Flonique Guimary

Cesar Montano on being choosy with his roles

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>As part of this year’s Sinag Maynila Film Festival entry Selda Tres, Cesar Montano took on a more sedate kind of role, playing the supportive older half-brother of JM De Guzman, after he gets wrongly accused of a crime that puts him in prison. During the film’s press conference held earlier this month, the actor-director shared his first experience working with co-stars JM and Carla Abellana for the first time.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Bitin nga ako eh. I’m looking forward na sana makatrabaho ko pa ulit sila. I feel so honored na makatrabaho sila. These are incredible actors, itong mga kasama ko. Magagaling. Sana makatrabaho ko ulit sila in the near future,” he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOyW8NWEiy-/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A5980582.299999952%2C%22ls%22%3A102933.70000004768%2C%22le%22%3A102940%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="846" 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></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Cesar also talked more about his role in director GB Sampedro’s newest feature film. “I play the role of Lando, the half-brother of JM De Guzman and ang business ko lang dito ay buy and sell ng kotse. So wala talaga kami constant communication and I feel guilty na wala akong masyadong time para makapag-bond sa aking kapatid. </p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Nung nangyari sa kanya yun, I try to go out of my way to help my half-brother. He was accused. yung allegations sa kanya mali. But we need adequate proof to substantiate the allegations. So kailangan matulungan ko ‘to. Naniniwala ako sa kanya na siya ay not guilty sa allegations sa kanya. So I believe and trust my brother,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5m01PgX7v/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A6000310.100000024%2C%22ls%22%3A102933.70000004768%2C%22le%22%3A102940%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1104" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" 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></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/9/20/cesar-montano-dismisses-fake-news-on-daughter-s-pregnancy-0945" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Cesar Montano dismisses fake news on daughter’s pregnancy</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>During the presscon, Cesar also gave some insight on why he has become more choosy about accepting roles now at this point in his life.</p><div><br/></div><p>“The last movie I did was the <em>Blood Brothers</em>, that was probably last year. Siguro kasama na yung pagiging mapili dahil tapos na tayo dun sa tanggap na lang ng tanggap ng anuman eh. Di ba? For me, dapat as an actor kasi you have a responsibility sa audience mo. Kasi dapat, merong mensahe yung pelikulang ginagawa mo. It’s our responsibility how we educate the people, how we educate our audience. Hindi yung basta gusto ko, kikita ako diyan, gagawin ko na yan. No. But para sa akin ah, dapat may substance yung pelikula, merong naiiwan na mabuti sa puso ng audience. At dahil sa pagpanuod ng pelikula, they become a better person. They learn something from it. Dapat ganun,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFwK29DPIm/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A6033189%2C%22ls%22%3A102933.70000004768%2C%22le%22%3A102940%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="761" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" 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></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2022/10/21/fresh-scoops/cesar-montano-is-happy-with-his-blended-family-203191" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Cesar Montano is happy with his ‘blended family’: ‘Everything feels right’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>The <em>Selda Tres</em> star also talked about why the film is close to his heart, having a personal relationship with inmates in real life as well.\</p><div><br/></div><p>“All star cast ito eh. Ang daming matitinding artista dito. And yung kuwento niya, it’s about injustice. My father was a lawyer so pag may cases na ganyan, parati ko napapakinggan everyday. I’d hear it out of the office ng father ko.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I know a lot of people, yung mga nakulong, kasi I do that eh. I normally spend my birthday sa Bureau of Corrections. Dun ako nag-pa-party. Kasi dun mas may kabuluhan. kasi papakainin mo pag may birthday ka, karaniwan may pagkain naman sila, busog naman talaga sila, they have money to buy food. Pero dun mas kailangan. So my point is, maraming nakakulong na hindi dapat nakulong, mga hindi guilty at marami sa labas na dapat nakakulong, dito sa bansa natin. So talagang itong kuwento na ito, nakakatuwa. I feel so privileged to be here. So I thank direk GB Sampedro for offering this to me. Maraming salamat,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><p>Catch”<em>Selda Tres</em>, at the Sinag Maynila 2025 film festival, which will run from September 24 to 30 at cinemas at Gateway 2, Trinoma, Market Market, SM MOA and Fairview, and Robinsons Manila and Antipolo. The film also stars JM de Guzman, Carla Abellana, Arron Villaflor, Kier Legaspi, Victor Neri, Isay Alvarez, Jeffrey Tam, Perla Bautista, and Mickey Ferriols. Directed by GB Sampedro, written by Eric Ramos, and produced by Five 2 Seven Entertainment Production. </p>

<p>'Selda Tres' actor Cesar Montano reveals the reason he has now become more choosy with accepting roles. He also shares his experience working with JM De Guzman and Carla Abellana for the first time onscreen.</p>

'Selda Tres' actor Cesar Montano reveals the reason he has now become more choosy with accepting roles. He also shares his experience working with JM De Guzman and Carla Abellana for the first time onscreen.

Cesar Montano on being choosy with his roles: ‘Tapos na tayo dun sa tanggap na lang ng tanggap’

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Cesar Montano on being choosy with his roles: ‘Tapos na tayo dun sa tanggap na lang ng tanggap’

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published September 24, 2025 07:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Selda Tres

Cesar Montano

Sinag Maynila 2025

JM De Guzman

GB Sampedro

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