Zsa Zsa Padilla makes a Mano Po comeback in one of the two MMFF entries of Regal Films this year. In an interview with PEP, she said: “I became part of 2, 4, and 6, so, I will have to force mother to put me in 8 and 10.”

“If it’s gonna be too much pressure to win, it will show in you performance.”

This quote came from Zsa Zsa Padilla, who did a remarkable job in assimilating the character of Olive Uy in Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love.

But even if most people anticipated rave reviews for her portrayal, she told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) that acting award is never her motivation to be an effective actress.

The Divine Diva added, “Kung talagang gusto mo magka-award, don’t think about. Example, foreigner ito ha. Hindi naman nakakaiyak yung situation sa TV pero parang nakikiiyak siya sa lahat ng eksena. Paano gusto niya magka-Emmy [a TV production award in the U.S.]…Pero hindi siya nano-nominate, kasi it was too obvious. She tried so hard, so it showed.”

So if you ask her how she prepared for her bitchy role in this Regal Films-produced movie, she said with a laugh: “I just read the script.”

PLAYING CONTRAVIDA. In Mano Po 2: My Home, she played the Chinese mistress of Christopher de Leon.

In Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife, which gave her Best Actress trophies, she was the Chinoy wife of a wealthy Chinese, who has two mistresses.

In Mano Po 6, she’s the bitch in the life of Melinda Uy (Sharon Cuneta), her Chinoy sister in law.

Talking about her role, “I was a teenager when my brother [Christopher de Leon] fell in love with Sharon. Alma niyang hindi papayag ang parents namin, so nagtanan sila. My whole life, this is a character na alam niya kung ano ang kinamumuhian ng magulang niya, so, loyal siya sa family niya. Kaya, galit din siya kay Melinda.

“And siyempre may discrimination pa. Brinand pa namin siya na malas…”

And true to her role, she made Sharon’s life a living hell.

She explained the reason why she’s a bad girl in the movie, “Ang pagka-bad niya, it’s out of her loyalty to her family and the family belief. Kung baga sinabi ng magulang niya, malas ‘yan, yun…Lumaki ka sa environment na ganun, malas siya, kahit na, little things na gagawin ay pinahihirapan namin siya. Talagang we didn’t treat her well-ginawang parang katulong, sobrang pang-aapi—lahat ng puwedeng gawin, ginawa namin sa kanya.”

How would she compare the previous Mano Po with the present installment?

“The last one was fun, the line so funny. Direk [Joel Lamangan] made it funnier. The execution was perfect. Recently, you know, [it's a] heavier material.

“You know my first day?  I didn’t have dialogue. Beauty shot lang ako dun…Sabi ko, ‘Oh my god, ako ba yan? Ang galing-galing naman cinematographer.’ Na-shock ako sa beauty ko doon…Pero masarap yung character ko talaga, e.

“You know why? I love acting and being like another person even for just a day…”

There are times, however, when she feels that she’s the antithesis of her role.

“My gosh, you’d wish it to end na, lalo na kapag soap pa,” she admitted. “If you don’t like what you’re doing…Dati kasi, dating sistema—mabilisan. Ibibigay sa ‘yo yung script, the next day na ang taping. Hindi mo naaral, ‘tapos ang feeling mo, hindi mo naman character yun…”

MANO PO WARDROBE. Her sense of fashion in the movie is “very conservative,” but she actually doesn’t mind if it’s for the role.

“I’ll be wearing shoes and clothes I don’t wear in real life,” she said. Good thing, “wala na akong pinagawa kasi may mga suits ako na sana ay for soap opera na hindi ako natuloy sa casting—that’s another topic…”

MANO PO 6 SYNOPSIS

Melinda Uy is a billionaire widow whose life is a rags-to-riches story. The daughter of a Chinese immigrant and a Filipino small businessman, Melinda had been a victim of discrimination in the local Chinese community, being only half-Chinese. Melinda was only in her late teens when she got married to Alfonso Uy, the scion of the wealthy Uy clan. But Alfonso’s parents frown upon the marriage, believing that it is cursed. Disappointed with Alfonso’s choice of wife, they disinherit him.

The couple strike out on their own, starting a small business from scratch as they raise a family of their own. . But, as Alfonso’s parents predicted, a string of misfortunes hounds the marriage. The business they put up enjoys only a brief period of prosperity before it goes bankrupt. And just when they are slowly recovering from their financial woes, fire breaks out in their residence, wiping out everything they own. But the worst is yet to come. By this time, the couple already have four children, namely Carol, the eldest, followed by Stephanie, Audrey and Walden. But the kids would not enjoy the company of their father for long. Unexpectedly, Alfonso dies of a massive stroke.

A widow at a young age, Melinda along with her children is compelled to live with her in-laws who maltreat her. One day, Melinda, along with eldest child Carol, returns to the house of her in-laws from a visit to her mother. Melinda is shocked to find out that she is no longer welcome. She is driven away after a failed attempt to take Carol away from her.

Little Stephanie, Audrey and Walden are left behind in the house of the in-laws. Melinda’s efforts to take custody of them come to naught as her in-laws manage to hide the children from her. Melinda goes through hell in her attempts to take back her children. But Melinda’s determination is no match to the power of her in-laws.

Short of giving up, Melinda vows to someday take back her children as she channels her efforts to succeed financially, while continually monitoring the condition of her three children from afar.

Growing up away from her mother, Stephanie learns to hate Melinda, thanks to the constant brainwashing of aunt Olive who finds pleasure in demonizing Melinda.

Melinda experiences a good turn of fortune in the years that follow. She becomes one of the most wealthy and powerful women in the business community. At about this time, the fortunes of her once powerful in-laws are on the decline.

But Stephanie, now a young adult who’s already taking over the businesses of her aunt Olive and grandparents, is about to get married to a shady character, the dashingly handsome Daniel Chan.

Melinda is now ready to revive her claim on her three children, but years of separation make it seem impossible for her to win back their love. But the news of Stephanie’s marriage to Daniel Chan alarms Melinda, forcing the powerful widow to act, thus putting her on a collision course with Olive and the in-laws.

This time, Melinda is determined to succeed in having back her grown-up children. And this time, events transpire to make Melinda prove to her estranged children how much she really loves them.