Flonique Guimary

Sylvia Sanchez on working with actors with Down syndrome

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After coming out with the action-packed Metro Manila Film Festival entry <em>Topakk </em>last year, Nathan Studios producer and actress Sylvia Sanchez returned this year with a very different kind of entry in <em>I’mPerfect.</em> The film  is a story about the romantic relationship of two adults with Down syndrome played by newcomers Anne Krystel Daphne Go and Earl Jonathan Amaba. The rest of the cast also features a talented ensemble of actors with Down syndrome. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Sobra akong excited for them. Hindi lang kami kundi ang buong cast, excited para sa mga bata. Sobrang mula nung day one hanggang ngayon, puro love, love, love sila. Ay naku, ang sarap. Ang sarap ng relasyon naming lahat sa mga bata. Kasiyahan, katuwaan, halakhakan. Ganun lang. Tawa ng tawa. Masaya. Ginawa namin ito para ipakita yung inclusivity, at awareness ng lahat. Para ipakita sa kanila na kayang kaya nila at ang gagaling nila. Lahat kami, mga seniors, masasabi namin na magagaling sila,” she said during an interview at the MMFF Parade of Stars event. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOGn_ihEvnv/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%3A4708861.099999905%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1101" 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><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2024/12/28/sylvia-sanchez-says-her-son-arjo-atayde-is-a-better-actor-than-her-minana-niya-sa-akin-1700" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Sylvia Sanchez says her son Arjo Atayde is a better actor than her: ‘Minana niya sa akin!’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSB7xVTAQE6/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%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A4708877.699999809%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1041" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" 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><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRrOczmASNf/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%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A4709496.899999857%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1095" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" 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><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRuG0qGAVw5/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%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A4709520.599999905%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1095" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" 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>The multi-awarded actress admitted that she considers <em>I’mPerfect </em>as the start of the legacy she wants to have as a producer in the industry.</p><p>“Kakaiba kasi as an artista, kilala ako dun. Pero as a producer, ito na yung sinasabi ko na na-produce ko na habang buhay na hawak ko na. Ito yung na-produce ng Nathan Studios. Ibang klaseng pag-po-produce ito. Prinoduce ng mga bata ito at first time naming nag-produce ng ganito. Na-discover ko sa kanila na talagang magaling sila. Kasi nung time na kinuha ko ito, tinanggap ko ito, naniniwala na ako na kaya nila. Pero hindi ko akalain na ganun sila kagaling. So panuorin niyo na lang talaga at malalaman niyo yung sinasabi ko,” </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRysOzlE8N-/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%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A4716538.899999857%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1035" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" 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/2022/5/3/fresh-scoops/sylvia-sanchez-happy-to-take-a-break-from-acting-199898" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Sylvia Sanchez happy to take a break from acting after ‘Misis Piggy’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>During the MMFF Parade of Stars event last December 19, Sylvia also shared how they prepared their very special cast members for the whole-day event, which also included inclement weather. “Actually, last year pa namin ito pinaghahandaan. Rineady namin silang lahat. Sinabi namin kung ano ang kailangan. Pinaghanda namin sila ng mga cooling spray, mga pampalit, pamunas, merong raincoat, ganun. Lahat dinala nila. May sarili kaming bus para kung mapagod yung mga bata, puwedeng pumunta sa bus. Matulog dun pag pagod na.”</p><div><br/></div><p>With the film now just waiting to be shown in cinemas, Sylvia admitted she will miss being with her very talented cast. “Ma-mi-miss siguro namin yung pag-su-shooting. Alam mo yung nandun kami sa shooting, kung anong ginagawa namin. Pero yung sasabihin mo na yung relasyon mawawala? Hindi. Kasi yung relasyon hindi na mawawala. Yung nandun na sila sa buhay namin. Nakadikit na yan,” she added. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSCeC8KgY6L/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%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A4716612.199999809%2C%22ls%22%3A579011.899999857%2C%22le%22%3A579298.899999857%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1113" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" 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><p>Also included in the cast of the film is award-winning actress actress Lorna Tolentino, who is also one of the producers behind the film. </p><div><br/></div><p>Watch <em>I’mPerfect</em> at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival which opens in cinemas nationwide starting December 25. The film stars Earl Jonathan Amaba, Anne Krystel Daphne Go, Lorna Tolentino, Zaijian Jaranilla, 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' producer and actress Sylvia Sanchez talks about having no regrets choosing to produce a film with a cast of actors with Down syndrome.</p>

'I’mPerfect' producer and actress Sylvia Sanchez talks about having no regrets choosing to produce a film with a cast of actors with Down syndrome.

Sylvia Sanchez on working with actors with Down syndrome: 'Hindi ko akalain na ganun sila kagaling'

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Sylvia Sanchez on working with actors with Down syndrome: 'Hindi ko akalain na ganun sila kagaling'

Rhea Manila Santos,

Push Team

Published December 24, 2025 09:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Sylvia Sanchez

Earl Jonathan Amaba

Anne Krystel Daphne Go

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