Eugene Domingo: From the sidelines to the Centerstage

CEBU, Philippines - Eugene Domingo plays second fiddle no more. In her first movie starrer, she not only got to pick the leading man of her choice and lent support by a bevy of stars who did cameo roles, but she’s also backed up by no less than heartthrob actor-now-turned producer Piolo Pascual.

Eugene’s comic mettle is finally given full-length screen time as she plays a dual role in “Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kyeme”, this after frequently playing the funny sidekick or best friend to big stars such as Ai Ai de las Alas, Maricel Soriano and Regine Velasquez.

 “Ang masaya dun, hindi talaga parang everyday wini-wish ko na sana, maging bida ako. I just took it one day at a time. Kung anong binibigay na trabaho, ginagawa ko. Nag-iipon lang ako ng experiences, kasi lahat naman ng work mo unique, every project iba ang expectations and achievements. So hindi talaga siya parang ‘One day, I’ll be the star of my own film!’ It just happened at natutuwa ako sa tamang timing,” she tells us in a press conference at the Castle Peak Hotel where she was joined by director Joyce Bernal. Piolo later caught up with them, answered a few questions, after which they all proceeded to SM City Cebu for a mall show.

This is the maiden project of Spring Films, a new production outfit formed by Piolo Pascual, Joyce Bernal, business manager Erickson Raymundo and cinematographer Shayne Sarte, so much so that Eugene is overwhelmed and filled with gratitude that they chose to throw everything behind her in their first venture. “I dedicate this film to Piolo dahil siya talaga ang nakaisip na bigyan ako ng ganitong break. Hindi ko talaga makakalimutan ito,” she says.

No walk in the park

Written by her close friend Chris Martinez (who also wrote and directed her in “100”, a film where she won Best Supporting Actress in the 2008 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival), she plays well-off twins: ambitious and temperamental Kimmy and the simple and sweet-natured Dora. The crazy antics ensue when they both vie for the same man – played by Dingdong Dantes – and fight it out to be the successor of the family empire.

 She is joined by other cast members, Miriam Quiambao, Ariel Ureta, Baron Geisler, Zanjoe Marudo and Gabby Eigenmann. In a show of support, her showbiz friends also agreed to appear in cameo roles (with some doing it free) such as Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Marvin Agustin, Vhong Navarro, Aiza Seguerra, and the Pop Icons Piolo Pascual, Christian Bautista, Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, and Sam Milby.

While Uge, as she is fondly called by friends, is a natural in delivering punchlines, portraying twins wasn’t a walk in the park as she had to do most scenes twice. “The material wasn’t easy. Parang dalawang pelikula yung ginawa ko, because of the two totally different characters. It was hard but with the guidance of director Bb. Joyce Bernal, it was easier for me to understand and make Kimmy and Dora real people with real feelings,” she reveals. But she obviously had more fun playing the evil twin, the sophisticated Kimmy who had the better hair and wardrobe.

Shooting for the film almost took a physical toll on her, she shares, since she was also juggling it with tapings for the GMA 7 series “Adik Sa’Yo” and her hosting gig for “Cool Center”. She’s not wont to complain though or feel anything less than thankful because she feels lucky to be given many projects.

“Wala akong karapatang ma-sad, with all these blessings. Nakakahiya naman sa Diyos diba kapag sinabi kong malungkot pa ako. Ang kapal na ng mukha ko nun! Tired lang minsan of course, kasi tao din naman eh, pero humuhugot ako ng lakas sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin.”

On leading men

One highlight of Kimmy Dora would be Eugene wearing a sexy one-piece swimsuit in a pool scene with Dingdong where she delivers a funny Notting Hill-like line (“I’m just a girl, floating in front of a boy...asking him to love me...”) that will surely be mimicked by many. Their production designer and stylist had a swimsuit in a magazine copied and made to especially fit her body.

“For that scene, I prayed a lot!” she exclaims in jest. “Hindi naman ako masyado nag-gym at nag-exercise. I just let go of everything.”

 Besides, she already stripped naked in the indie “100” in a skinny-dipping scene with Mylene Dizon and Tessie Tomas. “So wala lang yung bathing suit na yun!”

The comedienne was also all praises for her leading man, Dingdong, whom she previously worked with in “Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang”. She personally requested for all her leading men, including Zanjoe, prompting director Joyce to ask her, “Uge? Last wish? Mamamatay ka na ba?”

“Dingdong is such a trooper, a gentleman, game na game siya. By accepting this role, I believe he’s really open to doing other genres aside from being a matinee idol. I admire him more now. Napanood ko yung pelikula while dubbing it, at ang cute niya. Maraming magkaka-crush sa kanya dito, para siyang si Superman,” she squeals.

Although Eugene is finally topbilling her own movie, she clarified that she is still willing to be relegated back to supporting roles. “Pwede as long as gusto ko yung role, gusto ko yung material and I trust the director. I do indie films, I do mainstream…ang importante sa akin, gusto ko yung ginagawa ko.”

New comedy queen?

Will she be dethroning Ai Ai de las Alas as the long-running Comedy Queen? The comparison with her friend can’t be helped, with many debating who has the better comic style. But she shots down any notion of a competition, sharing that Ai-Ai has been very supportive, constantly sending her messages of encouragement and plugging Kimmy Dora in her morning talk show even if she did not ask her to. “I am so touched because wala siyang sinabi kundi ‘Go, go BF, kaya mo yan, mag-pray ka lang.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, ang hirap pala ng ginagawa mo. Hinihingi niya yung poster namin dahil ipo-promote daw siya sa ‘Ruffa and Ai.’ Sabi niya, ‘Ang ganda ng poster mo, pang-mayaman!’...”

Comedy queen or not, she sure will have a place in Philippine comedy (Bert Marcelo Awardee for Comedians in the 2009 Guillermo Mendoza Foundation Awards). And a secure place in drama, as well. The 38-year-old is also one of the most credible dramatic actresses around and proof of these are some of her trophies as Best Supporting Actress for “Bahay Kubo” in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival and her historic win when she tied with herself at the 2008 Gawad Tanglaw Awards for Cinema Excellence where she bagged two Best Supporting Actress awards for “Pisay” and “Foster Child”.

Staying grounded

The Theater Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines-Diliman certainly had vast artistic experience. “I’ve been like this ever since before, talagang I love the stage. I am thankful that I can do stage, theater, film, radio, I was also a voice talent. In theater, I started as a costumist to a stage manager, in movies I started as an extra, nagbenta rin ako ng mga theater plays,” she recalls. “Now I appreciate those experiences because it makes me appreciate the people I work with. I know how they work hard. So walang place magdiva-divahan ka. It’s a waste of time kasi hindi lang star ang napapagod, mas napapagod yung hindi stars. Maraming kailangan ma-accomplish everyday so if you act like a diva, you’re just prolonging the agony of other people.”

Oftentimes, that down-to-earth attitude disappears once they get a taste of being the star. So how does she keep herself grounded amidst all her success? “Hindi ko talaga siya kasi pinapasok sa ulo ko. Unang-una, naka-wig ako, so hindi ko maipasok…”

Seriously, she assures: “I’m still the same. Kung gusto kong maglakad mag-isa, maglalakad ako mag-isa. I don’t have a regular driver, I don’t have a PA. For me it’s a job I have to do, it’s a responsibility I have to fulfill. Magka-level lang tayo dito. You do your job and I’ll do mine.”

“Kimmy Dora” is now showing in theaters nationwide.