ANGELI Khang is now called Vivamax K-Krush since she’s her dad is Korean. It’s obvious her Vivamax outings are all top earners since she is doing one movie after another. After being introduced in “Taya”, she did solo starrers in “Mahjong Nights” and “Eva”. And now, she topbills yet another unabashed sex drama, “Silip sa Apoy”, that premieres on Vivamax this January 28.

So what’s her role in “Silip sa Apoy”? “I play Emma, a bar girl and prostitute na na-in love sa isang taxi driver, si Ben as played by Kuya Timmy po,” she says, referring to Sid Lucero who’s real name is Timothy Eigenmann. “Sumama ako sa kanya kaysa magpalipat-lipat pa ako sa iba’t ibang costumers gabi-gabi. Hindi ko alam, lasenggo pala po siya at kapag lasing na, he becomes violent at binubugbog niya ako.”

The movie becomes a deadly love triangle story when Paolo Gumabao as Alfred moves in as their new neighbor. At night, he would hear Emma cry after her drunken husband beats her up then rapes her.

“Yes, battered wife po ako rito and it’s an eye opener for women para malaman nilang they have rights against abusive husbands,” adds Angeli. “Mahirap ‘yung role ko kasi sa bugbugan scenes, hindi maiiwasan, natatamaan talaga ako ni Kuya Timmy at nasasaktan. Nagkapasa-pasa nga po ako rito at panay ang sorry niya sa’kin. Naiintindihan ko namang part talaga ‘yun ng trabaho namin.”

She falls for Alfred who offers to take her away from Ben and this leads to some even more violent complications. So how is it working with Sid and Paolo?

“Si Kuya Timmy, he’s the most senior member sa cast at alam ko, andami na niyang acting awards. He’s very helpful and he really guided me. Pareho sila ni Paolo. May bedscenes ako with both of them and they’re both very professional. They’re also both gentlemen at hindi nagte-take advantage kaya I’m happy na sila ang nakatrabaho ko rito. They’re not just co-workers but now also good friends. At natutuwa ako kasi we met the expectations of our director, si Direk Mac Alejandre, para sa roles namin sa movie.”

Direk Mac says he doesn’t know Angeli at all. “But she came highly recommended to me by Boss Vic del Rosario. I asked for a zoom meeting with her and after 15 minutes, I found her okay.

Surprising siya for me and also Jela Cuenca, who plays her best friend in the movie. Pareho silang baguhan, but pareho ring magaling. May commitment sila sa work nila at nagpasalamat akong nagtiwala sila sa akin. Lalo na si Angeli, kasi ang hihirap ng mga eksena niya. Kakaiba ito sa mga nagawa ko na as it’s not at all about basta sex lang. It’s about abuse, physical and psychological, and marital rape. Nangyayari naman ito sa totoong buhay at ‘yun ang mapapanood dito sa ‘Silip sa Apoy’ as written by Ricky Lee.”

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Mario Bautista