Multi-awarded actress Jodi Sta. Maria couldn't help but get emotional about her only child, Thirdy Lacson, who is now all grown up.
During her victory mediacon for winning best actress at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards held in Singapore recently, Jodi said that being with Thirdy is one of the things she wants to enjoy a lot these days.
"Ako po talaga gusto kong i-enjoy more of Thirdy. He's turning 17. Grabe, ibang-iba na po talaga kapag may teenager ka na. I know yung iba nakaka-relate dito," said Jodi. (I really want to enjoy Thirdy more. He's turning 17. Seriously, it's really different when you have a teenager. I know others can relate to this.)
She continued: "Kapag nagiging teenager na po kasi hindi na ito yung tulad ng bata pa sila na ikaw ang gusto nila laging kasama. Ikaw yung favorite person nila in the world at ikaw rin ang favorite playmate nila. (When they become a teenager, it's not like when they were young that you are the one they always want to be with. You are their favorite person in the world and you are also their favorite playmate.)
"Pero kapag na-expose na sila sa school, nagkakaroon na ng ibang friends, nagkakaroon ng shift. Nagiging importante na sa kanila yung opinion ng friends nila. Then minsan kapag-aayain mo sasabihin nila, 'I'm fine.' I'll just stay in my room.' (But when they are exposed at school, they make other friends, there is a shift. The opinion of their friends is becoming important to them. Then sometimes when you invite them, they say, 'I'm fine.' I'll just stay in my room'.)
"Unlike before kapag bata, malingap ka lang, hahanapin ka na nila agad. Tapos iiyak sila magbe-break down. So 'yun po, I want to enjoy him more kasi after college, habang lumalaki po siya, tumatanda po siya, gusto ko po talaga siyang i-enjoy kasi darating yung time na I will have to let him go," said Jodi. (Unlike before, when they're young, they'll look for you right away. Then they'll cry and break down. So that's it, I want to enjoy him more because after college, while he's growing up, he's getting older, I really want to enjoy being with him because the time will come when I will have to let him go.)
Best actress
Jodi is the first Filipino to win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. She said winning the best actress trophy is the highlight of her career in 2022.
"This year has been so special because ang daming wonderful things na hindi ko inaasahan na mangyayari sa buhay ko in general. Nasabi ko nga sa acceptance ko na highlight siyang ng career ko kasi ilang weeks na lang papasok na si 2023 pero may humabol pa. (This year has been so special because there are a lot of wonderful things that I did not expect to happen in my life in general. I did say in my acceptance that it was the highlight of my career because 2023 is only a few weeks away but something special really happened.)
"It feels so good to be there in Singapore, tumayo sa entablado at hindi lang para i-represent ang sarili ko but to be a representation of Filipino talent so doon talaga ako sobrang pag-iniisip ko nakakakilabot. Unti-unti gumagawa tayo ng mark hindi lang sa Pilipinas, hindi lang sa Asia kundi sa buong mundo," she said. "Nare-recognize yung Filipino talent and artistry." (It feels so good to be there in Singapore, to stand on stage and not just to represent myself but to be a representation of Filipino talent. Little by little we're making a mark not just in the Philippines, not just in Asia but all over the world," she said. "Filipino talent and artistry are being recognized.)
This is Jodi's second international recognition, her third foreign nomination by far. Her first international award was Favorite Foreign Actress at Vietnam Green Star Awards. In 2016, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress at the 44th International Emmy Awards for her role as Amor Powers in the TV series "Pangako Sa'yo." At the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards, Jodi was praised for her role as Dr. Jill Ilustre in "The Broken Marriage Vow," a Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed psychological drama-thriller "Doctor Foster."
"Pumunta talaga kami roon na walang expectations. Lahat po kasi ng nandoon ay mga national winners. Nandoon na lang kami to represent. Kung hindi makuha okay lang pero kung manalo sobrang bonus. (We really went there with no expectations. Because all those who attended were national winners. We are just there to represent. If you don't get it, it's okay, but if you win, it's a huge bonus.)
"So when they announced the final award for the evening, meron pa silang pa-tally. Parang sa Olympics na nagbibilang sila ng medals, biglang nagsabi the Philippines has none. (So when they announced the final award for the evening, they still had a tally. It's like in the Olympics when they count medals, suddenly they say the Philippines has none.)
