Good morning, Aga!
It’s always a “Good morning” that kicks off Aga Muhlach’s days. Just past the half-century mark (he turned 50 last Aug. 12), Aga looks at life with a positive eye, wiser as he grows older, tempered by what he described as mistakes committed during his, uhm, turbulent youth and, he assured, that molded him to be the (well-rounded) man that he is.
Shooting Viva Films’ Nuuk in the capital city of Greenland (located in the Northern part of Denmark), presumably the coldest and loneliest place on earth with a population of no more than 15,000, Aga must have ample time to assess his life during the 21-day shoot with Alice Dixson as leading lady and with whom he has worked in several movies (Hot Summer directed by the late Mel Chionglo, 1989; Joeyboy Munti by the late Maryo J. delos Reyes, 1991; and Sinungaling Mong Puso also by Maryo, 1992).
Said the movie’s director Veronica “Roni” Velasco (Through Night & Day shot in Iceland starring Alessandra de Rossi and Paolo Contis, nominated Best Picture by FAMAS and Gawad Urian), “Nuuk is the perfect setting for the story. It has a mysterious feel to it, dark and cold. There are stories about people dying just outside their homes because of the extreme cold. It also has a high suicide rate.”
In the psychological thriller produced in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark (the film opened the recent Danish Film Festival in Manila), Aga plays Mark Alvarez, a Filipino who crosses paths with Alice’s character Elaisa Svendsen mourning the death of her husband. Just when they start to like each other, a mystery confronts Elaisa. Is she the only one who can see Mark…or is Mark just a figment of her imagination?
“In Nuuk,” said Aga, “you feel isolated from the rest of the world. I didn’t have a problem with the coldness. But having nothing to do after every shoot could be unbearable. You felt like you were in the middle of nowhere.”
The first Filipino movie shot in that part of the world, Nuuk opens nationwide on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
How is Aga after his Nuuk experience?
At this point of your career, how do you choose projects?
“Simple lang. Basta hindi ko pa nagagawa, ‘yon na. Things are easier for me now because I am more relaxed, more comfortable sa sarili kong balat (in my own skin), with what’s happening in my life, what’s inside me, inside my heart, so it’s easier for me to say yes or to say no to an offer. I entertain any offer from the smallest producer to the biggest producer. Wala akong pinipili, as long as the role is good.”
Nothing more to prove?
“None. Even before, I didn’t have to prove anything. For me, it’s just work. If I’m given an award, thank you very much. If the movie makes money, maraming salamat din. Otherwise, I’m just okay.”
What do you consider your biggest achievement?
“As an actor, the fact that at my age, I’m still given big projects like Seven Sundays and First Love (with Bea Alonzo, filmed in Canada), both by Star Cinema. Besides Nuuk, I’m also doing Miracle in Cell No. 7, also by Viva. Nagkakagulo sa MMFF at nakapasok ang pelikula namin, so isn’t it wonderful?
“As a person. My biggest achievement is having a happy family. My wife and our twins (Andres and Atasha) are turning 18 on Nov. 5 (Tuesday), and they are doing great. Thank God! My grandchildren (courtesy of Iggy Boy, his love son with Janice de Belen) are doing great, too. What more can I ask for?”
Oh yes, not long from now the twins will live apart from you with their own families. How do you (and Charlene) prepare for that eventuality?
“There’s no such thing as preparing for it. God is in control of everything and it’s always His way, not mine. I’m just always ready for whatever happens, whether happy or sad. I’m at peace because I know God is on my side.”
You do sound very peaceful.
“You know, if you sow love and kindness to your family and other people, expect to reap love and kindness. It’s not all about money, it’s about the reality of life.”
No regrets…no what-could-have-been?
“None, because everything that happened made me what I am today. What I’ve been through was tough but I survived it. I don’t think people have forgotten what I went through, both the good and the bad. I became a father when I was barely 17 and I didn’t regret it. My life has been an open book. What’s important is you know how to forgive and how to ask for forgiveness.”
So you wouldn’t change anything?
“Nothing, kasi lahat ng nangyayari, ‘yon ang nagpatigas ng ano ko…ng paninindigan ko. ‘Yon din ang nagpalambot ng puso ko. The thing is, if you are breathing and you’re alive, you sleep well and eat well, then you’re okay. If you have enough, why aspire for more? I know many people, including members of our family…my dad (Cheng) and Auntie Nena (Amalia Fuentes) who died recently…and they didn’t bring anything with them. They left everything behind. You’ve heard that oft-quoted line, take time to smell the roses, it’s true.”
What would you tell the 17-year-old Aga Muhlach?
“Akala mo hindi mo kaya? Kaya mo ‘yan? Don’t take things too seriously.”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo .)
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