DIREK Mac Alejandre feels so fulfilled as he gets to direct two of Vivamax’ top sex sirens today, Angeli Khang and Azi Acosta. It’s common knowledge Angeli is his signature star in films like “Silip sa Apoy”, “Selina’s Gold”, “Bela Luna” and the mini-series “Huwag Mong Agawin ang Akin”.

As for Azi, he directed her in “Sex Games” he says her role now in “Call Me Alma” is much bigger as she plays no less than the title role itself. So who’s the better actress between the two sexpots?

“Mahirap mag-compare kasi pareho silang magaling,” he says. “Si Angeli, gumalaw lang ang ulo, madrama na. I think there’s more levity in Azi. Dito sa ‘Call Me Alma’, it starts light but we go into heavy drama once Jaclyn Jose enters the picture. At puring-puri ni Jaclyn si Azi na talagang hindi nagpahuli sa mga eksena nila.”

How was the film conceived? “I told Ricky Lee gumawa kami tungkol sa isang mag-inang parehong puta. But ‘yung nanay, she did it dahil sa kahirapan, and ‘yung anak, she did kasi she chose it, gusto lang niya. Si Azi ang napili namin as the daughter and as the mom, we said we should get an actress na dating sexy star then naging serious actress, at si Jaclyn nga ‘yun. And we were right, kasi in their scenes together, parehong napakahusay nina Jaclyn at Azi.”

‘Call Me Alma’ is set at the turn of the century in the year 1999, when everyone is anxious about the coming new millennium and predictions that the world is ending in the year 2000. But amidst all the chaos, a young woman continues to just keep on working harder for her dreams, Alma (Azi Acosta), a prostitute working at a high-end club.

Having no parents and no one to care for her, Alma has been supporting herself and has worked at the club for the longest time. Over the years, she has catered to many men, but she has three regular customers who she fondly calls by their nicknames – Tiger Joe, Kabayo, and Puppy Dog.

Tiger Joe is Mr. Lopez (Mon Confiado), a rich lawyer and a sadist who enjoys role-playing when making love. Kabayo is Mr. JC (Josef Elizalde), a bank executive known for being well-endowed but is a premature ejaculator.

Puppy Dog is Miguel (Gold Aceron), a young student and hopeless romantic who has developed feelings for Alma and she allows him to sleep with her without the need to pay. With all the money she earns and receives from different men, Alma is now living comfortably and unapologetically.

But her peace is disturbed when a middle-aged woman named Sheila (Jaclyn Jose) approaches her one day and claims to be her mother. Sheila explains herself and wants to make amends, but Alma refuses to listen, thinking that if she did not need a mother then, why would she need it now?

Complications occur when Shiela turns out to be suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. She asks Alma to help search for her father in Bataan. So they go together and it becomes a moment of self discovery for Alma.

Will she still find in her heart to forgive and accept Shiela for selling her when she was an infant? Can Sheila help Alma heal from the pain of her past? Will Alma find a way to change and live a new life, forgetting her being a prostitute? Or will she be forever tied to the club and to Tiger Joe, Kabayo, and Puppy Dog? You will find out all the answers to these significant questions when you “Call Me Alma” on Vivamax starting September 1. Watch how Alma learns that our fate actually relies on our own hands and our own choices often make us who we are.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Bautista