MAYMAY ENTRATA
As she embarks on the next phase of her career, Maymay Entrata reveals her challenges and what makes her even more of a fighter than she already was
In Hello, Love, Goodbye, the barrier-breaking, recordsmashing blockbuster hit that follows the heart-tugging, reality-marred love story of Kathryn Bernardo’s Joy and Alden Richards’ Ethan in Hong Kong, Maymay Entrata is Marydale, the fresh graduate who is all set but also, understandably hesitant to try her luck as a domestic helper, just like her cousin, Joy. A curious case of art imitating life, the realities of Maymay and her character share similarities that lend itself well to her earnest and effective portrayal in the Cathy Garcia-Molina-directed film. Marydale is Maymay, who aside from their similar given name, the two also share the truth of an OFW striking out for nothing more than the benefit of their family. “Naging madali po sa akin ang pagplay ng OFW, dahil OFW nanay ko, mahigit 28 years na siya doon sa Japan,” she relates. “Every December, at nung high school kami, every graduation day na lang kami nagkikita. So, naiintindihan ko ‘yung feeling ng nanay ko na malayong nagtatrabaho para sa amin ng kapatid ko.”
While her character relented to the distance and despair of working miles away from home, Maymay Entrata does the complete opposite—persisting through every possible opportunity given to her. “Para sa akin po, hindi kapanipaniwala [na maging bahagi ng Hello, Love, Goodbye], kasi nung time po na binibigyan na nila ako ng film projects, iniisip ko: ‘Talaga po ba? Deserve ko ba po ito?’ Kasi hindi pa po ako marunong umarte, tapos wala pa akong masyadong workshop. Pero dahil sa experience na ‘yun, nagpapasalamat ako dahil kahit mahirap siya, kahit andun yung kaba, dun naman ako natuto. Kaya ngayon, mas feeling na every time na may project, para sa akin worth it,” she details. “Ang lesson na natutunan ko, imbis na sumuko ka, mas piliin mong matuto kasi balang araw, para sa ‘yo din naman ‘yun. At tsaka, mas magiging worth it ‘yung lahat, ‘yung feeling na ‘yon at ikaw ‘yung magiging magandang modelo at inspirasyon sa mga bagong salta din sa industry ng showbiz, pwedeng ikaw ‘yung magshe-share nung experience na ‘yun. Kasi talagang dadating ‘yung point na susuko ka, ‘yung muntik kang susuko pero ‘yun nga, mas pipiliin mong matuto kaysa sa susuko.”
This is primarily the driving force of Maymay Entrata’s life, to push and fight through the curve balls thrown her away, learning along the way. This rings especially true in her journey of self-acceptance, which despite the dose of sunshine and positivity she insulates the inevitable with, it hammers down on her just as it would any normal human being going through the throes of youth and life in general. “’Yung mga lait po kasi, like hindi ako tanggap, napagdaanan ko na po ‘yan, dati pa lang. Dahil sa sobrang payat ko, tapos wala akong dibdib, tapos bungisngis ako, hanggang sa natutunan kong mahalin ang sarili ko sa lahat ng aspeto. Tapos simula nun, hindi na ako nagde-depend sa kung ano ‘yung people’s mirror ba yun? Mas nagde-depende na ako kung ano ‘yung paniniwala ko, kung ano ‘yung nasa mirror of God, at kung paano talaga ako,” she explains. “Dati pa lang po kasi, wala na po ako pakialam sa sarili ko. Kung ano masasabi nila tanggap ko kung sino ako. Tsaka maapektuhan lang po talaga ako kapag totoo ‘yung mga sinasabi nila. Like, iba’t-iba naman ang opinion eh, kung napapangitan sila sa akin, wala akong pakialam, eto na talaga mukha ko, ganito ako pinanganak, tanggapin niyo na lang gaya ng pagtanggap ko sa sarili ko.”
From where things stand, it can be easily assumed that she has things easy, having the time of her life navigating the precipice of what looks to be a fruitful career ahead of her. But unbeknownst many, she has struggled with her process of selfdiscovery, admitting to losing herself in the early onset of her foray in the entertainment industry. “Sa salita kasi, oo ka lang ng oo eh. ‘Oo, madali lang ‘yan,’ pero kapag na-experience mo na, mahirap,”
“SO, KAPAG PALA DADARATING ‘YUNG POINT NA NAWAWALA KA NA AT ‘DI MO NA KILALA ‘YUNG SARILI MO, BUMALIK KA LANG SA KUNG SAAN KA GALING AT KUNG PAANO MO NAKILALA ‘YUNG SARILI MO AT KUNG PAANO ” MO NABUO YUNG SARILI MO
she muses. “Darating sa punto na mawawala ka at tatanungin mo ang sarili na: ‘Sino ba talaga ako? Bakit ako andito?’ Tsaka bakit lahat ng mga tao, yung atensyon na sa’yo, paano ko ba kukunin ‘yun? Paano ko siya dadalhin? Kasi nalilito ako eh, nung time na nag-a-adjust pa po ako, nahihirapan ako, kung paano ako magre-react sa mga tao.”
In this challenging turn of her life, she turned to the advice her grandfather never failed to remind her as a child. “Sinasabi niya sa amin, pag naabot na namin ang mga pangarap, lagi pa rin kaming makuntento sa simpleng buhay, at tsaka marunong kami dapat bumalik sa pinanggalingan namin,” she says of what has kept her anchored all throughout her journey. “So, kapag pala dadarating ‘yung point na nawawala ka na at ‘di mo na kilala ‘yung sarili mo, bumalik ka lang sa kung saan ka galing at kung paano mo nakilala ‘yung sarili mo at kung paano mo nabuo yung sarili mo. ‘Yun lang talaga, tapos huwag makakalimot magpasalamat, kasi minsan kapag sobrang lahat ng atensyon sa ‘yo, feeling mo okay na ‘yon, hindi ka na magpapasalamat. Pero hindi, talagang kahit konti na nega, ano siya, magbubunga siya eh. Kailangan mo siyang pigilan. Mahirap man pero proseso po ‘yun, hindi siya madali at agad-agad.”
Blessed with a grasp of life well beyond what her contemporaries would concern themselves with, Maymay Entrata is definitely hitting her stride, in her own pace, of course. Aware of the way the business ebbs and flows, she is making sure she is present, living and thriving in the moment. “Hindi ko pa masasabi na habang buhay ito, pero sa ngayon, mas okay na ako, mas nag-e-enjoy ako dahil nakapag-adjust na ako— hindi man buo, pero alam kong papunta na doon,” she says with a disarming smile that is equal parts confident and charming. “Ayokong mangako na habang buhay ako dito, pero hangga’t maari, i-e-embrace ko ‘yung mga blessing, tsaka gagawin ko lahat nang makakaya ko para masaya pa sila sa akin at mapasaya ko pa sila.”
We’ve always known there was something special about her. This time around, she not only sees it, but she believes it, in herself. “Ako lang naman si Maymay, lahat ilalaban at kakayanin,” she declares with full conviction, just like the Mary Dale Entrata we’ve come and grown to love since day one.