Oropesa: ‘Moonlight’ role unlike any part I’ve done

By Alvin I. Dacanay

In a career spanning more than 40 years, award-winning actress Elizabeth Oropesa has made a name for herself for playing strong and vivid women who are not afraid to speak their mind or assert themselves when a situation demands it. 

In movies ranging from the late Celso Ad. Castillo’s Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa (The Most Beautiful Animal in the World) and the late National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal’s Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga (The Morning Comes and Goes) and Nunal sa Tubig (Speck in the Water) to Joel Lamangan’s Bulaklak ng Maynila (Flower of Manila) to Adolf B. Alix Jr.’s Mrs. and Ivan Andrew Payawal’s I America, Oropesa commands attention whenever she’s onscreen, even when she’s silent. That’s how formidable her presence is.

Audiences can expect that presence to dominate the screen once more when prize-winning director Gil M. Portes’ latest film, Moonlight Over Baler, starts screening in cinemas on February 8. What they may not expect is how different Oropesa’s role in the 1986-set film is from her previous roles.

In the romantic drama, written by Palanca award-winning screenwriter Enrique “Eric” Ramos and based on a story about Portes’ unmarried aunt, Oropesa portrays Fidela, a 65-year-old former schoolteacher in Aurora province’s Baler town. She meets and befriends a visiting Japanese photojournalist named Kenji (Vin Abrenica), who closely resembles her soldier-fiancé Nestor (also Abrenica), who went off to fight the Japanese during World War II and never returned.

Moved by the uncanny resemblance, Fidela helps Kenji in several challenges to win the heart of town beauty Rory (Ellen Adarna). In the photojournalist, the ex-teacher finds some promise.

In an interview during the Moonlight Over Baler press conference in Quezon City on January 31, Oropesa described the film as a “love story” that “covers many generations.”

“Makaka-relate (ang mga) millennial at mga matatanda (Millennials and mature people can relate to the story),” said the 62-year-old actress, who first gained attention when she won the Miss Republic of the Philippines crown in 1972.

Oropesa noted that the part of Fidela is the second “senior” leading role she received, the first being Virginia, the 70-year-old homeowner in Mrs. That film won four awards at the 2nd Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival last April, including best picture and actress.

She said Fidela is so different from her other roles, mainly because she doesn’t speak much.

“Siya ay isang guro (na) naghihintay sa kanyang minamahal forever. At walang closure. Wala pa akong role na ganyan, eh. Normally palaban (ang mga ginagampanan ko). Tahimik ‘yung role (She’s a teacher who’s forever waiting for her beloved. She has no closure. I never had a role like that. The roles I normally do are women who fight. It’s a quiet role),” said Oropesa, a doctor’s daughter from Bicol who’s also a licensed accupuncturist, herbologist, and clinical hypnotherapist.

“Kaya kailangan ang nagsasalita—na makikita ng (mga) manonood—(ay) ‘yung kaluluwa mo through your eyes, (for) the eyes are the windows of the soul (So it’s necessary that the one speaking—which the audience will see—is the character’s soul through your eyes, for the eyes are the windows of the soul),” she added.

The actress hopes that her part in Moonlight Over Baler would lead her—and other performers of her generation—to leading, age-appropriate roles.

“Sana magkaroon ng maraming pagkakataon ang mga katulad ko—‘yung mga kaedad ko—na may lead roles, kasi sa Amerika, at in other countries, tanggap ang isang aktor, babae o lalake, na may edad (I hope those like me—those who are my age—get many opportunities to have lead roles, because in America and other countries, senior actors and actresses are accepted),” said Oropesa, citing Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep as an example.

“In fact, habang tumatagal, lalong tumataas ang kategorya at nagkakaroon ng mga lead roles ‘yung mga aktor na senior. Sana palaging gano’n (In fact, as time goes by, the category for senior actors becomes higher, and they have more leading roles. I hope it would always be like that),” she added.

Moonlight Over Baler is produced by T-Rex Entertainment. The movie also features Sophie Albert, Daria Ramirez, Menggie Cobarrubias, Alvin Fortuna, Kate Alejandrino, Abel Estanislao, Angie Ferro, Benjie Felipe, and Jess Evardone. Rated Parental Guidance by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/MoonlightBaler.