ALESSANDRA DE ROSSI

When Alessandra de Rossi found out she was playing Manny Pacquiao’s mother Dionsia in Paul Soriano’s movie Kid Kulafu, she laughed happily. “Bagay talaga sa akin!” she exclaimed. “Parang ako lang siya! Isa siya sa mga pinakamasayang role na binigay sa akin.”

Any actor would know how challeging it is to play a real-life figure, and one that is as popular and nuanced as Mommy D herself. But De Rossi has never been one to shy away from difficult roles, which is why she’s consistently showcasing her brilliant acting chops in independent films, from her “big” acting break Azucena (2001) to films like Sta. Niña (2012) and Woman of the Ruins (2013). It’s here where she gets to pour her passion and master her craft. “Kung hindi ko kaya ibigay [150% ko,] hindi mo ako makikita don,” she reveals.

She jokes that she’s the “hipster of showbiz,” and perhaps her unique filmography is also because she doesn’t have the typical leading lady look. “Okay lang sa akin!” she says, as she absolutely refuses to make herself fit into that mold. “Hindi ako nag-give in sa gusto nilang ipagawa sa akin,” she declares proudly. “Yung important, intact pa rin kung sino ako.”

Like the PacMom herself, De Rossi is bright, outspoken and headstrong. “Yung ugali ko, hindi talaga pang Maria Clara,” she admits. “Pero pagdating sa core values, PilipinangPilipina ako.” That’s what being a modern Filipina means to her, someone who’s not afraid to go with the flow of today’s constantly changing world, but keeps her values and her sense of self intact.

"PAGDATING SA CORE VALUES, PILIPINANGPILIPINA AKO”