“SUNSHINE” lead actress Maris Racal has one clear message: support Filipino athletes not only with applause after a win, but with real, consistent help while they’re still training.
For Maris, that conviction crystallized during her yearlong preparation for “Sunshine,” where she witnessed firsthand the discipline and sacrifices it takes to chase a dream.
“I hope there’s more support for the athletes — not just applause when they win or achieve something, but real financial support while they’re still training, while they’re young,” she told Inquirer Entertainment during a recent media gathering. “While training for ‘Sunshine,’ I became aware of the things that need to be done for them, like their living conditions and nutrition. We really need to support our athletes because they are part of Filipino culture.”
Her belief was forged over a year of grueling gymnastics training for the Antoinette Jadaone-directed film that’s been making waves in film festivals from Toronto to Berlin and Austin. For the role, Maris trained three hours a day on top of her regular filming schedule, swapping red carpets for balance beams and learning firsthand the resilience, focus and grit athletes live day by day.
“I’m still over the moon about it,” she said of the film’s success. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. Right now, we’re focused on the local cinema run because the target is really for a lot of Filipinos to get the message about ‘Sunshine.’” While the Oscar consideration is flattering, she’s keeping her eyes on home audiences first.
Buzz is growing that “Sunshine” could be the country’s official entry to the Academy Awards’ best international feature category, with the Film Academy of the Philippines set to announce its pick in October.
In the meantime, Maris is doubling down on the film’s core message.
“It’s not enough to celebrate athletes only when they’re standing on the podium,” she said. “We should be there for them when no one’s watching — when they’re sweating it out in the gym, still chasing their first medal.”
Beyond advocacy, “Sunshine” also reaffirmed her belief that Filipinos will still fill cinemas — if the movie delivers on both quality and price. (Marinel Cruz © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
