Handpicked by director Nuel Naval and writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario for his role as patriarch Francisco in the Metro Manila Film Festival entry Family Matters, veteran actor Noel Trinidad admitted he never imagined he would be starring in an MMFF film at 81 years old.

During the grand presscon for the film, Noel admitted, “Feeling ko magtatagal pa ako ng onti. Although I must say, although I always say, ito na palagay ko ang last hurrah for me. But if this will be my last hurrah, then for me it’s such an terrific honor to have this as my last hurrah!”

After the Cineko Productions film released its trailer online earlier this month, excitement for the film has been building and has been felt by everyone especially lead actor Noel.

“We have been getting very good response from the trailer. To the extent na my personal experience is people have been approaching me to shake my hand and have pictures taken with me because of the trailer. Trailer pa lang.

“For example, merong lumapit sa amin big maton, sabi ‘Ang ganda ho ng trailer niyo. Naiyak ho ako!’ Mamang mama. So salamat naman kako and this has been going on. Ako dito si Francisco ang padre de familia. Ang concern ko ay magkaisa ang pamilya, ma-overcome kung anu-ano mga problema ng pamilya at mabuo ang pamilya inspite of all the problems,” he shared.

Family Matters is a story about a senior married couple named Francisco and Eleanor (Liza Lorena), and their four children: Kiko, the successful son; Fortune, the homemaker; Ellen, the unmarried daughter; and Enrico, the happy-go-lucky son. But things get shaken up when their primary caregiver Ellen decides to fly to the US which makes the rest of the siblings anxious as each one takes turns in caring for their parents.

Noel said he was impressed with his younger co-stars who played his sons and daughters in the film. “Sana may category na best ensemble acting in a movie. Kasi surely, we would qualify for that and that’s because of direk. Somehow nabuo yung gusto niya because of the way he directed us,” he said.

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During the Family Matters presscon, Noel also made sure to single out the two people who were pivotal to him while making the film.

“I want to cite first of all si Mel (Family Matters writer) because of the wonderful story. Nung prinesent sa akin yung script the first time, I told myself I have to do this. Dahil pagka ganda ganda ng script nila.

“The second person I have to cite for this movie is si direk. Si direk is a very quiet director but he guides you all the ay. Hindi ka mangangapa. For example, pag gagawa kami ng eksena, he will explain to us what the scene is about, he will explain to us what went before, what went after, ano ang relationship namin dun sa mga taong nandun. In other words, hindi niya sasabihin kung pano mo gagawin arte mo pero he will give you the ammunition to fulfill what is in his mind. He really guided us,” he shared.

To fans of the film who are already looking forward to its December 25 release date in cinemas nationwide, Noel also shared the following message, “Salamat ulit sa inyong suporta. Mapapansin niyo, yung ibang mga pelikula, may horror, may out and out comedy, merong barilan. Yung amin simple lang, tungkol sa pamilya. With your support, kahit na walang superstar dito eh sana naman masuportahan yung aming pelikula. Ang nagdadala sa amin ay yung arte niong barkadang ito at yung storya, yan ang magdadala sa amin.”