Having worked on many Asian productions, how nervous were you for the filming of your first US production?

I was very nervous. I had all these misconceptions about Hollywood. I remember thinking that everything was going to be so different, from the rules on set to the set language. Good thing Zelda and I became friends before filming, so she really made sure I was comfortable on set and always encouraged the cast to hang out on our off days. The genuine bond and connection outside of the set is what made the filming process such a breeze. I’m really grateful to have had such a wonderful cast and production team for my first time filming experience in the States. 

Besides working in acting, you are an ambassador for Save the Children. Tell us more about your work with this organization and why it is so dear to you.

I became an ambassador for Save The Children Philippines in 2021 after supporting the organization for 6 years. My childhood years were a bit rough. There was definitely a lot of traumatic events that shaped my young mind into thinking about children’s rights. As I got older, I started wondering who gets to make these rights? How do laws upholding these rights get passed? I eventually stumbled upon Save The Children and was so inspired by the founder, Eglantyne Jebb’s story. I started making donations and sponsoring children from all over the world. Then I discovered that Save The Children had HQ in the Philippines, so we connected over a small online campaign that they actually collaborated with my niece on and then we started working together. 

In the past 3 years of working together, we’ve proudly accomplished so many great things for the Filipino children, raising the age of consent from 12 to 16 being one of the major ones. It is work like this that makes me proud and accomplished with myself. I feel that my real value as a human being is to inspire change at a macro level given the circumstances of my career.