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Romnick Sarmenta on winning Best Actor at the Summer MMFF: ‘It’s more humbling than anybody knows!’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>When Romnick Sarmenta first found out that he and his <em>About Us But Not About Us </em>co-star Elijah Canlas were both nominees for the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor award, the veteran actor said he would be happy and thankful even if he ended up not winning anything during the awards night.</p><p>“Kahit sino ang manalo, masaya lang kami na napili yung pelikula namin at pinanuod ng mga tao. Yun naman yun. Kaya ako gumagawa ng kuwento para makapanuod. So kahit sino, kahit hindi kami, kahit sino manalo.</p><p>“But it’s very honoring, it’s very flattering. I am very grateful, salamat sa mga nag-pu-push at nagsabi na dapat kaming ma-nominate. Wala akong puwedeng sabihin kundi maraming salamat,” he said during the Summer MMFF 2023 awards night held last April 11 at the New Frontier theater in Quezon City.</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq5l2lePlVg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A169116.40000009537%2C%22ls%22%3A168871.20000004768%2C%22le%22%3A168875.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" 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><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/4/11/-about-us-but-not-about-us-wins-big-at-the-summer-mmff-2023-awards-night-248"><strong>READ: ‘About Us But Not About Us’ wins big at the Summer MMFF 2023 awards night<br/></strong></a></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq6Yd-5StKT/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A169131.40000009537%2C%22ls%22%3A168871.20000004768%2C%22le%22%3A168875.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="864" 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><p>Aside winning the Best Actor trophy, Romnick’s film also ended up bringing home the most number of awards that night including Best Picture, Best Director, and his co-star Elijah getting a Special Jury Prize. Through all this recognition, Romnick hopes the public can finally give their film a chance by watching it during its festival theatrical run until April 18.</p><p>“Unexpected eh. I really only care for the success of the film sa MMFF. Nung nanalo siya sobra akong natuwa. I am so grateful that they saw what they saw and they decided to go this way. I want to work harder, yun lang. Sobra akong thankful. It’s more humbling than anybody knows. Sana yung mga hindi pa nakakapanuod, panuorin niyo. Give the film a chance. Alam ko may mga tao, lalo na sa generation ko may mga tao na medyo nagdadalawang isip kasi feeling nila yung topic, sa kinalakihan nila, medyo taboo na. Pero give the film a chance, give the story a chance. Mag-open up kayo, panuorin niyo. Maganda yung pelikula,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/3/19/romnick-sarmenta-says-he-s-very-grateful-to-be-in-the-showbiz-industry-for-46-years-1407"><strong>READ: Romnick Sarmenta says he’s very grateful to be in the showbiz industry for 46 years<br/></strong></a></div><p>When asked why he thinks there is still a lack of people watching in cinemas, the 50-year-old actor revealed his personal observation.</p><p>“I think a lot of it is, hindi talaga sila kumportable plus meron kasing mga streaming platforms so yun ang masaklap na gusto natin hintayin yung mga magagandang pelikulang Pilipino sa mga streaming platforms, eh hindi yun babalik sa mga gumawa. Panuorin niyo muna. Antayin natin sa mga streaming platforms yung mga foreign films kasi pareho din yun. So kung talagang gusto natin tumaas yung kaledad ng pelikulang Pilipino, yung kultura natin sa pelikulang ginagawa natin, panuorin niyo yung mga gawa namin. Lahat nung walong pelikula dito ay wala kayong talo,” he explained.</p><p>Romnick also shared what made his onscreen chemistry with Elijah in the film so effective.</p><p>“I don’t think there’s really a secret. Pagka binibigyan kami ng script, I just really want to be able to see the humanity of the character and hopefully be able to give life to that character in that sense na madali siya maintindihan ng tao at maka-relate sila dun sa pinagdadaanan,” he added.</p><p>With his Best Actor award, Romnick said he just hopes to continue doing more work to further hone his craft.</p><p>“Like I said before, it’s always been a gift to be able to tell a story, na maging bahagi ka ng pagkuwento ng isang salaysay. So na-e-enjoy ko yung proseso, na-e-enjoy ko yung development nung story, yung craft, yung pag-aarte, and anything beyond that is a bonus. For my next projects, I’m not yet at liberty to talk about it but there are some things in the pipeline and I hope will watch it,” he said.</p>

<p>‘About Us But Not About Us’ Romnick Sarmenta talks about the resurgence of his acting career with his Summer MMFF Best Actor award.</p>

‘About Us But Not About Us’ Romnick Sarmenta talks about the resurgence of his acting career with his Summer MMFF Best Actor award.