MANILA, Philippines – Not much has been heard about Princess Punzalan since she decided to work as a registered nurse and settle in California years ago with her American husband Jason Field and their daughter Ellie. It was only last year when she was able to come home for a vacation with her family. This led Princess to be visible again in showbiz functions like awarding ceremonies and TV guestings.
Princess is currently part of the ABS-CBN primetime soap The Story of Us topbilled by Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. She plays the mom of Bryan Santos’ character where Princess gets to display once more her effective acting as a contravida. Her Selina Matias character in Mula sa Puso is so remarkable it became a gauge and guide for some of today’s female stars in portraying modern-day antagonists on screen.
She, too, gets to play a key role in the big screen via diYOS-DIYOSAn that is set to open tomorrow, May 4, in cinemas nationwide.
“Yes, I am now based in the US living a quiet and ordinary life. I only come home for a brief vacation or whenever my husband attends to some matters here,” Princess shared after the presscon for diYOS-DIYOSAn. “I’m happy that I get to act again while I’m here.”
According to Princess, her role in diYOS-DIYOSAn was offered to her by director Cesar Buendia in 2014. “I was in the US when direk Cesar asked if I could do a movie in the Philippines and he sent me the script. That was two years ago. I read the script but there were several factors of my life then that didn’t coincide with what he wanted. Gusto ko ‘yung role and I love the project but at that time, I wasn’t really prepared to come and stay here for a long time.”
Her priority is her family, and during that time she couldn’t fly back to the country because her daughter was still a baby. Thus, the role was offered to another actress. But fate had intervened. “Bumalik din sa akin ulit ‘yung script. So finally when direk got back to me, I told him, ‘OK, things have aligned right now.’ It so happened that my husband has a project here in Asia and I can bring my daughter with me now that she’s turning two years old. Nag-tugma na lahat kaya natuloy din yung pag-gawa ko ng pelikula.”
Princess has been away from the klieg lights for several years. However, she clarified that she has not totally turned her back on acting. She still vividly remembers that her last movie outing was My Valentine Girls under Regal Films.
In diYOS-DIYOSAn, Princess plays a former activist-turned-teacher Estrell who persuades his student Bernard Mojica (John Prats) to follow her atheistic beliefs and self-centered ideology.
The movie, stated in the press release, seeks to open the eyes of Filipino millennials to the realities of what true leaders should be. Its timing is perfect as it opens a few weeks before the May 9 elections. It is also expected to be a media catalyst for the large percentage of undecided voters.
Asked if it is all right with her to play another contravida role, Princess smiled and answered, “I think, my Selina character left a mark on the viewers and since then, the evil role has been automatically associated with Princess Punzalan but I guess, with diYOs-DIYOSAn, they will see my other side. Actually, I was typecast as a martyr before Mula sa Puso. I can say that as an actress, I’ve swung both ends of the pendulum.”
The actress added that she is comfortable with the kind of role given to her. “An actor does not need to be personally affected by the role. For me, it is important to let the viewers see the character and not the real me. Well, if there is something in my role that does not conform to my belief or I see a part that I really cannot do, I tell my director right away.”
Is she ready to take on more projects?
“My priority is my family. I consult my husband first every time there is an offer. Every major decision I make, it has to be a joint decision before kami tumulak dito.”
Princess and her family will return to the US as soon as she is done with her showbiz commitments.
(diYOS-DIYOSAn also stars Cheska Diaz, Kiko Estrada, Lorenzo Mara, Glaiza de Castro, Vaness del Moral and Tirso Cruz III.)