"Sabi ko, 'Lord, sana kahit maka-isa lang, pero kung hindi, okay lang. Basta in my head, 'thy will be done.' Yun na lang talaga ang nasa isip ko. Kumbaga wala ka naman talagang magagawa dahil may decision na d'yan ang mga juror. (I said, 'Lord, I hope we get one, but if not, it's okay. As long as in my head, 'thy will be done.' That's all I can think of. It seems like there's really nothing you can do because the jurors have already made a decision.)
"So when they announced, ang una nilang binabanggit yung country, wala na akong narinig. Best in rattle ako noong moment na yun. Hindi talaga ako nakapag-prepare ng matinong acceptance speech. Parang narining ko lang talaga Philippines and wala na. Pero si Dimples talaga siya yung umalalay sa akin sabi nya, 'go! sa stage! go! Litong-lito pa rin ako tapos umakyat na ako ng stage," she recalled. (So when they announced the first thing they mentioned was the country, I didn't hear anything else. I was rattled. I didn't really prepare a sensible acceptance speech. It was like I just heard the Philippines and that was it. But Dimples is really the one supporting me, she said, 'go! to the stage! go! I'm still confused and then I went up to the stage.)
Jodi also admitted that playing the role of Dr. Jill is one of the most challenging roles she ever portrayed.
"It is one of the most challenging roles I ever portrayed because she's unconventional when it comes to decision-making. You know, this broad heroine, her strongest traits don't always work in her favor. Napaka-multi-layered niya, multi-dimensional ng character niya. Iba yung nararamdaman niya pero iba yung pinapakita niya. Para makakuha ng recognition for this role, it made everything worth it. (She is very multi-layered, her character is multi-dimensional. She feels different but what she shows is different. To get recognition for this role, it made everything worth it.)
"It wasn't really easy portraying her. During our shoot, almost two months kaming nasa. Baguio. And then malayo kami sa family namin. So lahat yun part ng challenge. At nakakatuwa lang na na-overcome namin ang mga challenge na yun at nakarating na tayo sa exciting part," she said. (It wasn't really easy portraying her. During our shoot, we were in Baguio for almost two months. And then we were away from our family. So that's all part of the challenge. And it's just fun that we overcome those challenges and we've come to the exciting part.)
Showbiz projects abroad
Following her victory in Singapore, Jodi hinted at incoming international projects for Dreamscape but refused to expound.
"As much as we want to share, we are not in a position to divulge anything. So let's just wait for further announcement," she said. "Baka ma-jinx. Siguro wag na muna yun."
On Asian stars making a name in big Hollywood projects, Jodi commented: "That is so good. Tayo kasing mga Asians we have been considered as minorities pagdating sa Hollywood. For them to be able to recognize our presence, that we are here, it will open new doors and opportunities for Asian talents."
"We should always dream big. When I was with Tito Deo (Endrinal), we were discussing collaborations and all, pero hindi para sa akin. So I asked him, 'Tito, will it be too ambitious for me na sasabihin ko na should I get an agent (abroad) or send audition tapes, mga self-shoots, and who knows kung makakuha ka ng mga callback.
"Hindi naman natin sinarado yung mga doors natin sa ganyan at open tayo sa mga possibilities. Wala namang masama na mangarap. Malay mo yung pangarap mo magkatutoo. (We have not closed our doors to that and we are open to possibilities. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. Make your dreams come true.)
"And then naisip ko lang kasi nandito lang naman tayo sa Pilipinas, pero kapag nagkakaroon ka ng exposure abroad, parang lumalawak din yung mga posibilidad na puwede mong gawin. So naiisip ko rin bakit hindi i-try di ba? Kesa naman nasa isip mo lang and say what if ginawa ko?" she added. (And then I just thought that we are only here in the Philippines, but when you have exposure abroad, the possibilities that you can do seem to expand. So I also thought why not try it, right? Instead of just thinking about it and saying what if I did it?)
Flashbacks
The morning after she won the international award, Jodi said she looked back at the moments when she was just starting in showbiz.
