Rica Peralejo Said She Couldn't Pass Up On Being Part Of The MMFF Entry "Manila's Finest", Here's Why

For Rica Peralejo, returning to acting after over a decade was not just a personal choice, but a calling driven by passion and the urge to be part of "something great." 

ICYDK, Rica is part of the cast of this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Manila's Finest, a drama set during the 1960s Martial Law period in the Philippines. It follows the lives of policemen struggling to preserve their integrity in public service.

The veteran actress described the film as one that "doesn't give you answers." It's not a movie where you expect everything to be resolved because, according to Rica, the moral lesson of the story is that "it just tells you of reality, because truth is stranger than fiction sometimes."

Rica recalled being asked to join the "period" movie and shared how the first time she read the script, she was already hooked.

"I felt like I was reading a book. I was enthralled. + in screenplay form, I couldn't wait to see what would happen," she wrote.

Like any good film, the plot of Manila's Finest is thought-provoking. For Rica, it raises many questions about corruption and the political system. Although the story is set in the 1960s, its plot unfortunately mirrors issues that are still experienced today.

"For me, the story spoke of a time when systemic evil was overwhelming a number of decent people. But when you pause and think about it, it's still talking about what we have today. Not much has changed. It is eerily the same," Rica said.

Rica also shared her appreciation for co-actors Ashtine Olviga, Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, and Cedrick Juan, who also starred in the movie Gomburza, which she said inspired her to be part of a period film like Manila's Finest. She had nothing but praise for both the movie and its production.

"A good script is one thing, but direction is another. I believe that my director gave the story something profound like him," Rica shared.

She added, "With no reliance on usual tricks of the trade like glamour shots, excessive camera work, or scoring to dictate emotions, he made a masterpiece that trusts the story is good enough to tell and that the Filipino audience can receive and understand it."

According to Rica, saying yes to this MMFF project was not just about the role offered to her. "The role is not big, and I liked that. As one who hasn't acted in more than a decade, it felt friendly to do something small for starters."

She continued, "But also, it is the first time I am accepting something not for the exposure, but because I want to belong to something so great. And it felt like this movie is that. And it spoke of my ability to choose quality projects."

Rica is a veteran actress who began her career as a child star on the popular TV show Ang TV. She solidified her place in the industry through projects like Gimik, where she worked alongside fellow veteran actresses Judy Ann Santos, Mylene Dizon, and Jolina Magdangal. She is also a TV host and singer.