‘Sana All’ star Meg Imperial on a quest to rebrand on and off cam

CEBU, Philippines —  Meg Imperial admits she used to rub co-workers the wrong way with her reserved personality that others interpreted as aloofness and insincerity.

“I was misunderstood many times and that caused me depression because they thought since I’m reserved, I’m not being true to myself and that I’m plastic,” shared the 28-year-old actress. “The truth is, mahiyain lang talaga ako before. Hindi lang talaga ako sanay to start a conversation.”

During a recent virtual conference for her movie “Sana All,” Meg explained that as an industry newbie then who was also still young, she had tunnel vision and had yet to grasp the importance of getting on the good graces of her peers.

“For example during lunch time, nakikipag-bonding naman ako pero hindi ako nagsasalita so they thought hindi talaga genuine yung pinapakita ko, hindi ako sincere sa pakikisama. Sometimes hindi rin ako sumasabay sa kanila because really nahihiya ako. Sobrang focus ako sa trabaho, sa script ko, that I forgot there were people around me na kailangan ko pakisamahan.”

Meg has since learned from those early years and proudly says she has been slowly improving. “I’m socializing now. Every day I’m pushing myself to wake up early, have breakfast with them, lunch with them. I always care sa mga katrabaho ko, hindi lang namin iniisip ang sarili. I’m trying not to be selfish, try to bond and understand them, to be outgoing. Hindi yung one-way, na sila lang ang isipin ko na intindihin ako. And it’s a good thing because marami akong nakikilala at nagiging kaibigan sa industry, unlike before na konti lang yung friends ko, piling-pili lang.”

Meg wrapped up the shoot for “Sana All” pre-pandemic. While excited that the Bona Fajardo-directed flick was finally shown in select cinemas last Feb. 5 and will soon be streamed on the Vivamax app, she was also nervous with the turn-out since moviegoers have yet to fully recover from the global health and economic crisis.

From Viva Films and BluArt Production, “Sana All” features the town of Adams, one of the scenic gems of Ilocos Norte, and its exotic and intoxicating rice wine, the tapuey. Meg is Iyam, granddaughter of Lola Ingga (Lita Loresca), a renowned tapuey maker in Adams.  Iyam is about to take over their business, but the wine that she makes doesn’t meet her grandma’s standard. Lola Ingga points out that it lacks an important ingredient: passion.

Lola Ingga knows that Iyam is capable of producing sweet tapuey. She had done it before. Lola Ingga and her grandson Timo (Pio Balbuena), Iyam’s cousin, are convinced that Iyam will regain her passion for tapuey-making if she falls in love.  But Iyam will not hear of it.

Viva talent Arvic Tan plays Syd, a guy from Manila who, together with his friend Joan (Andrew Muhlach), is on a quest for the sweetest tapuey. His search leads him to Adams where he meets Iyam for the second time. Syd, Joan, Iyam and Timo have already crossed paths on a quick visit to La Union.

Syd’s presence brings spark to Iyam’s life to the delight of Lola Ingga and Timo. Just as Iyam starts to take a risk on love, she discovers that Syd has other motives.

Aside from being able to explore Adams and learn about the people’s culture in the North, Meg jumped on the project because it reunited her with Arvic, whom she starred with in the 2011 TV5 series “Bagets: Just Got Lucky.” In 2013, Arvic was also in Meg’s launching movie, “Menor de Edad,” a film that earned her a nomination for New Movie Actress of the Year at the Star Awards for Movies.

While being long-time buddies with her leading man made work a breeze, Meg said it also posed a challenge when they had to act all in love. “Ang hirap sa simula kasi magkaibigan kami so pag nagtitinginan kami ni Arvic, natatawa kami sa isa’t-isa. That’s the struggle when your love team is a friend. But through the guidance of our director, plus the lock-in taping, travel time, and enjoying the tapuey together, we were able to establish rapport.”

Meg says a take-away from the film is how one should never cease from trying again despite previous failures, whether it be in relationships or other endeavors. On the love advice that she greatly takes to heart, Meg shares, “Love yourself 100 percent. If not, and if someone enters my life and he loves me 40 percent, it’s not enough. So if someone comes into your life, they’ll push themselves to love you a 100 percent or more because that’s what you deserve.”

The movie’s title is a popular line these days used when someone hopes to have the same thing or status that another has. A believer of the law of attraction, Meg thinks “Naol” (a contraction of the phrase) can be positive in that regard, but the persistent usage, she says, might also show how one is not satisfied or content with what they have.

If there’s one thing she’d quickly quip “Sana All” to, it would be “Sana all kasama yung family because medyo malayo ako sa family ko now. My mom is in the province so I really hope I’m with them during this time. I really miss them especially now that I’m in lock-in taping.”

Currently in a relationship with a non-showbiz guy, Meg says she appreciates alpha males who are genuine and adventurous. “Hindi ako mahilig sa pick-up lines. Kinikilig ako kapag alam mo na gentleman pero hindi best foot forward yung ginagawa iya, kundi ganoon talaga siya. I like when he accepts my family. Hindi lang ako, buong family ko talaga, he tries to be close with. I appreciate din yung mahilig sa adventure. Hindi yung typical na eto lang yung gagawin. Ayoko ng routine kasi mas gusto ko yung iba-iba, unpredictable. Not so overly romantic, gusto ko yung cool na personality na hindi sobrang sweet na submissive. I want someone alpha, marunong mag-level, hindi yung lagi lang susunod sayo.”

When not on a movie or television set, Meg busies herself with her business ventures. More so because of the year that was, she believes this is the perfect time to transition into something else apart from being an actress.

“Lumalawak yung mundo ko. I’ve been in the industry for a very long time. I started at 10 years old, so yun lang talaga ang alam ko gawin. I’m not getting any younger, so it’s good to have a fallback,” said Meg. “Before, when I wouldn’t have projects, nakaka-depress. Nagkakaroon ako ng anxiety, ang dami pumapasok sa isip na negativity. My solution has been not to treat it negatively, to use that time to do other things.”

Apart from “Sana All,” Meg’s other upcoming movies are “Steal” (Viva Films and BluArt Productions) and “Jesus Christ...Virgin People!” (Viva Films, Spring Films and Brightlight Productions). She is also in the Net25 drama series “Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw” Book 2.

“Ang laki ng pagbabago sa industry natin since the pandemic, but I’m very thankful that I’m one of those blessed with projects. Gagamitin ko yung opportunity to show kung ano pa yung kaya ko ibigay and to rebrand myself.”