Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: JM Ibarra shares takeaways from working with Vhong Navarro in 'Child No. 82': 'Wala siyang kaarte-arte'

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

<p>In just a few weeks, viewers will see JM Ibarra take on his first-ever title role in <em>Child No. 82.</em></p><p>During the recent Star Magic Spotlight event, <strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong> talked with JM about what it’s like to star in his first-ever film.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758846837749JM IBARA.png" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>“Ako sobrang excited talaga. Mas lamang yung excitement kesa sa pressure kasi di naman mawawala (yung pressure). Kinakabahan ako kasi Cinemalaya Film Festival, malaking film festival to. Alam mo yun, isa rin to sa mga inaabangan ng mga filmmakers. So may pressure, may kaba. Pero, sobrang excited ako mapanood yung final output ng <em>Child No. 82.</em>” </p><p>He added that every moment on set was memorable and that he learned so much from everyone involved in the production.</p><p>“Lahat-lahat memorable sa akin kasi halos araw-araw, iba-ibang learnings na nakuha ko sa kanila sa araw-araw. And hindi lang sa mga co-actors, hindi lang sa mga veteran actors, pati na rin sa mga staff kasi willing talaga ako matutunan yan. Anggulo ng camera, tight shot, close shot, pati the way mag-function ang director. So inaalam ko talaga, and sila, hindi sila madamot. Lahat tinuturo nila sa akin. Siyempre, alam mo yun, bilang baguhan sa pag-arte, sa industriyang to. Aware sila na baguhan ako. Sobrang willing nila na maturuan ako,” JM recalled.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJTcT3uBUb6/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A133434.69999998808%2C%22ls%22%3A132631.19999998808%2C%22le%22%3A133042.19999998808%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" 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></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>In the film, JM plays Max, who may—or may not—be the child of action star Boy Kana, played by Vhong Navarro. JM shared that he learned a lot from Vhong, beyond just acting.</p><p>“Marami akong natutunan kay Kuya Vhong directly at may iba rin na alam mo yun, kapag ino-observe ko lang si Kuya Vhong magtrabaho, may natututunan na agad. May mga ganun part. Most of the time, ang tinuturo niya sa akin sa pag-stay namin sa Ilocos is yung pakikipag-socialize talaga. Na alam mo yun, maki-socialize ako. Kasi alam niyo, mahiyain ako. Siyempre, kailangan ko respetuhin yung mga staff. Kailangan ko tingnan na pantay-pantay kami lahat dito,” JM shared.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D122131269554604462%26set%3Da.122100675302604462%26type%3D3&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>He also shared his respect for Vhong, praising him for being professional and easy to work with for everyone on set.</p><p>“Every time na si Kuya Vhong lang yung nasa eksena, kapag pinapanood ko siya, (makikita mong) napakabuting tao ganun. Kasi may time na sand dunes, tanghaling tapat, sobrang init. Wala siyang kaarte-arte sa ganon. Hindi niya pinaparamdam sa staff sa prod na pagod na siya, na naiinitan na siya. So, ako nakatingin lang ako noong time na ito Idolo talaga. Idol na talaga si Kuya Vhong,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="681" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qL8-lK6Od0Q" title="Cinemalaya 21: Child No. 82 | Teaser" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Catch JM, Vhong, and the rest of the <em>Child No. 82</em> cast at the 2025 Cinemalaya Film Festival starting October 3.</p>

<p>JM Ibarra shares what he learned from working with Vhong Navarro and his other co-stars in his first-ever film. He also opens up about some of the most memorable moments he experienced while filming in Ilocos Norte.</p>

JM Ibarra shares what he learned from working with Vhong Navarro and his other co-stars in his first-ever film. He also opens up about some of the most memorable moments he experienced while filming in Ilocos Norte.