“Revelation.”

This was the common reaction of viewers about Ryza Cenon when they watched her movie titled Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B.

“Parang yun ang sinasabi ng lahat,” Ryza told entertainment reporters and bloggers who attended the press conference prepared for her on Thursday, July 20.

“E, nag-reveal naman talaga ako dun, literal na reveal. Kaya yun po ang sinasabi nila, revelation. Masaya po ako kasi sobr ang pinaghirapan po naming lahat ito. Masaya po ako na nagbunga ang hirap namin at saka yung puyat.”

The movie was first shown in QCinema Film Festival last October 26. It will be shown again in Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino from August 1622.

The Kapuso actress recalled she did not audition for the lead character but for a supporting role. However, director Prime Cruz noticed her potential so he asked her to read the lines for the lead character named Jewel.

After that, Ryza said she went to Baclaran church and prayed so that she would get the role. Thankfully, she received a call back and was offered the lead part.

She narrated: “Noong nakuha ko siya, kinausap ako ni Direk Prime, sinabi niya na, ‘ito ang mangyayari, ha, mayroong ganito, mayroong masturbation, mayroong sex scene.”

Has she experiened doing it?

“Hindi pa po, e.’ ‘Tapos, sabi niya, ‘Kaya mo ba? Ano ang mga limitation mo sa ganyan?’Sabi ko, ‘wala naman akong limitation. Basta, direk, alagaan mo lang ako, okay ako doon.’ Kasi siya naman ang gagawa nun, e, siya naman ang gagawa para maipakita na hindi kabastosbast os.”

Ryza also stressed, “Nagtiwala lang po ako kay Direk. Kaya lumakas din ang loob ko kasi sabi niya sa akin aalagaan niya ako.”

Since it was her first time to do sexy scenes in a movie, Ryza was asked if she’s a sensual person. Ryza answered by telling her joke to Direk Prime: “Biniro ko si Direk, before gawin yung masturbation [ scene] , sabi ko, ‘Direk, sige try ko po mag-masturbate mamayang gabi para malaman ko kung ano ang feeling, hindi ko alam, e.’”

She was quick to add, “Joke lang yun, siyempre, pinapatawa ko lang kayo!”

What about her intimate scene with Pochollo Barretto, who later on became her boyfriend in real life?

“Sa sex scene, first time din. Siyempre, todo text ako kay Cholo kasi hindi ko naman siya kaano-ano ‘tapos makikipag-sex ako sa kanya, parang ang pangit. First time ko siyang makatrabaho, so para maging kumportable rin ako sa kanya at magawa ko nang tama yung scene. Sinabi ko sa kanya na natatakot ako. Sabi niya, ‘Huwag kang matakot.’Sabi ko, ‘Ano kaya ang dapat kong gawin? Kailangan ko bang manood ng porn?’”

Did she actually watch porn prior to filming Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B?

Ryza laughed, “Oo, nanood ako, para makita ko ang mga posisyon at mga reaksiyon. Yun naman ang kukunin, e, mga reaksiyon.”

For Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, movie producer Perci Intalan said their team had to review the film.

“We took a look and review the material,” he said. Si Jen Chuaunsu [ scr eenw r i t er ] and si Prime, especially si Jen, really sat down and took a look at it. May idinagdag kaming eksena for this release. Kasi, alam namin na this is a slightly different audience. Yung sa QCinema, medyo alam namin na artfilm audience ito.”

They are also considering a slightly different version for cinemas that have strict rules on rated movies.

Perci said, “Mayroon kaming edit na ginawa. Iniisip pa namin kung ilalabas pa namin ang isa pang edit. We will determine pa kung saan namin ilalabas yung original na version. Tingnan na lang natin.”

Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is one of the eight films featured in Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which will be screened in cinemas nationwide from August 16 to 22.