The Legaspis share joys and challenges of working as family in ‘Rekonek’

MANILA, Philippines — They have forged their individual showbiz paths. But when the opportunity to get together as family for a project comes, Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi with their twins, Mavy and Cassy, will find time, especially when schedules are aligned, as one may put it.

Aside from the family drama TV series “Hating Kapatid,” the Legaspis will be seen in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Rekonek,” produced by Reality MM Studios and The Th3rd Floor Studios and directed by Jade Castro.

They are part of the ensemble cast, including Gerald Anderson, who is also taking the role of a producer.

“Working with my family growing up, we’ve been doing commercials,” said Cassy in a recent media call. “So, we come as we are at work. It’s the first time, besides our teleserye ‘Hating Kapatid,’ that we go to work with a role to play. So, we’re not ourselves anymore. Iba na yung diskarte namin sa set (we have a different approach on set).”

Yes, she is Eve Crowder in the “Rekonek” narrative, while Mavy will be known as Derrick, and Carmina and Zoren are Bridget and Jordan, the mom and dad of the family. The Crowders are a family of influencers and content creators who, along with other characters, will suddenly experience an Internet shutdown before Christmastime. They are confronted by the idea and reality of reconnecting with people and reestablishing valuable relationships.

Carmina, for her part, described working with family as both easy and challenging.

“Madali kasi we’re very comfortable with each other,” said she. “Mahirap kasi minsan nahihirapan na akong i-separate yung character ko kay Carmina (it’s tough for me sometimes to separate my character from myself).” That’s understandable since she also plays mom named Roselle to Mavy’s character, Tyrone, and eventually to Cassy’s Belle in the afternoon TV series. While shooting for “Rekonek,” she was also taping for “Hating Kapatid.”

Mavy, Carmina, Cassy and Zoren are a family of influencers and content creators in the holiday-themed movie.

“But I also like the challenge,” said the seasoned actress. “Gusto kong tsi-na-challenge ang sarili ko (I always want to challenge myself). I don’t want to be complacent.”

Although Mavy appreciated the feeling of being at ease working with family on set, he said they looked at each other as “co-actors” who respect the job and each other’s time. With that, “Naging madali siya (it became easy),” added he.

“Actually, the challenge is going to the set. It’s not the acting on the set,” said veteran actor Zoren. “We have our own respective rituals in the morning. Sabay sabay ang call time (and we have the same call time). So, kahit pwedeng sabay sabay kaming pumunta roon, iba, iba pa rin kami (even if we can come together to the set, we go our own way). So, yun ang pinaka-challenge sa amin.”

And acting with family and sharing the screen with them is challenging for Cassy.

“Kung komportable si Mavy (if he’s comfortable), personally, na-pe-pre-pressure ako (I feel pressured by the thought that), ‘OK, mommy ko ‘to, Tatay ko ito,’ (‘She is my mom. He is my dad),” said she. “I need to treat this feeling na OK hindi ko siya, like, magulang (that I’m working not with my parents but with colleagues). (Thinking that) this is a role (helps me) to get back to the professional side of it. So, that’s the challenging part but I love working with my family.”

Cassy considered such an opportunity a “once-in-a-blue-moon” and “one for the books for sure.”

For the family matriarch Carmina, she said, “I’m very thankful and grateful dahil kahit nasa trabaho ako kasama ko pa rin ang pamilya ko (even if I’m at work, I’m with my family). Kasi ang hirap sa mga working moms, kahit sa mga dads, na kailangan umalis ng bahay to work, malayo sa pamilya (it’s tough for working moms and dads that they need to leave their homes and children and work away from family).”

“So, it’s not every day na nangyayari na ganito (that this work happens),” added she. “So, we’re very lucky. I must say that we’re lucky and thankful that we’ve been given this opportunity.”

Zoren said he feels that the family is very blessed with the commercials they’ve done before, the TV series they’re part of and the “Rekonek” movie. These will form part of their core memories as a working family.

“Sabi ko nga, ‘Kumpleto na.’ When I really get old, meron na akong panonoorin (at ng) pamilya namin na magkakasama talaga (like what I’ve said, I have something to watch wherein the family plays together as a family) and that’s a blessing,” added he.

“Rekonek” is among the eight entries at this year’s MMFF, which opens on Dec. 25 in cinemas nationwide.