MANILA, Philippines – Piolo Pascual and his co-producer for a movie about Marawi are observing Ramadan, as a way to "pay respects" ahead of the planned movie.
During the launch of My Daily Collagen last May 31 where he was announced as the endorser, Piolo said: "I'm observing Ramadan just because of the Marawi film that we are doing. So I am not eating and drinking anything from sun up to sun down for a month. Just to pay respects dahil sa ginagawa naming pelikula (because of the movie we're making)."
Director Joyce Bernal and actor Robin Padilla are among Piolo's co-collaborators for the film.
In a separate interview after the event, Piolo said that he was on his second week of fasting, which started last May 15. Aside from paying respect, he said that he wanted to also know and understand what Muslims go through in practicing their customs and traditions.
Ramadan is a holy month for the world's nearly 1.5 billion Muslims, many of whom practice the ritual of dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayers.
"It was something that I was not asked to do. Kami ni Joyce Bernal sinamahan lang namin yung mga Muslim para alam din namin yung iniisip nila (Joyce and I joined our Muslim brothers and sisters so we also know what they think), why they do it and what they do."
Filming soon
During the Q and A at the My Daily Collagen event, Piolo said that they have been meeting with people from ABS-CBN, their financiers, and contacts in Marawi to schedule the filming.
"They've done ocular in Marawi. We've been talking to a lot of people for safety and where we're going to shoot. They alloted a place where we can shoot already and we're just finalizing the casting. And meron din na (there's also a) budget for shoot. So hopefully by June and not later than July makapag-grind na (we can start rolling)," he said.
The movie, he said, will be directed by Sheron Dayoc, the man behind the movie Women of the Weeping River.
In January 2018, the Since I Found You actor and Joyce visited the city. The two donated P1.5 million back in 2017 for the city's rehabilitation, through Robin Padilla.
No playdate has been announce for the movie but Piolo said they plan to market the movie abroad before showing it in the Philippines.
Aside from Marawi, Piolo said his company Spring Films is coming out with 3 more movies. These movies are Hayop Ka directed by Avid Liongoren, a movie starring Ogie Alcasid in time for Cinemalaya and the launching film of his son Iñigo with onscreen partner Maris Racal. – Rappler.com