"Sa school pa lang nag-start na ako mag perform. It wasn't really my dream to become an actress but I had the passion for performing. Anything that has to do with performing, I guess that made me so comfortable as a child.
"Naalala ko rin so many times I had to attend go-sees. I didn't get any projects. Walang nag-land na single project on my lap. Grabe talaga yung moment na when I was asked by Jonathan Hernandez, the person who discovered me, and told me, 'anak, last na lang, punta ka ng compound ng ABS-CBN 'cause there's an audition for a new batch of Star Circle na gusto nilang i-launch. Then I told him 'hindi naman ako matatangap d'yan.' 'Sige na anak, try mo lang.'
"Ang layo ng Pasay sa Quezon City. Magbu-bus ako. May trabaho yung nanay ko so sabi ko isasama ko na lang 'yung tita ko. So pumunta kami ng ABS-CBN. Ang nasa isip ko habang papalapit kami ng ABS-CBN, naku makikita ko si Jericho Rosales at Kristine Hermosa. Sabi ko kahit hindi na ako matanggap (sa ABS-CBN) okay na ako. Okay na sa akin yun na nakatuntong ako sa compound ng ABS-CBN.
"And then they were 5,000 hopefuls. That day ang dami-dami tao. Wala pang COVID-19 nuon. Five times akong nagpabalik-balik. They were trimming down the selection. And finally they came up with the final 12. And then we got launched in ASAP," she said. "The rest is history."
Advice for aspiring stars
Twenty-four years in show business, Jodi revealed that she thought of quitting the industry after they shot the last sequence for the series "The Broken Marriage Vow."
"Parang wala na yata akong maibibigay pa. Na-exhaust ko na lahat ng kaya kong ibigay as an actor. I think yung 24 years in showbiz parang puwede ng i-end. (I don't think I have anything more to give. I have exhausted everything I can give as an actor. I think 24 years in showbiz seems like it can end.)
"Pumasok na talaga sa isip ko yun, those days when you were just physically tired and emotionally exhausted. Parang naisip mo siya na meron pa bang puwedeng gawin bukod doon. (That really entered my mind, those days when you were just physically tired and emotionally exhausted. It's like you thought about it...is there anything else you can do besides that.)
"We can make plans talaga for our lives. But at the end of the day, si Lord pa rin talaga ang magdi-direk ng steps natin kung saan tayo pupunta. Pag si Lord na talaga ang kumilos, kahit na ano'ng gawin mo, hindi ka makakatakas, Dadalin at dadalin ka niya kung saan ka dapat, sa purpose niya para sa'yo," she said. (We can really make plans for our lives. But at the end of the day, the Lord is still the one who will direct our steps where we are going. When the Lord really acts, no matter what you do, you will not be able to escape, He will take you and take you where you need to be, in His purpose for you.)
Jodi, 40, shared her advice to young stars who want to succeed in the entertainment industry.
"No. 1 we should always strive for excellence. Yun ang lagi kong naiisip. Kasama doon yung hardwork and patience. Hindi yan mawawla. (No. 1 we should always strive for excellence. That's what I always think. That includes hard work and patience. That will never go away.)
"Of course, you need to have a lot of respect not only for the senior stars but for everybody on set. From utility, hanggang sa director mo, your co-actors. Kailangan andun yun. Let's face it. Ang industriya na ito ay nabubuhay din sa pakikisama. Hindi puwedeng hindi ka marunong makisama. That's so important na pumapasok ka at umaalis ka sa set na magaan ang pakiramdam nila at naka-contribute ka ng maganda at hindi pabigat. (Of course, you need to have a lot of respect not only for the senior stars but for everybody on set. From utility, to your director, your co-actors. You need that. Let's face it. This industry means you should know how to get along. It's important that you enter and leave the set feeling light and that you contribute something beautiful and not a burden.)
"Lastly, siguro to never stop dreaming and aim for your goals. Kasi goals give you directions and you know kung ano yung trajectory na gusto mong mangyari sa career mo. So I think that's important," said Jodi, star of the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Labyu With An Accent" for ABS-CBN Films opposite Coco Martin. (Lastly, maybe to never stop dreaming and aim for your goals. Because goals give you directions and you know what trajectory you want to happen in your career. So I think that's important.)