RITZ AZUL and Myrtle Sarrosa are the only members of the big cast of the official Metro-Manila Filmfest, “Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told”, whose roles are fictitious while the others play real life characters.
They portray TV news reporters who come from warring networks.
Their assignment is to report on what’s going in Mamasapano on that tragic day of January 15, 2016 when 44 Special Action Forces police officer were ruthlessly killed by terrorists.
Ritz plays Mary Ann del Rosario while Myrtle plays Gladys Rivas.
Atty. Ferdie Topacio, the movie’s producer, says the characters of Ritz and Myrtle are symbolic of the networks.
“Nag-aagawan kasi ang top networks sa pagbabalita on what’s going on instead of trying to help in showing the truth,” he adds.
“Mas importante pa rin sa kanila ang ratings kaysa yung may mga namamatay na ngang policemen sa Mamasapano.
"Sila lang ang fictitious characters dito. All the rest are real people.”
“We actually play composite characters,” says Ritz, who is the only one present at the second presscon of “Mamasapano” at Pandan Asian Cafe as Myrtle didn’t make it.
“We represent various other news personnel who made reports about what’s happening at Mamasapano. I feel happy to be part of the movie which tries to show the truth about what really happened at Mamasapano and the ill-fated SAF 44.”
Is this her first time to have a Metro Filmfest entry?
“No, it’s my second time,” she says. “Two years ago, I did a horror movie with Regal, ‘The Missing’, which qualified as an entry in the filmfest.
"I was with Joseph Marco and it was filmed on location in Japan.”
So how is married life?
Ritz looks like she gained weight after her wedding in Baguio last year to non-showbiz groom, businessman Allan Guy, in November last year.
Allan seemed so in love with her that they even had a second wedding held on a beach in Palawan in December.
“Yes, medyo lumaki ako,” she admits. “Sabi nila, hiyang daw sa pag-aasawa. I wasn’t doing anything for a while so I am glad when Atty. Ferdie Topacio got me to be part of ‘Mamasapano’.
'And now, slowly, I’m going back to acting with new offers and I’m also back to dieting and exercising to get rid of the weight I gained while I wasn’t busy.”
