Theatre Actress Elora Espano Gets Big Break As The Leading Lady Of Christian Bables In Director Chito Roño's 'Signal Rock', Shot In Biri Island

 

ELORA ESPANO gets her biggest break as the leading lady of Christian Bables in “Signal Rock”, an entry in the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino from August 15 to 21. Elora started as a theatre actress in Dulaang UP where she took up theatre arts doing plays like “Orosman and Zafira”, “Isang Panaginip na Fili” and “The Seagull”.

“Then I started auditioning para sa mga pelikula,” she says. “At sinuwerte namang makuha ko sa indie films. My first movies were ‘Gayuma’ and ‘Ninja Party’ in 2015. Then I did ‘Tandem’, ‘Buy Now, Die Later’,’Tomodachi’ ‘Siphayo’, ‘Kusina’, ‘Tuos’, ‘Seklusyon’, ‘Bhoy Intsik”, “Citizen Jake” at iba pa. My meatiest roles so far are in ‘Iadya Mo Kami’ kunsaan ni-rape at pinatay ako ni Ricky Davao as a corrupt mayor and ‘Baconaua’ for which I was able to attend my first international filmfest in Busan, Korea. Now, aside from ‘Signal Rock’, kasama rin ako sa ‘Mamang’ na entry naman sa Cinemalaya. I play a ghost from the past ni Ms. Celeste Legaspi who plays ‘Mamang’. Tapos, ginagawa ko rin ang ToFarm Filmfest entry ni Direk Keith Sicat, ‘Alimuom’, with Ina Feleo, Mon Confiado, Epy Quizon.”

How did she get her role in ‘Signal Rock’? “Nag-audition din po ako. I play Rachel, an island girl na kasintahan ni Christian Bables as Intoy. This is set in Biri Island, kunsaan ang mga babae, umaalis to work abroad at naiiwan ang mga lalaki. So ganundin ang kinahinatnan ng love story namin ni Christian kasi I dream of helping my family by working abroad.”



How is it being directed by Chito Rono? “Siempre, kabado noong una, but excited din kasi I know he’s a good director. While we’re shooting the film on location, parang Tatay siya ng buong cast as we stayed doon sa island. Ako for one week and the rest of the cast, for two weeks. We were there same time last year at maulan din noon, pero masaya kaming lahat. I’m happy to have worked with Direk Chito, Christian and the other members ng cast. I’m also in ‘Born Beautiful’ ni Direk Perci Intalan, who also co-manages me with Ferdie Lapuz, with Martin del Rosario.”

She has a nude love scene with Christian in “Signal Rock”. “Topless po ako, pero may plaster ang private parts namin. Naiilang at kabado si Christian at the start, kasi first time niyang mag-bed scene. E, ako, I’ve done it before, so sabi ko sa kanya, relax ka lang, wag ka matakot, kakayanin natin ‘to. Pinag-usapan namin ang mga gagawin namin, kung saan ang puedeng hawakan, then I told him, just let go, sa naitawid naman namin nang maayos.”