Liza Diño (MNS photo)
Liza Diño is back to doing what she loves best – acting.
She is taking part in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), playing an important role in “Toto,” an entry in the New Wave category.
Directed by J.P. Su, “Toto” tells the story of Antonio ‘Toto’ Estares, played by Sid Lucero, a Pinoy desperate to get to America in the hopes of giving his family a better life.
Liza plays the role of Eve Porter, a liberated Fil-Am who promised to help Toto achieve his goal.
“It is a layered character. She’s a modern woman, but she needs this guy (Toto) na kailangan (din) ng tulong niya and she feels for this person,” she said.
The actress initially auditioned for the role of Tessa, Toto’s girlfriend, but the film director deemed her more ideal as Eve given her strong personality.
Liza admitted she had second thoughts playing Eve as the role requires her to bare skin in some scenes. “Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko ba talaga kasi hindi lang siya ’yung nudity na silhouette eh,” she said.
“I work with a director that I really trust, and I worked with a lead actor na gentleman. Ang sarap mag-work sa ganu’ng environment na pinoprotektahan ka ng mga tao sa paligid mo,” she related.
Deeming the role a breakthrough for her as an actress, she noted, “I think nandu’n na ’ko sa stage ng career ko as an actor na I should not be limited dahil lang may aspect of nudity. I don’t want to give myself limitation especially if I believe du’n sa ginagawa ko.”
Her spouse, actress-singer Aiza Seguerra, has been supportive of her new venture and helped ease any fear she had over her portrayal.
“Nanood kami ng preview and I asked Aiza sabi ko, ‘Kailangan ba sa movie (’yung nudity)?’ Sabi niya, ‘Love, kung hindi mo ginawa ’yun, hindi magkakaroon ng bearing ’yung character ni Eve du’n sa film,’” she said.
“Toto,” which also stars Thou Reyes, Rafa Siguon-Reyna, and Mara Lopez, had a special screening last Monday at Wildsound Sampaguita Gardens. Its regular screening is from Dec. 17 to 24 at Robinsons Manila, Glorietta 4, and SM Megamall.
“Toto” will surely resonate with many Filipinos, particularly those who have relatives working abroad.
“Hindi ko masisisi ’yung mga taong pinapangarap mangibang bansa,” Liza said, deeming, “Sa sitwasyon natin ngayon sa Pilipinas we are not just underpaid, ’yung labor work force dito halos taken for granted, wala ka pang trabaho kung minsan.”
Having experienced living and working in the US, she said, “Doon, kung masipag ka, diligent ka, it equates with something na makikita mo ’yung pinagpaguran mo.”
She added, “Ang mahirap sa atin because of our economic situation, trabaho ka ng trabaho pero parang lalo ka pang nalulugmok sa utang kasi nagtatrabaho ka para lang makabayad sa kuryente at tubig.”
Still, Liza remains hopeful things will be better for the country in time. “It would be nice if ’yung Pilipinas mismo gumagawa ng paraan para bigyan tayo ng rason para maniwala na may future tayo rito,” she said.
Liza revealed she and Aiza are planning to do a short film.
“He’s (Aiza) been in the industry for so long so parang nagiging interested siya sa filmmaking,” Liza said, adding how Aiza wants to make “character-driven films.”
They plan to create a documentary on the Lumads, which they hope to release by next year.
Aiza also wants to create an LGBTQ-inspired full-length film. “We are hoping we can come up with a good story that can center on anong klaseng journey ang pinagdadaanan nila,” Liza said.
Liza and Aiza tied the knot in Dec. 8, last year. Their marriage proved controversial given the ongoing debate on same-sex marriage.
Yet Liza attested, “Ngayon we receive more love than negative things, mas maraming sumusuporta, a lot of people are happy. It’s not going to be easy pero walang katumbas ’yung saya dahil totoo ka sa sarili mo.”
This year marks the Seguerras first Christmas celebration as a family, which they will spend in their new house in Quezon City. (MNS)