Known for being one of the country’s most talented actors with 48 awards to his name throughout his 27-year career, Allen Dizon takes on another challenging role in his latest film Fatherland which opens this month. Allen revealed that he will be portraying three roles in this film which also stars Inigo Pascual, Richard Yap, Angel Aquino, and Cherry Pie Picache. 

“Kasi merong personality disorder ‘yung character ko. So parang tatlong istorya siya. Una, Kapampangan ako. Tapos naging Muslim, tapos naging gay siya,” he shared during the Fatherland presscon held last month. “Doon ako medyo nahirapan, doon sa gay. Alam naman ni Direk Joel (Lamangan) kung paano niya ako na-guide dun sa pangatlong character ko,” 

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Allen Dizon talks about his struggles to find success in his acting career

Having done numerous roles already, Allen said that he still considers each new project a big challenge in his craft. “Siyempre naman. Every time naman meron akong role na gagawin, laging may challenge at laging may kaba. ‘Yung iba sinasabi nila pag matagal ka ng artista, relax ka na lang, ‘di ka na kinakabahan sa mga , pero parang hindi totoo yon eh.

Allen shared that he treats each role with the same care. “So every time na may ginagawa akong pelikula, siyempre nag-iisip ako ng kung paano ‘yung gagawin ko doon sa eksena ,and always na nagtatanong ako kay direk Joel kung paano ‘yung gusto niya. Kasi baka iba ‘yung gusto ko, iba ‘yung gusto ni direk. So iba pa rin.  ‘Yun kasing acting is teamwork din, lalo na pelikula kasi kaya hindi puwedeng magiba ka. Baka lumihis ka e. So iba talaga ‘yung may guidance ka kay direk, and kung ‘yung gusto kong gawin sasabihin ko rin sa kanya. At kung may gusto si direk gawin ko, syempre gagawin ko rin para sa ikakaganda ng pelikula,” he explained. 

READ: Multi-awarded actor Allen Dizon aminadong pressured sa 48 acting awards

The film, which shot in places like Cotabato, was not a cause for worry for Allen, who was shooting in Mindanao for the very first time. “Hindi ako natakot dahil safe naman eh. Noong nandun ako, ‘yung kapitan parang very welcome kami tapos sa mga location na pinupuntahan namin may mga bodyguard kami. May mga baril silang hawak, so syempre nakakatakot kasi dayo lang kami doon at hindi naming alam anong mangyayari sa amin kung makauwi pa kami ng buhay o hindi. Pero sa awa ng Diyos, sa tulong nila ay okay naman. Kahit na one day lang kami doon, kinabukasan umuwi na kami, nagawa naming ‘yung gusto ni direk at ayun, maayos naman ‘yung tao sa Cotabato,” he recalled. 

In real life, Allen is a loving father to his two daughters, Felixia Crysten and Nella Marie. The 47-year-old actor says he considers himself a good parent. He understands that today’s generation is different and may need a different approach to child-rearing. 

“Sa mga anak ko, maluwag ako sa kanila. Hindi ako ganun ka-strict, pero ‘yun nga, sabi nga nila tayo ang magulang. Bilang padre de pamilya, ‘yung guidance natin laging nandiyan and hindi mo puwedeng dalhin ‘yung generation ng mga bata ngayon ‘pag medyo mahigpit ka. Sooner or later gagawin pa rin nila yung gusto nila, eh so mahirap yun. Parang ibig sabihin hindi ka nila sinusunod noh?,” he said. “Pero sila yun eh, ‘yun ‘yung generation nila, so kailangan pa rin ng paalala araw-araw, umaga, hapon, gabi. Hindi ako nagkukulang sa kanila kahit may taping ako, may shooting ako, I make it a point na every night [I check] ‘pag nasa bahay na sila syempre so makakapagpahinga ka ng may peace of mind ka na. Kasi especially mga , iba na ‘yung generation nila, dun lang. So dun lang kaya nating ibigay sa mga anak natin, guidance talaga at walang sawang pag ga-guide.”

Watch Allen 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.