"She's doing her films for the sake of art, for the
love of acting. I was doing my films for the love of money. So iba ang
motivation niya sa motivation ko. She takes her craft seriously, ako I
take money seriously,” Maria Isabel Lopez said, describing the many
things separating her fom her daughter, Mara, who’s been making the
rounds of the independent cinema scene the past two years.
Beating the veterans
The model-actress turns a little more self-deprecating in describing Mara as an actress.
"Mas mabilis ang progress niya kesa sa’kin. Kasi siya first movie pa lang niya (“Palitan,” 2012) Best Actress agad beating veterans like Gina Alajar and Erich Gonzales. Ako it took me a decade to earn my first acting award," she said at the recent pocket interview of "Ang Lihim ni Annasandra," GMA's upcoming afternoon drama.
Maria Isabel is proud to see the effects her being a good mother has on her 23-year-old daughter.
"Syempre happy ako kasi I planted that e. Kumbaga tinanim ko 'yun tapos she worked hard for it naman. Makikita mo naman first launching film niya e may award agad. Tapos she’s doing more serious films now, [and] she’s working with great directors.”
Not just a celebrity daughter
Maria Isabel is even prouder her daughter made it to the industry without using her famous name.
"Lahat ng movies niya, diskarte niya 'yun. Lahat ng pelikula niya dumaan siya sa butas ng karayom.”
Mara agreed, saying the competition is tough and talent rules over genes.
"Sa industry ngayon, hindi na ganun e. Hindi porke’t anak ka ni Maria Isabel Lopez kung wala ka naman talent, bakit naman ako kukunin? For the past few years na gumagawa ako ng indie films, 'yung pagkapanalo ko ng Best Actress sa Cinema One Originals noon, walang kinalaman ‘yun sa talent ni mommy. Talent ko ‘yun."
Not competing with mom
In an earlier interview with Yahoo Philippines, the Communication graduate from De La Salle University said competing with her mother is not in her vocabulary.
"There’s no competition between me and my mom. Kasi first of all, mom ko siya so ang layo ng age gap. And as an actress, siya more mother roles na siya ngayon, ako naman younger roles. In terms of showbiz career, wala kaming competition.”
Mara further related that they are each other’s critic and best friend.
While Mara shrugged off “competition” with her mom, there’s no denying the older Lopez influenced her in entering the industry.
"Lumaki ako na sinasama ako ng nanay ko na rumampa sa iba’t ibang film festival, sa Cannes, Berlin. Pelikula niya lahat. And then naisip ko habang ginagawa ko ‘yun, sana balang araw ma-recognize ako for my acting, not just in the Philippines, but in the world. And ‘pag dumating ang time na ‘yun, sabi ni mommy siya naman ang sasama sa’kin.”
Mara is not new to showbiz. She started acting when she was 11 in ABS-CBN’s “Ang TV.” She was in Star Magic’s stable of talents until she transferred to another manager (her mom co-manages her).
Taking the indie route
Mother and daughter have been quite visible in indie film projects lately. Both starred in separate Cinemalaya projects this year: Maria Isabel in JE Tiglao’s “Ligaw na Paru-paro” (Short Film category) and Mara in Ida Anita del Mundo’s “K’Na the Dreamweaver” (New Breed).
Maria Isabel, however, upstaged her daughter in terms of “shock value” because of her controversial character in “Ligaw na Paru-paro.” The Binibining Pilipinas-Universe ’82 title holder bravely pulled off a love scene with another woman in “Ligaw."
"Hindi na ako baguhan sa eksenang 'yan dahil meron akong ginawa nung dalaga pa ko, ‘yung “Heartache City (directed by Danny Zialcita),’ may shower scene ako with another actress,” the outspoken Maria Isabel said. "Ganun talaga 'yung mga women of the world. Kumbaga, kahit anong character ang gawin mo, kaya mong bigyan ng justice.”
Mara, meanwhile, admits she still has a long way to go. But she’s determined to last in a rather unpredictable field.
"Hopefully 20 years from now, I’m still in this industry. Mahirap kasi minsan may trabaho, minsan wala. But if you love what you do, it’s not work. I’m so in love with it and I can see that it’s something I want to do for my whole life."
By Luigene Yanoria | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom
