Gladys Reyes and Shaina Magdayao Reveal Their Experience in ‘Apag’ as “Brillante Mendoza Virgins

Gladys Reyes and Shaina Magdayao have already been in show business for close to three decades, but both still got the jitters when they learnt that they will be working for the internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza for the first time.

‘Apag’ stars Coco Martin, a young man from a well-to-do family who makes the destinies of two families interwine whrn he gets involved in a car accident.

Gladys confesses to calling up fellow cast member Jaclyn Jose, who has collaborated with Brillante, frequently, to ask for guidance. “Takot na takot rin akong kahit kilay medyo mapakapal. Halos wala…kung kaya mapapansin n’yo halos walang-wala po akong make-up. Hinaggard ko talaga yung sarili ko dun sa role,” she narrated.

“Plus, tama lang naman po, kakamatay lang po ng Papa ko nung October, then December [2022] first week ginawa namin,” she added.

The ‘Mara Clara’ actress even claimed she watched all of the ‘Ma’Rosa’ director’s movies while she was in a van during their first shooting day for ‘Apag’.

In the movie, Gladys plays a widow whose search for justice regarding her husband (Carlos Canlas), a victim of a hit-and-run accident, changes her culinary outlook.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala. Si Direk ang nagrebrand sa akin,” joked Gladys. In ‘Apag’, she is a victim and not an oppressor, as opposed to her usual roles.

Shaina Magdayao considers it a great honor and a privilege to be part of this project. Her indie film debut was in 2018, when she worked with Lav Diaz in ‘Ang Panahon ng Halimaw’. In ‘Apag’, a Kapampangan language film which is an entry to the first Summer MMFF, she plays the ex-wife of Coco’s character.

“Kami rito ni Dodong [Coco], matagal na kaming nagkatrabaho, tas lagi niyang bukambibig sa akin…Ins, alam mo ba si Direk Brillante ganito…ang indie, ganito ang experience ko sa kanya… nagkwekwento siya sa akin lagi. So, ngayon po, hindi ko naman po inakala na maeexperience ko at makikita ko at mawiwitness ko sa sarili kong mga mata kung paano yung relationship at yung mga kwento ni Coco,” said Shaina.

Other main cast members aside from the abovementioned are Lito Lapid, Julio Diaz, Mercedes Cabral, and Gina Pareño.

This crime drama film comes with two endings. The new cut, which was Coco Martin’s idea, is the onw which will be shown on April 8 in cinemas nationwide as part of the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.

‘Apag’ (Feast) has previously been exhibited and awarded in various international film festivals, including Busan in Korea, Warsaw in Poland, Bangkok in Thailand, Vesoul in
France, and others. Arianna Martinez wrote the screenplay which got produced by Center Stage Productions and Hongkong International Film Festival Society.

Brillante Mendoza is one of the few people and is the only Filipino filmmaker to compete and nominated in all three major prizes from “The Big Three” film festivals in the world – Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.