Acceptance. Friendship. Love. All of these and more will come to the fore as Star Cinema proudly presents a masterpiece from director Olivia Lamasan, John Lloyd Cruz, Luis Manzano and Vilma Santos!

IN MY LIFE celebrates a lot of different things. Raymond Lee, Senedy Que and Direk Olive herself wrote the story and screenplay that revolves around Shirley, excellently portrayed by Vilma who after seven long years, is back on the big screen for Star Cinema. Shirley, a woman at the crossroads of her life, accepts his son’s invitation to visit him in New York. What comes next is a journey that will change her life forever.

“In My Life offers you a different Vilma Santos, a different John Lloyd Cruz and a different Luis Manzano. It offers you also sa unang pagkakataon ang pagsasama ng tatlong mga ito. Also first time tina-tackle ang problema ng isang babae na in her mid-fifties na iniisip mo parang katapusan na ng buhay mo yun pala parang nag-uumpisa pa lang,” according to Direk Olive.

Vilma said, “I started in the business since I was 9, halos lahat na yata ng roles, halos lahat na nagawa ko na, mula pagkabata, teenager. Naging darna, naging Dyesebel, naging other woman, naging martir na asawa, halos lahat na nagawa ko, dumating na ko sa point na anong bago? Ano naman yung pwede naman akong magpakita or macha-challenge naman akong gawin ulit. Mula nang ginawa ko yung mga pelikulang ‘Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa?’, iba yon. Walang mga leading man yon, yun bang hindi love story. Then naghahanap ako ulit na pwede nating maioffer na iba. Itong In My Life ang nakita kong macha-challenge ulit ako. Because the role that I’m playing here hindi ko pa nagampanan. So excited ako sa movie na to, ibang klase naman yung challenge na hinahamon ako ng movie na to. “

Box Office King and best actor awardee John Lloyd Cruz is also set for another career-turning move as he breathes life to a persona he has never done before. As Noel, he deals with insecurities and hardships as he works to earn the acceptance of Shirley, and his place in the Big Apple.
“First time working with Ate Vi… nakakatulala, para bang ilang beses ko niremind ang sarili ko ‘oy wag ka manood, kailangan ng participation mo dito’, kailangan mo magtrabaho kasi syempre ako lumaki ako na sila yung talagang magagaling hindi ba? Talagang mga pangalan na tinitingala ng lahat. Madalas nangyayari sa set, sa shooting, napapatunganga ako, pinapanood ko siya kung pano siya kumilos, kung pano siya umarte. Paano siya umatake. Maganda, Masaya na parang na-enjoy ko yung feeling. Pero ganoon ang pakiramdam, sobrang lakas ng screen presence niya e, kahit wala syang sinasabi parang humihinga yung screen”

And with this, Vilma added, “ngayon ko lang masasabi ito kasi nakakaeksena ko si John Lloyd. Ang isang na-feel ko kay John Lloyd kasi, he’s not taking his career for granted e. Nakikita mo sa shooting seryoso siya. Once kaeksena mo siya, nararamdaman mo yung ibinabalik niyang acting sa’yo, sincere e.”

Meanwhile, Luis Manzano, long known for his comic wit and gift of gab, is taking on his biggest and most intense role to date, as he plays Mark, the son of Shirley. Success has already in his way, but fate laid cards on him. Will his future hold well with Mark on his side and Shirley coming back into his life?

“Ang pagkakaiba namin, I’m a bit more family oriented, si Mark kasi medyo nawala ang tutok nya sa family, he was too busy sa buhay nya although nandoon ang pagmamahal niya sa family niya. Medyo he was not able to focus on it. ‘Yun ang difference namin ni mark. One similarity naman, ako I live a very fast paced life. I believe life is too short. And it really applies in Mark’s case especially sa mga pinagdaanan niya”

“Iba kasi talaga yung material na nagawa and yung comeback movie ng mommy ko. Ako as a viewer as part of the audience, I would love to see my mom and John Lloyd na gumawa ng movie, silang dalawa lang. Nagkataon lang na added bonus nasama ako. Pero the fact na napagsama mo 4 ingredients: the story, Direk Olive, John Lloyd and my mom altogether. Everyone would watch that movie.”

Vilma also shared her thoughts on working with her son for the very first time. “Sa nakita kong idineliver niya (Luis) sa pelikula, sa akin ok ‘yun e. Natural e. Natural yung delivery niya. Basta’t isang bagay lang gusto kong i-share sa kanya, natutunan ko na ‘a good acting is not acting.’ Kasi kung properly motivated ka, dapat yung character na ‘yon ang lumabas. Pag naglabas ka na ng extra effort, kailangan magaling ako dito, ay wala, madidiskaril ka, umo-OA ka na. kasi ang pinakamagandang acting is coming from the heart.”

In My Life opens in theaters nationwide on September 16, 2009!