Bianca Umali: “I am shocked by the question po.”
Bianca Umali immediately reacted when the alleged issue about her and Nora Aunor’s billing on Mananambal‘s poster was raised during its press conference on Thursday, February 6.
Entertainment editor Jun Lalin asked Direk Adolf Alix, Jr. if it was true that Bianca’s camp wanted a bigger space than Nora on the movie poster.
As Direk Adolf was about to answer, Bianca took the mic on the table and politely asked, “May I speak first na po?”
She then continued, “I am shocked by the question po, ‘no? But I would like to handle it as professionally as possible. I believe po that the question is inappropriate for the event.
“Also, hindi ko po alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko because that is… I do not have any idea about that and I am worried about how people in this room might take it, hearing it from a representative from the press.”
Bianca went on to explain that billing was never an issue for her because working with the National Artist for Film and Broadcast was already a big opportunity given to her.
Bianca said, “Pasensya na po. I would like to just clarify also that the opportunity to work with the Superstar, with our National Artist is already a blessing. And it is an opportunity that I already knew na hindi ko palalagpasin.
“Being with her on the set was a masterclass for me. It was a dream that I never thought I would achieve this early in my career. Kaya po, yung makasama si Nora, that’s already enough.”
She reiterated, “Ako po, bilang isang aktor and the love that I have for my craft, the respect that I have for myself and in the industry, billing is not really – it’s a bonus. I don’t know pero, internally, ito pong question is something I am not aware about. Bonus na lang po yun, e. It’s a recognition as to how people see and respect the way I do my work.
“Pero dito po sa pelikulang ito na Mananambal, napakatagal na panahon ko po ito hinintay ito na maipalabas dahil pinaghirapan po naming lahat ito. Marami pong pinagdaanan ang pelikulang ito, at yung maipalabas ito at makita–lalo na ito po ang pagbabalik-pelikula ni Ms. Nora Aunor is all that matters.”
For his part, Direk Adolf said it’s just right to give more importance to the Superstar of local showbiz.
“I think it would be unfair… Yung idea po of billing with anyone, na artista po for that matter, siguro alam naman po nila na si Ate Guy deserves all the rightful billing being she’s an icon in the industry. Wala naman po sigurong magko-contest.”
He further stressed, “Ang kanyang billing ay billing na nararapat sa kanya at sa mga iba pa pong artista na may history as a performer.
“So, hindi ko po alam kung saan nanggaling yun. Kami po ng producer namin, when we were designing the poster, alam naman po namin kung saan ilalagay at kung para kanino ang nararapat na tamang billing.”
In the end, Direk Adolf also assured that equal importance is always given to his artists.
“Kasi, ako rin po bilang direktor, ayaw ko rin po na may naaapi o mayroong hindi tama doon sa billing. Kung ano po ang nakikita n’yo ngayon, ‘yan po yung tama at nararapat.”
