Since joining showbiz over a decade ago, actress Mikee Quintos admitted she has yet to get the chance to do a film project. This year, she finally gets to fulfill that career goal after being cast in the romantic comedy film Saving Cherry, which features an ensemble cast with Barbie Forteza, Mika Salamanca, AC Bonifacio, and Sassa Girl as her close circle of friends who end up in unexpected situations after one of them gets cheated on by their new husband.
“I’m so excited for you guys to watch the movie. This is my very first, thank you. I play Beth here, who is part ng one of five na barkada,” Mikee said.
As the most senior member of their barkada in the film, Mikee revealed how she was able to bond and build chemistry with her co-stars, all of whom she was working with for the very first time.
“Unang araw pa lang, i-na-ate ako ng mga ito, diyos ko po. Nakaka-tita talaga! (laughs) In character, kasi ako ang unang kinasal sa buong barkada (dun sa movie). Kasi that night, nung nagplano kaming uminom nga at my place, eh siyempre we’re all working together and from my experience sa acting talaga, diretso kasi akong tao. Kailangan kong sabihin kong diretso kapag ilang ako, kapag kunwari we’re going to work together, I have to tell you because that’s how we become more sincere also. Kaya kong maging totoo,” she explained.
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Mikee also admitted how she used to be wary of Sassa Gurl back when the latter was making a name for herself as a content creator before crossing over into showbiz.
“Diniretso ko si Sassa Gurl na parang, ‘Alam mo dati parang naiinis ako sa ‘yo.’ And then at the moment parang agad agad nagpalakpakan si Barbie, si AC tumawa, and then I had to acknowledge lang na before, it’s not a secret naman na hate ako sa isang thesis, yung thesis ko. Itong si Sassa, ginawan ng content. Sinakyan niya. Sabi ko, ‘Sino ba itong Sassa Gurl na ito? Hindi kami close. Kung sakyan niya yung hate sa akin parang, close ba tayo ‘te?’” she added.
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With Saving Cherry promising more memorable moments than expected from a barkada film, Mikee shared why doing one physically challenging scene was unforgettable for her.
“Isa sa mga favorite moment ko off-cam, meron kaming nagtatakbuhan na scene. Siyempre nung tini-take namin yun, pawis na kaming lahat. Pawis na pawis na kami. Ilang hours na kaming ganun and then natuyo na yung damit sa pawis and napawisan ulit. Tapos matutuyo ulit. Imagine that. Ang saya noh? (laughs) Pero nung moment na yun, tinanong ko si Mika, ‘Kadiri ba Mika pag hindi naligo tonight bago matulog?’ Tapos yung bigat ng sagot sa akin ni Mika, sabi niya, ‘Oo yuck!’ A good ten minutes we were all laughing (about that). One of my favorite moments yun. Pero that’s what made us close. So talking about it that night, dun nag-start lahat. So first of many hangouts na din yun at my place and umabot na din kami sa labas. And I think that really helped with our rapport on screen din. Kasi mas G na ako hawakan yung mukha nung mga ito, and mag-adlib in the middle of a scene. Nakatulong di ba? Isa pa lang yun sa mga kuwento,” Mikee recalled.
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When asked to reveal the craziest thing she ever did for love, Mikee admitted it was a time in her life when she did not prioritize herself.
“I think it would be setting myself aside. That’s so crazy, like who would do that, you know?” she said.
Now that she is older and more mature, the Saving Cherry actress explained how her views on infidelity have changed from being understanding to intolerant.
“For full transparency, I used to believe na wala naman talaga kasing perfect. So I used to believe na puwede, okay lang yun, and the important thing is the why, yung sagot sa kung bakit nagawa. But now, no, giving a chance to a cheater, yung chance hindi para dun sa cheater eh, yung compromise, mas nasa ‘yo. No more, that’s the answer,” she explained.
Playing the role of the older sister Beth in Saving Cherry also gave Mikee new life lessons she admitted she can use in real life.
“I think what happened during the movie was si Beth yung nakapag-advice kay Mikee, parang ganun. Knowing her and playing her taught me something because it’s part of the reason why I said yes to the project actually. When I read the script, yung lesson, yung message na sinasabi really resonated with me. But the character I’m playing, I don’t agree with her values, what she believes in. So it’s going to demand something from me to play something na hindi ko pinaniniwalaan as Mikee eh. And getting there and trying to play her and be sincere as Beth will teach me something. And it did. Nakita ko yung point of view ni Beth and mas naturuan niya akong to accept things as it is. Yun yung advice ni Beth sa akin. It is what it is and never, ever regret love. Laging yung nagmamahal ang nananalo. At saka tinuro niya rin sa akin paano gumamit ng washing machine (laughs),” she said.
Saving Cherry stars Barbie Forteza, Mika Salamanca, Mikee Quintos, AC Bonifacio, Sassa Gurl, JC Alcantara, and Khalil Ramos. Directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal under Regal Films, the movie is now showing in cinemas nationwide.