From co-actor to director, Cherry Pie Picache admits that her relationship with Joel Lamangan is like a chameleon that changes with each project. In FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, she played the role of doting wife Marites while he played the arrogant and greedy Roda in the hit primetime series. This year, the two return to the big screen with his directorial project Fatherland with Cherry in the role of a Fil-Chinese mayor. 

“I played the role of Mayor Chen, Chinese po ako dito. Kami ni Ms. Mercedes Cabral, kami ang magkatunggali dito. I have to speak Chinese — siyempre kailangan ‘yung believability, hindi ba?,” said Cherry Pie, who had to take Chinese language lessons as her role required.

“Eh kaso si Direk Joel ayaw niyang aminin ang bilis-bilis niyang magtrabaho. Gusto niya mabilis. So, talagang na-pe-pressure ka na pag-aralan, pero syempre ikaw din kailangan mong bantayan na kailangan tama. Ang hirap, tapos yung pinaaral niya pa sakin, hindi lang for clip, ‘yung buong Chinese talaga, so ang hirap,” Cherry admitted. 

READ: Cherry Pie Picache finds new challenge in 'Fatherland' film

Whether she’s playing a protagonist or antagonist on screen, Cherry Pie says she has no preference as long as it comes with a good script. “Actually, kahit ano, basta maganda ‘yung role,” she said. “As long as the role is good and nakaka-challenge, takes me out in my comfort zone lalo na ngayon sa edad kong ‘to, sa dami na ng nagawa ko.”

She admits that playing the. villain does bring a certain excitement, given the challenge. “I really, really had fun playing kontrabida roles, ‘yung mga dark characters, kasi mas mapag-lalaruan ko. Kaya nga ang tao ngayon sabi nila, si Marites, walang ginawa kung ‘di umiyak nang umiyak. So mas napaglalaruan ‘yung mga kontrabida roles. I have fun in doing that,” she explained.

READ: Cherry Pie Picache’s remarkable teleserye portrayals through the years

The Fatherland actress says she is very thankful to be part of Batang Quiapo. “Unang-una nagpapasalamat kami. Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng ating ka-Batang Quiapo, tinatangkilik, sinusuportahan. Maraming maraming salamat sa recently concluded na Star Awards dahil binigyan ng pagkilala at parangal yung show. I’m so proud of the team, I’m so honored and I’m so grateful that I’m part of it.”

”Maaasahan niyo po na talagang magtatrabaho pa kami para mas pagandahin ang istorya, at yung mga kaabang-abang na eksena mas dadami pa mga gano’n, at saka I’m sure na nag-aabang po kayo sa Mamon,” she promised their loyal viewers. “Abangan niyo — maraming mangyayari, tapos grabe din ‘yung mga action. ‘Yung drifting, ‘yung drifting sa kotse, mga high-tech na. So ‘yun maraming maraming salamat.”

READ: Why Joel Lamangan loves playing Roda in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”

As part of the country’s most popular teleseryes for the past two years, Cherry admits she did miss working on the film set. “Actually, nakaka-miss. Kaya pa rin naman ‘di ba? Kaya pa rin naman gumawa kahit na busy at occupied kami talaga sa Batang Quiapo, kasi katulad din ng dati, may skills ka tapos gagawa ka ng pelikula. Nakakalungkot lang kasi ngayon ‘di ba, ang konti na lang talaga ng nag-po-produce. So sana talaga tulungan natin na makabalik ang tao sa sinehan kasi nga syempre ‘di ba, papaano ka nga naman makakapag-produce pa ng mas maraming pelikula kung hindi man lang at least nababalik ‘yung pinuhunan nila,” she shared.

Watch Cherry in Fatherland, produced by Eng. Benjamin Austria’s Bentria. It also stars Inigo Pascual, Angel Aquino Mercedes Cabral, Cherry Pie Picache, Max Eigenmann, Richard Yap, Ara Davao, Jeric Gonzales, Kaze Kinouchi, and Rico Barrera. Written by Roy Iglesias. Fatherland opens in cinemas starting April 19.