Suzette Ranillo's next big act: Reviving the Visayan film industry

CEBU, Philippines - Suzette Ranillo has a lot to thank for. After all, this true-blooded Cebuana is a real showbiz gem for having successfully evolved from actress to director-producer, and for tirelessly working on projects promoting Filipino pride and culture in her current base in the United States.

“I’m so thankful and blessed! I thank God for all the blessings and the blessings in disguise, and I stay grounded. I find fulfillment in helping people,” said Suzette in an interview with The FREEMAN.

Suzette has an esteemed career marked with acting awards and other successes in theater, film, and TV. She won the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress award for the movie Gimingaw Ako in 1975, and scooped several acting nominations.

As thespian, she has been involved in the recurring productions of Kanser (Noli Me Tangere) for the role of Sisa, in Kristo as Veronica, El Filibusterismo as Juli, Florante at Laura as Laura, Bong Bong at Kris as Ate Guy, et cetera.

She’s been seen on TV for Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas (2003), Pangako Sa ‘Yo (2002), Lucia (British Broadcasting Corporation; 1992), Mommy Ko Si Mayor (1979-1981), Balintataw: Sali-Salising Buhay (1993) – where she was nominated for Best Actress in the Star Awards for TV, among others.

Nowadays, she is focusing her energies on producing and directing films. “It has a broader perspective in the field of filmmaking. As a producer and director, you see the film in its entirety. When you have the right concept and the proper distribution, you’ll walk down memory lane for your excellence.”

Born in Cebu City to Philippine cinema legends Mat Ranillo Jr. and Gloria Sevilla, also known as the “King and Queen of Visayan Movies,” Suzette also trod the path of her parents, becoming an actress at the age of 12. She then explored the field of directing when she was 28 years old. Her first directorial job was a play entitled “Masakit pa po Doktor!”

“It was a hilarious play so we all enjoyed doing it, making my first job as a director less stressful,” she recalled.

Her next project was directing an MTV for a singer who went solo. At that time, producers didn’t appreciate creating a story behind a song. But she plunged ahead and weaved a story out of it.

“I thought it was heartwarming presenting the different phases of a couple who in spite of their old age was still in love, not just loving, each other,” she said.

She then went on to become an apprentice (as assistant director) for a TV series. She further studied producing and directing at the Hollywood Film Institute in Los Angeles. She then directed TV commercials and stage plays in San Francisco, where she and most of her siblings are now based. As she spent more time in the States, she found the chance to direct Nora Aunor in “CareHome” in 2006.

Directing the superstar of Philippine movies proved to be the greatest challenge for Suzette.

“Directing Nora Aunor whom we consider one, if not, the greatest actress in the Philippines was quite a task. What was worse was we barely had time for pre-production. I was so worried, but we had to finish filming it in five days. It was grueling! But we did it as a team! Nora was nominated for Best Actress. I was happy in spite of an attempt to sabotage the project during post production by some inept people,” Suzette explained.

“CareHome” is the story of Filipino residents in a carehome and how they endured living away from their families. It also tells about the plight of Filipino caregivers and nurses. “It’s about survival. It’s the story of how they dealt and lived with their struggles, fears, loneliness and the strength that kept them going as they search for greener pastures away from the Philippines,” said Suzette.

“My mom wrote the story. I liked it because it was a down to earth story. We gave priorities to good actors based in California so that it’ll be cheaper to produce,” said Suzette.

Through “CareHome,” she was also able to work with “my Mom, Gloria Sevilla, Divina Valencia, Rebecca Quintana, Juni Ranillo, Joe Buono, Glenda Kennedy, to name a few.”

As for working with Nora, she said, “It was fun because we are good friends. She raised my spirits being a newbie director.”

It was not the first time that Suzette and Nora worked together. Her mother once produced a film with Nora and Mat Ranillo III in the lead roles. She had a special role in the movie entitled, “Darling Buntis Ka Na Naman!” and had a few scenes together with Nora.

“Nora Aunor’s very giving and supportive of her co-actors especially if it calls for her co-actor to stand out in a scene.”

 “Her acting talent is innate. Her eyes are so expressive. Thus, impressive,” she added.

 As a director, Suzette said that she likes to present movies that are simple but uplifting.

“I’d like to tell the stories of Filipinos living abroad, especially in the United States. I’d like to tell stories of Filipinos living in the rural areas of the Philippines. I think my niche is presenting stories with compassion in a light drama form.”

According to Suzette, even if the US, UK, China and other countries are so advanced in filmmaking technology, Filipino stories and actors are comparable or, in some cases, even better.

Suzette has a piece of advice to aspiring directors, especially those in the indie filmmaking scene.

“Keep imagining and keep finding a way to produce it so you can share it with your audience and they will in turn learn from it. To think is to create. To act is to achieve,” she said.

There is another thing that’s consuming Suzette’s time, energy and passion—and that is helming and working on projects to finally revive the Visayan film industry.

She is now physically and emotionally preparing for the filming of “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum,” a Cebuano indie movie that is one of the finalists in this year’s Cinema One Originals. In fact, she was in town recently to help supervise the casting call and meet up with the production people behind the film, which will be shot in Olango Island.

She’s also looking forward to launch the PhilAm TV in San Francisco, California very soon. It is a new Filipino channel on free TV, which will feature a wider variety of Filipino shows.

“I hope that all San Francisco-based Fil-Ams will watch out for its regular airing in the next two months,” she said.

When asked where she draws her youthful vigor to sustain her many interests, she said that this is simply her nature.

“I live life to the fullest. I love traveling and seeing places. I’m adventurous,” she said, adding that she consciously makes room for personal pursuits. “I love my work as a public figure but I also value my privacy.”

She also makes it a point to stay fit by visiting the gym or do sports activities like tennis, snow skiing (in winter), volleyball, swimming, windsurfing, et cetera. Her beauty regimen, on the other hand, is far from complicated. “I only put make up when I really have to. I don’t eat rice and meat and most of all, I love to love and laugh!”

She said she is turned off by bigots, and she can be feisty especially when it comes to protecting loved ones. We had recently seen some of this feistiness when she came to the defense of her niece, Krista, daughter of brother Mat Ranillo III, several months ago. 

Krista was linked to boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao—persistent rumors that the Ranillo family has strongly and repeatedly denied. For months, Krista and her family were hounded by the media, and on several occasions, Suzette stepped up and took on the role as her niece’s defender before the prying public.

Krista is presently laying low from showbiz in the US, where she is surrounded by the loving support of the Ranillo clan. Suzette’s constant advice to Krista is: “To be resilient. After all, she’s smart, sweet but strong, sociable and stunning. So she will really be subject to envy and antipathy.”

“She’s a happy and forgiving person so it’s not difficult for her to move on.”

Meanwhile, Suzette revealed that Krista will be visiting Cebu when she returns to the Philippines soon to promote Zee magazine, of which she is the cover story, and to thank all those who supported it.

Her closeness to her niece is only a reflection of their closeness as a family. Family and, most especially, faith are Suzette’s sources of encouragement in career and in life.

“God is my strength. My mom is my greatest supporter. My siblings are my worse critiques. My true friends are my moral boosters. My nieces and nephews are my inspiration,” she ended.