Award-winning actor Christian Bables will again showcase his acting prowess in a feel-good and heartfelt comedy-drama film, "Broken Hearts Trip," set to hit cinemas nationwide on Christmas Day.

"I did my best. Sa lahat naman ng pelikulang ginagawa ko hindi ko ineexpect kung mananalo ako o hindi basta I do my best as an actor. Sana kung ipagkakaloob ni God, thank you. Pero kung hindi, alam kong mas deserve ng mananalo kung hindi man ako yun," said Christian, when asked about his chances of winning best actor in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival, during a media conference for the upcoming movie held in Quezon City recently.

(I did my best. In all the movies I do, I don't expect whether I win or not, as long as I do my best as an actor. I hope God grants it. Thank you. But if not, I know the winner deserves to win more than me.)

Christian, 30, has already won two acting trophies from the MMFF. In 2016, Christian won best supporting actor for the movie "Die Beautiful.'' And in 2021, Christian was named best actor for the film "Big Night." His award-winning roles in both movies leaned toward the LGBTQ characters.

In "Broken Hearts Trip," Christian said he attacked his character differently when he played the host and of the three "judgers." He is joined as a judge by character actress Tart Carlos, and 2016 Cannes Film Festival best actress Jaclyn Jose.

"With the help of directors na nakatrabaho ko, sino-sort out namin kung ano yung hibla na iba sa character ko na ito kasi yung mga nagampanan ko before leaning towards the LGBTQ character. So mahalaga talaga na meron akong open communication with my directors kung paano ko ihihingi ng tulong (ang role ko). Meron kasing hindi ako nakikita as an actor na nakikita ng direktor ko," the actor said.

(With the help of directors I've worked with, we sort out what is different about my character because the roles I played before leaned towards the LGBTQ character. So it's really important that I have open communication with my directors to help me in my character. There are things that I don't see as an actor that my director sees.)

When Christian was asked to choose between winning an acting award or earning a lot of money at the box office, he answered: "Kung pwede sanang both. Yung box office para po iyon sa mga sumugal at nagtiwala doon sa potential ng pelikula. Yung award recognition yun para sa hardwork na ginawa ng actors and director. So kung pwede sana both." 

(If it could be both. The box office is for those who gambled and believed in the film's potential. The award recognition is for the hard work done by the actors and director. So if it could be both.)

First heartbreak

Christian opened up about his first heartbreak. It was tough for him, but he says it helped him become a stronger person in the end.

"Sa sobrang daming heartbreaks hindi ako maka-pinpoint. Pero ang first heartbreak ko sa romance nangyari noong high school. Nagpaligaw kasi siya eh. Tapos sabi nya sa akin bibigyan niya ako ng sagot kapag prom night na. Binibitbit ko yung mga gamit niya. Binibigyan ko siya ng bunwich sa Dunkin Donuts tuwing hapon. Hinahatid ko siya sa kanila. 

(There are so many heartbreaks that I can't pinpoint. But my first heartbreak in romance happened in high school. I courted her. Then she told me that she would give me an answer when it was prom night. I was carrying her things. I give her a bunwich from Dunkin Donuts every afternoon. I took her home.)

"Tapos noong prom na, sabi niya sa akin may sagot na raw siya. Sinagot niya ako ng no. Ang tagal niya kasi akong hinayaan na gawin yun. Hanggang ngayon nagagamit ko siya sa acting. Kasi nare-relieve ko yung pain. Maybe because it was really my first time to fall in love. 

(Then during the prom, she told me she had an answer. Her answer was no. Until now, I can use that situation in acting. Because I can relieve the pain. Maybe because it was really my first time to fall in love.

"Parang pinaramdam niya sa akin yung tunay na meaning ng love. Siguro during that time, yun ang tutoong love for me," Christian recalled.

(It's like she made me feel the true meaning of love. Maybe during that time, that was true love for me.)

Christian shared the most significant lesson that he has learned in his romantic relationships.

