Reunion of yesteryear’s sex princesses

Once upon a time, there was Alma Moreno, followed on the hot trail by (in this order) Rosanna Roces, Ara Mina and Maui Taylor. Remember how they set the silver screen on fire with a wiggle to the left, a jiggle to the right? Them were the days when the showbiz thrust was to sizzle and for the creators of what was fancily touted as “ST” (Sex Trip) to hustle their way to the bank with bagfuls of moola.

After going their separate ways, the sex princesses have regrouped in the Viva Films sex-comedy Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar in which they are referred to as the “Four Relevant Women of Philippine Sex Cinema,” tasked to teach three beautiful young girls (Rose Van Ginkel, Ana Jalandoni and AJ Raval) the art of seduction. Written and directed by Darryl Yap (Jowable, Sakristan), the movie will be shown exclusively on Vivamax on Friday, Jan. 29 (download, register and subscribe to Vivamax and for only P149, watch it along with hundreds of entertainment content from Viva. Check www.vivamax.net).

It’s a reunion movie. Ara and Maui were together in Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa (2003) and with Rosanna in Curacha Ang Babaing Walang Pahinga (1998), and it’s their first time to work with Alma (the Tangga Queen of her own Loveli-NESS TV show).

Listen to how they were then...

Have you ever experienced sexual harassment and how did you deal with it?

Alma: Sa awa ng Diyos, wala naman. In the many years I’ve been in showbiz, never akong nabastos o na-tsansingan because I am different on screen and off screen. Pa-sexy sa movie or show but formal and decent in real life.

Rosanna: None. Everybody that I’ve worked with were professional.

Ara: So far, none. When I go out, I make it a point to wear jeans and polo to let people know that what they see on the screen is different from what they see in person. Off screen, balot na balot ako.

Maui: Yes. During a show in Tanay, Rizal, sometime in 2003, a man touched my private part. I was with my PA (production assistant) and my mom. I was frozen in fear. My mom hit the man with a bottle of water.

Was there a time that your leading man got carried away during a shoot and how did you calm him down?

Alma: Wala rin. I’m thankful that all my leading men were respectful, sobra ang respeto nila sa akin.

Rosanna: Yes, there were such incidents. But let’s not name names because that happened a long time ago.

Ara: None. Mababait naman ang mga leading men ko.

Maui: None. Work is just work for me. Nothing personal.

What was the boldest (most daring) movie that you have done?

Alma: Bomba Star. ‘Yon yung movie na nakahubad ako pero nakadapa naman ako and the scene was shot from the top, long shot, so my body was not really exposed. In Lumakad Kang Hubad sa Mundong Ibabaw, my (naked) body was covered with mud kaya wala rin naman nakita. In my other movies, wet look and sexy lang.

Rosanna: Curacha Ang Babaing Walang Pahinga. There was a live-show scene with an audience. I did all sorts of “positions” at nag-“frontal” pa ako.

Ara: Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa for which I won three Best Actress awards.

Maui: The Taste of Money which was shot entirely in Korea for four months. It was Korea’s entry in the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

What will you advise a young girl who aspires to be a sexy star?

Alma: Tandaan niya ‘yung salitang RESPECT...respeto sa sarili, respeto sa mga katrabaho, sa co-stars, sa staff at sa crew. And always keep your feet on the ground. Huwag lalaki ang ulo kapag successful na. That’s all, thank you!

Rosanna: Magbaon ng lakas ng loob at extra kapal ng mukha. Don’t project a pa-sweet image once you enter the sex genre otherwise people will look down on you, those inside showbiz and outside of it. Kailangan tapatan mo rin ng katarayan ang mga ibabato sa’yo at maririnig mo. Or else, you will be discouraged and all your effort will amount to nothing.

Ara: Exude full confidence, be decisive, and be patient for the right time to happen. Your decision must be your own since ‘yon ang ginusto mo and not because you are pushed into it.

Maui: Learn how to accept criticisms and take them with a constructive attitude. Stay humble and keep your feet on the ground. That piece of advice applies to all aspirants and not only to those who want to be sexy stars. Respect senior stars and your co-stars.

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