For Sylvia, playing mom is piece of cake

When she showed up for the presscon of Mama’s Girl, her maiden 2018 starrer for Regal Films, Sylvia Sanchez pleasantly shocked the movie press with her very revealing dress (check photo at far right) that showcased her rich natural resources. What!?! Was Sylvia projecting a bold image as a New Year resolution?

It turned out that Sylvia was just “in character” as part of the  promo for the movie directed by Connie S.A. Macatuno.

“My character in Mama’s Girl is a loving mom, cool, groovy, gusto palagi magpa-sexy,” Sylvia told Funfare during a post-presscon one-on-one. “Compared to the mother roles in my other movies and TV shows, this role is very me, Sylviang-Sylvia ang dating. Like me, my character also loves to cook at siempre, sino bang babae ang ayaw magpa-sexy? Hehehe!!! The only difference is that my character is sick at ayoko ng sakit na yon (ailment not mentioned).”

And she plays a single mom (to Sofia Andres) while in real life, Sylvia has five children Pia, Arjo, Ria, Gela and Xavi. Only two of them, Arjo and Ria, have joined showbiz.

“Like in the movie with Sofia as Mama’s Girl, in real life all my children are Mama’s Boys and Mama’s Girls. In the movie, I’m protective of my daughter; and like me in real life, the type of mom na kahit saan magpunta never bibitiwan ang mga anak.”

Sylvia related a funny incident about Sofia who is a deadringer for Ria.

“On the set, I told her that she looked like my daughter Ria. I said, ‘Tatlo pala kayong magkaka-mukha. Ikaw, si Ria at ‘yung Sofia Andres daw.’ Napangiti lang si Sofia. At home, I told Ria about the incident and Ria said, ‘Duh…yuck! Kasama mo si Sofia sa cast!’ OMG, I didn’t know na si Sofia na pala ‘yung kausap ko sa set! The next day, I apologized to Sofia. Now, close na kami, like mother and daughter. Ako kasi, mahina ako sa names and birthdays but not sa faces.”

Playing a mother is easy for Sylvia -— you know, piece of cake. She has played all kinds of mothers in Kapamilya dramas: A loving one in Ningning (with Ketchup Eusebio as her son); a martyr mom afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease in The Greatest Love, maltreated by her children; a supportive mom in Be Careful with My Heart; and a devoted mom who would do anything, including accidentally killing somebody, to get the money for the hospital bills of her son (played by Arjo) in Hanggang Saan.

“I was tomboy in the movie The Trial,” added Sylvia who, with Vince de Jesus as her also-gay husband, played the parents of John Lloyd Cruz as a mentally retarded accused of raping a girl (played by Jessy Mendiola). “I love that movie,” said Sylvia who won an acting award for her easy-does-it performance, so credible and so convincing that you would suspect she was one in real life.

What else is she like in real life?

“When I was a new mom, I would say I was tough. ‘Yan sina Ria at Arjo, pinaluluhod ko ang mga ‘yan sa asin when they committed mistakes. One time, pinasok ko sa sako si Arjo. I didn’t like it when he answered back; ayokong sumasagot-sagot siya, especially with the maids. I thought I should break his horns (bali-baliin ang sungay) while he was young. Tumino naman siya. I used the technique my own mom would use on me and my five siblings when we were young.

“Arjo is very much like me. Ugaling Sylvia. Matapang. Grabe ang pagiging Sylvia niya! Si Ria matapang din pero malambot at malambing. I’m happy that they grew up to be well-behaved. I cannot use the same technique now that they are big,” adding with a laugh, “malalaki na sila baka hatawin na ako. Hahaha!!! I encourage them to speak their minds but still, when they become disrespectful and their voice grows louder than mine, I remind them, ‘Uy, kaibigan n’yo ako pero hindi n’yo ako barkada. Nanay n’yo ako kaya you better tone down your voice.’ They listen naman.”

But when it comes to her older children’s love life, Sylvia keeps her hands off.

“Only when I notice something disrespectful kung sino man ang karelasyon nila, that’s when I speak up. Let’s admit it, we want our children to be with somebody who not only loves them but who also respects them.”

Incidentally, Mama’s Girl, opening nationwide on Jan. 17 (on the heels of Haunted Forest, Regal’s successful entry at the just-concluded Metro Filmfest), marks Sylvia’s homecoming to Regal where she started playing supporting roles (Student Body, Tora Tora Bang Bang, etc.) until her acting talent was recognized in Isang Gabi Tatlong Babae, leading to a meatier role in Mahalin Mo ang Asawa Ko.

“Mama’s Girl is a feel-good family movie,” said Regal producer Roselle Monteverde, “so it’s the perfect opening salvo for the New Year.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)