In several interviews, David Licauco is not too shy to admit of his rather playful past. The ‘Pambansang Ginoo’ has certainly moved passed his fun years now being both a creative on-screen and a businessman off-screen. As if coming full circle, David becomes a priest for a role in his upcoming movie ‘Samahan Ng Mga Kasalanan.’
Is it challenging for him?
At the movie’s press conference, David said he took the time to process the offer. “My initial reaction was: ‘Kaya ko ba ‘’yun?’ Just because I never played a role na priest. It was mostly romantic and heavy drama for ‘Pulang Araw’, medyo historical for ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ and action in ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’… and then now, (as a) priest,” he shares.
“Ang challenge dito is how to make it still entertaining despite my role. Obviously, when you are a priest, you would think na relax lang… timid…,” he shares further.
In ‘Samahan Ng Mga Kasalanan’, a satirical film produced by GMA Pictures, Licauco’s priest character is sent to a morally impoverished town where gambling, gossip, prostitution and other vices run deep. His task is to face these temptations as he guides the people away from their problematic ways.
Not necessarily bringing this to his personal life, David’s life realization in the movie is someone’s capacity to overcome the errors in his life. “It is okay to do mistakes as long as you learn from your mistakes. Know kung bakit mo siya nagawa, learn from it, and eventually hindi mo na siya gagawin in the future,” he adds.
Comedy is something new for David and he is thankful to be surrounded here by talented comedians. Pouring in the funny requirements are Buboy Villar, Chariz Salomon, Betong Sumaya, Jun Sabayton, Chanty Videla, Jade Tecson, Batmanunulat (Jerome Lois Esguerra), Tito Abdul (David Domanais), Tito Marsy (Christian Kimp-Atip), Yian Gabriel and Liana Mae.
Also in the huge ensemble are Soliman Cruz, Liezel Lopez, child star Eugene Mikaell. Sharing major appearances with Licauco are Santa Lopez and Joel Torre.
Benedict Mique, who also directed ‘Lola and the Kid’, ‘MOMOL Nights’ and the some episodes of the popular James Reid-Nadine Lustre TV series ‘On The Wings of Love’, has all praised for David. “Ang contribution niya kasi sa comedy dito is his charm. Smile pa lang niya, there is already smiling factor also for it to the audience’, Mique shares.
‘Samahan Ng Mga Kasalanan’, a fitting Holy Week offering, will be in cinemas nationwide starting April 19 or on Black Saturday.