THE tremendously talented, tenacious and trendy Tessie Tomas just turned 65 two days ago, and everything’s coming up roses for her.
Tessie bagged the Best Actress plum at the just-concluded 2015 Quezon City Film Festival for her quiet and heartfelt performance as the mother of an only son afflicted with Asperger Syndrome in Lemuel Lorca’s sad and beautifully crafted film Water Lemon.
The film, shot in the quaint town of Mauban in the province of Quezon during the habagat season, was one unforgettable experience for Tessie. “I became richer in experience as an actor making this film. My character needed layers of just the right amount of emotion to deal with loss, hopelessness, hopefulness, resilience and acceptance in dealing with myself and my son, the very special Filemon, played wonderfully by Jun-Jun Quintana.”
“I am glad that I had a very patient and focused filmmaker to work with, and I was surrounded by an ensemble of actors who are competent and fun, at the same time, making each workday lighter and smoother, despite the many limitations that are always part of making an independent film,” she added.
Tessie is thankful for this big win, her third as an actor. She got her first acting trophy in 2009 from the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for Milo Sogueco’s Sanglaan, and it was followed by another win at the 2013 Sineng Pambansa Film Festival for Sigfried Sanchez’s Huling Biyahe.
“I have to admit that I felt a bit numb when they were presenting the Best Supporting Actress category [won by Swedish-Filipino actress Annicka Dolonius for the film Apocalypse Child], and I was not among the nominees. I looked at my director, and we just froze a bit. I was thinking maybe the jury had their reasons.”
She continued, “Then when it was time for the Best Actress category, I saw my name on the nominees’ list on the big screen, and I started to feel uneasy. All the while I thought I would be included in the Supporting Actress category. Moments later, the presenter announced my name as the winner, and I was just too overwhelmed to react. I just remembered hugging people as I went up the stage.”
In her acceptance speech, Tessie thanked the five-person jury “for choosing the oldest nominee to win” and the venue broke out in both thunderous applause and laughter. Tessie described her win as one of “life’s beautiful surprises.”
“I’ve been going through a whole gamut of emotions for the past few months, and I am glad that I have my work as an actor to balance things. I get priceless joy from acting, and I’m just thankful that the returns are wonderful. And in this case, very quick. The film had its gala screening just less than a week ago, and then here comes the big pat-on-my-back as an actor.”
Tessie has two more films that will be showing one after the other. First is Cia Hermoso-Jorge’s Old Skool, where Tessie will give life to the part of a grandmother who bravely chose to go back and finish grade school. “It’s a wonderful role that does not come often. And there’s the advocacy part on education. That’s why I accepted the role.” Old Skool will be shown in select SM Cinemas starting November 4.
When the 2015 Cinema One Originals Film Festival opens on November 8, Tessie will be visible once more. She is part of the cast of Ara Chawdhury’s debut feature Miss Bulalacao, one of the most awaited films in this batch. Tessie shared, “We shot in Biliran, Leyte, touted as one of the smallest provinces in the country. It’s a fun, fun film about a gay man [who] got impregnated. Can anything be more interesting than that? Also our dialogue is in Bisaya and Waray, which is why I accepted to work on the film. I love supporting films, good films; films from the different regions; films that remind us of our roots; films of promising filmmakers and talented writers. I just do.”
Things are back to normal now for Tessie Tomas as far as work is concerned. She’s back in the grind
acting for the daily afternoon drama De Buena
Familia on GMA.
For the coming holidays, Tessie plans to travel with her husband Roger Pullin and meet up with her son Robin, somewhere where it is cold and snowy. But before that, even if the Philippines does not really celebrate Thanksgiving this new month of November, Tessie plans to have a small gathering of friends to celebrate her little victories and her many big blessings.
Have a great year ahead, Tessie!