Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: Zaijian Jaranilla on working with the cast of 'I’mPerfect': ‘Parang tinuring na nila ako kaagad na totoong kapatid’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Known for his impressive talent in doing heavy drama since starring in the 2009 ABS-CBN blockbuster series <em>May Bukas Pa</em>, actor Zaijian Jaranilla took on a new kind of role in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry <em>I’mPerfect</em> where he plays the younger brother of newcomer and lead actor Earl Jonathan Amaba, a man with Down syndrome. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Yung challenge siyempre dati gumaganap lang ako na may disability, pero ngayon meron akong kapatid so mahirap siya nung una kasi hindi ko alam kung ano i-e-expect ko. Pero nung nag-su-shooting na kami tapos kahit na nung workshops namin, hindi ako nahirapan mag-relate sa kanila dahil hindi nila ako trinato na parang artista, ganun. Parang tinuring na nila ako kaagad na totoong kapatid, lalo na si kuya Earl, which is si Jiro dun sa film namin. Tinuring na niya ako agad na kapatid. Hindi ako nahirapan mag-build ng relationship sa kanya,” he told <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong> in an exclusive interview. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DScFsQLEt7l/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A198392.5%2C%22ls%22%3A197956.19999998808%2C%22le%22%3A198271.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2020/1/9/fresh-scoops/zaijian-jaranilla-reveals-his-acting-goals-gusto-12931"><strong>READ: Zaijian Jaranilla reveals his acting goals: ‘Gusto ko pang ma-explore yung gay roles’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>In the film, Zaijian said his character’s relationship with his older sibling was a crucial part of his life.</p><div><br/></div><p>“In terms naman dun sa role bilang kapatid ng isang may Down syndrome, kasi yung pamilya ko hindi nakikinig sa akin eh. Hindi nila ako sinusuportahan. Si kuya Jiro lang yung sumusuporta sa akin at parang nakikita kong kakampi ko siya. So feeling ko, makaka-relate yung maraming mga tao na may kapatid na katulad ko na merong kapatid na may Down syndrome, na baka nangyayari din talaga siya sa totoong buhay. Masaya lang ako na naging instrumento ako, parang representative ako ng mga ganung kapatid,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><p>One of the bigger challenges for Zaijian in this project was working with a cast of new actors, most of them with Down syndrome<em>. I’mPerfect</em> revolves around the story of Jiro and Jessica, a couple who fall in love and who both have Down syndrome. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Merong extra challenge lang sa akin off-cam kasi kailangan magmukha na magkapatid kami, kailangan makita sa screen agad na magkapatid sila. Yung learnings siguro yung maging patient kasi given nga na hindi naman nila ginagawa ito dati. First time nila ito gawin, yung ganitong pelikula. So kailangan ng pasensiya. Pati yung pag-uunawa sa kanila kasi po hindi madali yung mga eksenang ginagawa namin para sa kanila. Kaya kahit paulit ulit kami, okay lang kahit nagkakamali. Kinakausap ko sila na okay lang yan, basta matatapos natin ito. Okay lang. And then yun, pagkatapos ng eksena, masaya naman sila and maganda yung nagagawa namin na mga eksena,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DScFZZOEm5e/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A198408.69999998808%2C%22ls%22%3A197956.19999998808%2C%22le%22%3A198271.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2022/1/16/fresh-scoops/zaijian-jaranilla-on-relating-to-his-role-in-the-198009"><strong>READ: Zaijian Jaranilla on relating to his role in ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’: ‘Galing din ako sa broken family’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>After shooting ended, Zaijian admitted that even though he has siblings in real life, playing the role of a someone with a family member with Down syndrome was also eye-opening to him.</p><p>“Yung natutunan ko kasi personally, dapat hindi natin sila kaagad husgahan at dapat hindi natin sila pinagtatawanan or hindi natin sila kutyain. At i-trato natin sila na normal na tao, na nasasaktan at natutuwa din sila, napapagod. Hindi natin sila kailangan baby-hin. Kasi pag makilala mo lang sila, sobrang lambing nila, sobrang sweet nila sa amin. Yung bigla bigla na lang kami yayakapin, yung walang masamang tinapay sa kanila. Kaya ang sarap nila kasama palagi dahil good vibes at saka sobrang gaan nila palagi kasama at masaya,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSCeC8KgY6L/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A198421.09999999404%2C%22ls%22%3A197956.19999998808%2C%22le%22%3A198271.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Watch Zaijian Jaranilla in<em> I’mPerfect</em> at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival. The film also stars Earl Jonathan Amaba, Anne Krystel Daphne Go, Lorna Tolentino, Janice de Belen, Joey Marquez, and Tonton Gutierrez. Written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. Produced by Lorna Tolentino, Jaime Baltazar, and Nathan Studios</p>

<p>'I’mPerfect ' actor Zaijian Jaranilla talks about his experience working with a cast of actors with Down syndrome for the first time.</p>

'I’mPerfect ' actor Zaijian Jaranilla talks about his experience working with a cast of actors with Down syndrome for the first time.