"Natutunan ko to love myself, to cater to what I feel, bigyan pansin kung ano ang sinisigaw sa utak ko, subconsciously, sinisigaw ng katawan ko, ng puso ko. Ako kasi ang tipo ng isang tao na kapag nandoon ako sa isang relasyon, dati, binibigay ko yung buong ako. Pero ngayon natutunan ko na na magpreno."

(I learned to love myself, to cater to what I feel, and to pay attention to what my brain is saying, subconsciously, what my body is telling me, what my heart is saying. I'm the type of person who, when I'm in a relationship, before, I was giving it my all. But now I've learned when to stop.)

When asked if he would commit to a gay relationship, Christian said: "Walang gender ang love. Ang love ay para kahit kanino. Isa ito sa mga libreng bagay dito sa mundo na pwede nating ma-enjoy. Kung io-open ni God ang mind ko and heart ko for that, then why not? Kapag dumating sa punto kunwari magbukas yung puso ko at isip ko pagdating sa ganung klaseng pagmamahal, buong puso ko pong tatanggapin yun."

(Love has no gender. Love is for anyone. It is one of the free things we can enjoy in this world. If God will open my mind and heart to that, why not? I will accept it wholeheartedly.)

Broken Hearts Trip under BMC Films in partnership with Smart Films delves into the lives of five brokenhearted LGBTQ individuals who are given a chance to heal in some parts of the most beautiful places in the country. These five LGBTQ individuals are Teeay Marquez, Marvin Yap, Petite, Iyah Mina, and Andoy Ranay. Story by Lex Bonife and screeplay by Archie Del Mundo.

Direk Lemuel praised his actors in the movie.

"Deserve nilang anim na manalo sa awards night. I guess you need to see it first. But for me silang anim (pwedeng manalo). Sana pagkalooban silang anim. Lahat sila. Kung merong best ensemble, they all deserve it," Lemuel said.

He also recalled the challenges in making the movie, adding that it is so relatable, considering it tackles the issues of falling in love, heartbreaks, and moving on.

"This movie is about love in general. Lahat nagmamahal at nasasaktan. Lahat nakaka-relate about it. Sa pagkawala ng minamahal at pagtanggap ng mamahalin, I think the message of love alone is universal.

"Nakakapagod di ang pelikula kasi we got to travel to different parts of the Philippines. Takbo kami ng takbo or nakabilad kami sa araw. So it added a lot of years in my life sa pag shoot ng pelikulang ito dahil na rin sa tawanan namin," Lemuel said.

Where do broken hearts go?

In addition to discussing the film, Lemuel and the cast opened up about their own experiences with heartbreak and how they managed to overcome it.

Lemuel: "When I'm heartbroken, umuuwi ako sa bahay namin kung saan ako comfortable at kung saan alam ko na mahal ako unconditionally. At alam ko ako yung pipilian kaya doon ako pupunta sa bahay namin."

Andoy: "Ako naman sa ibang bansa. Kasi unfamiliar yung doon sa hindi namin na puntahan. So para talagang makakalimutan mo talaga at magiging busy ka kasi hindi mo maaalala at may mga bago kang makikita at may mae-experience ka na makakapag-heal sa iyo kaagad."

Christian: "Ako siguro sa bahay at sa pamilya. Doon sa lugar na kung saan nandoon ang mga taong tunay na nagmamahal sa'yo. So you can be reminded again of the love you truly deserve." 

Petite: "Ako naman sa tropa. Nagpapa-meeting ako para gantihan siya. Sa pamilya rin ako. Sa sobrang malalapit na friends sa akin. Pero kasi yung ganun ninanamnam ko yun eh ... gradually. Bini-busy ko yung sarili ko luto ako ng luto. Tapos pinapadala ko pa rin sa dyowa ko. At saka pag ganun kaya natin. Tayo pa ba? Lalaki lang sila."

Iyah: "Based sa experience ko, balikan yun mgha pinuntahan namin. Pupuntahan ko lang mag-isa at magreminisce. Iiyak. After nun, wala na. Okay na ako. Para ma-accept ko yung pain na pinagdaraanan ko."