VETERAN actor Joel Torre discussed working with Maris Racal and speaking Hiligaynon in the hit Kapamilya drama “Incognito.”
In an interview with Maricel Soriano for her YouTube vlog, the actor said he felt at ease performing in Hiligaynon, which is his native language. “We are playing Ilonggo, Ilonggo kami. Siyempre first language [ko] kaya daling-dali,” he stated.
Joel portrays the role of Philip Rivera, Gab’s (Maris Racal) father, who disapproves of her career choices and who owns an illegal gambling business.
He relayed how he has been guiding Maris with her Hiligaynon lines. “Si Maris tinuturuan pa namin kasi hindi siya pure Ilonggo, pero Bisaya siya, galing siyang Davao so iba pero dun nagre-rehearse kami lagi, [nagtatanong siya], ‘Tito paano ‘to?‘” he stated.
Joel praised Maris for her dedication and acting skills. “Tapos magaling din si Maris, napakagaling na bata.”
In a previous interview, Maris shared how Joel has been helping her to speak Ilonggo convincingly.
“When shooting teleseryes, you get so many surprises, (even) first thing in the morning. I remembered that day. So going to the set, I was already very nervous. I’m going to do scenes with sir Joel Torre, who I look up to when it comes to acting. And then, nasa set kaming dalawa, sa standby area, and then biglang pumasok si direk. ‘Okay, so Gab, Ilonggo ka dito ha?’ So surprise ‘yun lahat. So thank God Bisaya ako,” she said.
Maris shared her Visayan roots made it easier to adapt speaking in Hiligaynon.
“We have so many common words, Ilonggo and Bisaya. Thank you Lord, Bisaya ako! Ang kailangan ko lang aralin was ‘yung tono. And thankfully, sir Joel Torre taught me a lot of the words. Si Anthony (Jennings) is Ilonggo actually, and then his kuya was there also. There were even lines na hindi Ilonggo, pero sabi ko hindi, itodo natin ito (laughs). So pina-translate ko. So nagpaturo ako,” she revealed. (Push Team)
