pelikula.
“At gustung-gusto ko rin po talaga na yung mga kaedad ko ay mas ma-educate po.
“Kasi po, sobrang dami po talaga ang walang alam about po sa mga nangyari noon. Sobrang dami pong fake news.
“Naniniwala po ako na itong pelikula na ito ay magbibigay talaga ng sapat na kaalaman para sa mga kabataan.
“Sobrang dami po talaga ang walang kaalam-alam na may ganito palang nangyari.”
Carla Lim and Johnrey Rivas
VEAN OLMEDO
Gumanap si Vean Olmedo bilang kikay na si Sussie, na kasintahan ng aktibistang si Estong (Joshua Bulot).
Pahayag ni Vean, “Ako naman po, it’s not about pro-Marcos ka or what, kung sino man ang papanigan mo.
“Nung in-offer sa akin ni Direk yung role, right away I said yes. Kasi, nakausap namin mismo yung mga victim ng martial law.
“And we are telling the story ng mga taong biktima, exactly yung mga taong yun. So, hindi siya yung mga sinabi lang ni ganito, ni ganyan.”
Joshua Bulot and Vean Olmendo