Christian Bables takes MMFF win as ‘sign’ to continue acting
MANILA, Philippines — Big Night lead star Christian Bables had a big night at the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal, after being hailed Best Actor for his portrayal of a gay beautifician embroiled in the drug war.
Produced by The IdeaFirst Company and directed by Jun Lana, the dark comedy also dominated the MMFF awards night with seven other recognitions, including Best Picture.
The Philippine STAR had an exclusive Zoom interview with Christian the day after the event last Dec. 27, incidentally the fifth anniversary since his first big break via Jun Lana’s 2016 comedy Die Beautiful. To recall, the movie also earned him the Best Supporting Actor honor at the MMFF that same year.
Besides receiving his latest award during a “milestone year,” there was another reason why Christian found its timing meaningful. He said it fortuitously came at a time when he was contemplating on quitting the acting profession.
The 29-year-old actor shared, “I was actually on the verge of giving up on my passion and love for the craft. Di ko alam (why), dala siguro ng pandemic, dala siguro ng anxieties nung chaos na ginagawa nitong pandemic. But the past months, I was feeling weak in terms of pursuing my love for the craft. I seemed to have forgotten the joy of portraying a character because I was overwhelmed by fear and uncertainties. Alam mo yung para akong na lost track duon sa alam kong big part or chunk of who I am as a person?”
He continued, “Siguro lahat nagdadaan sa depression during the pandemic. In one way or another, mapapaisip ka talaga: What’s ahead of you, what’s next? … So, maybe that affected me so much but ayun nga, God works in mysterious ways.”
It wasn’t just the award Christian was grateful for, but also the film, Big Night, itself because “it reminded me of my purpose as an actor and as an artist, na I love this, I love doing this. One of my definitions as a person is being an actor.”
Taking on the role of Dharna — someone who finds himself in a drug watchlist and fights to clear his name — further reminded him of the fulfillment of bringing to life characters that are “voiceless and helpless.”
“Maybe I forgot that purpose but when I (did) Dharna, naibalik sa akin yun eh — the desire to portray the lives of the likes of Barbs (Die Beautiful), Intoy (Signal Rock), Dharna and all the other roles I did in the past. Maybe this is my calling and well, I am not seeking validation from anyone but this award is sort of a sign for me na OK, Christian, maybe, just maybe, somebody out there needs your art, needs to see your art. Somebody out there needs to be touched through your art. So, ganun siya ka special, for me.”
Call it serendipitous or divine intervention, but the day Christian learned that Big Night made it as an official MMFF entry, he was about to book a one-way flight to the US. He was thinking then of exploring acting possibilities in the US or doing something entirely different in life. “Parang bahala na kung ano ang mangyari,” he said.
But IdeaFirst president Perci Intalan called him up and informed him about Big Night’s MMFF run. “Nagpaalam kasi ako sa kanya na gusto kong pumunta ng US. Ang paalam ko sa kanya ay bakasyon lang. Pero ang kukunin kong ticket ay one-way lang. Hahaha!” Christian recalled.
“So, ang galing talaga ni God. Kung para sayo, magiging para sayo. Gagawa at gagawa Siya ng paraan na para sabihin sayo na OK, this is my plan for you, stay here. So, I decided against buying the ticket… and then, this happened.”
Christian remembered that the same thing happened five years ago. After trying to score a break since 2011, he was ready to give up on his acting dreams and considered going corporate or managing his mom’s company (their family owns a below-the-line agency and the distributorship of Gardenia Philippines) when Die Beautiful happened. “It became a sign for me that maybe somebody out there needs my craft and needs to see my work.”
Meanwhile, Christian said yes right away to doing Big Night even before seeing the script. “To tell you honestly, I hadn’t read the script yet, I said yes already. When my manager, Tito Boy (Abunda) told me that IdeaFirst — sina direk Jun and direk Perci — had a movie for me, I immediately said yes because of the fact that I would be directed again by direk Jun. And I just wanted to work with the IdeaFirst team again. But after I read the script, ang galing and ang ganda. But that’s how confident I am in IdeaFirst that they will not give me a project that will not utilize what I can do as an actor.”
Even as the film delves into the “oplan tokhang” of the war on drugs — one of the controversial issues particularly during the early years of the Duterte administration — Christian believes it is still relevant.
“I think this is relevant because these are true stories. This film is based on real events. More than the issue itself, I want to send across the message of people who experienced it for real, ano ang gusto nilang iparating. I think that deserves to be heard. Yung issue ng tokhang, mahaba-habang usapan ‘yan. Some may agree or disagree but for me, gusto kong ipahayag ang message na gustong iparating ng mga taong naka-experience kagaya ng nadaanan ni Dharna — inosenteng tao pero nalagay sa alangan.”
Big Night was his third time to work under the direction of Jun Lana after Die Beautiful and The Panti Sisters. “Since Day 1, hindi siya (direk Jun) natatakot makipag-collaborate or tumanggap ng, ‘OK, ito yung atake ni Christian, collaborate tayo.’ Hindi siya one-way. He’s very collaborative, that’s why all the actors and actresses he works with, they’re able to give their best because of the kind of director that Jun Lana is.”
Christian will next do a Viva film and he received offers last awards night “so it’s an exciting year ahead.”
Meanwhile, The STAR sought his thoughts on the “low turnout” of audiences at the MMFF amid cinemas now being reopened.
“It’s a process. We’re slowly getting back to what we’re used to doing. You can’t force people to watch. You also can’t invalidate people’s fears just because you have a movie. But, I think, it’s a good start — the protocols that have been put in place inside cinemas. I myself have experienced (the protocols) — bawal if you’re not vaccinated, bawal ka mag-bring ng food and drinks, and bawal ka mag-remove ng masks so that alone safe ka na. So, slowly, maybe we can get your support, especially now that the industry badly needs the support of the viewers. Maybe, you will eventually decide that OK, it is safe here. Try niyo, try niyo lang.”
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