A few weeks ago, Filipina American beauty queen and actress Liza Diño received another award to add to her impressive list of honors and crowns.
During the 2011 International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) Awards Night held in New York City last November 18, 2011, Liza received the lone acting citation for her pivotal role in the movie Compound.
The movie is a critically-acclaimed psychological thriller that is the only Filipino film to have a repeat screening during the said festival.
The former beauty queen (Mutya ng Pilipinas 2001 runner-up and 2007 Miss Philippines-Earth finalist) and GMA network artist was overwhelmed when her name was announced.
Looking back, she shared: “I was shocked, it took a while for me to realize that I won an award. So they had to call me twice to come up on stage. But I think the beauty queen in me took over because I felt too composed during my speech. I can’t even remember what I said. It’s like that pala... It’s like you’re floating.”
On winning the sole acting citation award from IFFM, Liza said: “It is overwhelming to say the least. There were a lot of film entries from different countries and to be given the recognition is a big honor. I am proud to represent the Philippines. It is such a great feeling to be validated as an actress, for something that you do out of passion and love for the art. I take acting as a craft and an extension of myself...so to be given this acclamation just drives me more to find avenues to share myself.”
Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Liza took up BA Speech Communication in University of the Philippines (UP), Diliman. It was during her days in UP that Liza discovered her talent for acting.
“I had a theater elective class under Tony Mabesa, and during that time he was directing a play with Dulaang UP (Theater Company of the University). I was a perennial latecomer, so Mr. Mabesa said if I audition for the play, he won’t fail me in my classes. The rest is history. I became a resident actress of Dulaang UP during my entire stay in Diliman,” shared Liza who said that her mentors are from Dulaang UP.
“Tony Mabesa, Direk Ogie Juliano, Anton Juan and Jose Estrella are my mentors. If not for them, I wouldn’t have found my voice on stage. Director Will Fredo gave me the opportunity to portray roles that allowed me to explore my ability to get in touch with my vulnerability. Acting is an endless journey of discovery and I look forward to every chance to do that. It gives me a high.”
When she was 18 years old, Liza was challenged to join Mutya ng Pilipinas. “I have always been full-figured all my life...pleasantly plump kung baga and even in college, I have always been on the not-so-slim side. So, I took it as a challenge to lose weight by joining a beauty pageant. I saw an ad on GMA 7 and I joined, no agent, ako lang. So, it was such an amazing feeling to have gotten as far as winning the competition. I was never the beauty queen-type. Everybody was so surprised because I’m so far from being the prim and proper kind. But you eventually learn how to act like one, especially since representing the Philippines is a big responsibility, when competing internationally. There is a deep sense of pride and patriotism. I know it sounds cheesy but it was such a huge honor for me to wear that Philippines sash when I competed in the Miss Tourism International Pageant,” Lisa reminisced.
“Being a beauty queen, opened a lot of doors for me and opportunities to explore my creative side. Acting has always been a passion. I was a theater actress before I became a beauty queen so it was natural for me to transition into doing film and television. I felt very blessed and fortunate to have been presented with opportunities to pursue my craft.”“After my reign, I did a national ad for a whitening soap Likas Papaya that ran for three years and that’s where my career in TV started. I became one of the GMA Artists Center’s pool of talents and I started coming out in various teleseryes in GMA 7 and some ABS-CBN TV shows like Habang Kapiling Ka, Kakabakaba, Bakekang, Te Amo, Encantadia etc. After that, movie offers came, and that gave me the opportunity to act for both commercial and independent studios in Manila,” related Liza.
While she was active in showbiz, Liza met a Filipino-American in the Philippines. They fell in love and eventually made the decision to build their family in the US.
“My husband is based here in LA so in 2008, I decided to move to the US to get married and have a family. We have lived in LA ever since; we’ve been here for almost four years now. I’m a mother to a beautiful three-year old daughter. Her name is Amara Louise,” said the proud mom.
Aside from acting, Liza’s other passion is cooking. She studied at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles and is presently working at Spago in Beverly Hills with the famous Top Chef Wolfgang Puck.
These days, Liza is excitedly preparing for her favorite season of the year, Christmas.
“It sounds like a cliche, but Christmas really IS the season of giving... and I just love how people all over the world honor this tradition. December is so festive and everybody is in such a joyous mood. I love the Christmas rush, Christmas carols playing everywhere you go, this is the only time of the year where everyone is going out of their way to think beyond themselves and take part in celebrating the season,” she said.
Liza’s most memorable Christmas happened in the Philippines. “I come from a broken family and it has become a rarity to celebrate Christmas with BOTH my mom and dad around, so I will never forget this one Christmas when both of my dad and mom were together to celebrate it with my sister and myself—all of us together in one place. That’s my most memorable Christmas,” she shared.
What’s the best Christmas gift she has given?
“Last year, I bought my mom, who is based in Japan, a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines so she can celebrate Christmas with my sister and the rest of our family. She rarely celebrates Christmas with family because she works overseas and I know she’s been wanting to come home. So I decided to surprise her. I believe that’s the best Christmas gift I have given. It made me feel so good,” Liza said.
Having been in the US for less than four years, Liza admits she is still not used to how Christmas is celebrated here.
“
I absolutely miss spending Christmas in the Philippines. We don’t normally do Noche Buena here although I still followed our Pinoy tradition during last year’s Christmas. I love to cook so I look forward to Noche Buena all the time. But here, it’s more Christmas morning and celebrating Christmas on the day itself. That is still taking a little getting used to for me. I will probably celebrate it with family—gift -giving by the Christmas tree. I also have relatives here in the US: an aunt who lives in Cerritos and cousins in Eagle Rock, so we will probably crash their homes after my daughter opens all her presents come Christmas Day,” admits Liza.
Confessing to feeling a bit homesick during this season, Liza says, “I’m missing my family terribly. Wala talagang katulad ang Pasko sa Pilipinas. Nothing beats celebrating Christmas in the Philippines. It’s a 3-month long celebration. October pa lang very festive na.”
What does she miss about the Christmas in Pinas?
“All the lights and Christmas decorations everywhere you go. The streets of Manila are lighted up with parols and all sorts of lanterns. Buildings transform into Christmas presents. Pasiklaban ng window displays. Simbang gabi and of course, the puto bumbong and bibingka. The night bazaars and attending all sorts of Christmas parties all over Manila. I don’t miss the traffic, but I do miss the festive mood and activities. The Noche Buena with family and attending Misa de Gallo,” she answered.
In the coming New Year, Liza looks forward to her next big leading role in the Flamenco-inspired film, In Nomine Matris [In the Name of the Mother], also from director Will Fredo. Liza plays opposite Biboy Ramirez, Al Gatmaitan, Tami Monsod, and Spain’s top flamenco dancer, Ms. Clara Ramona. The movie, produced by HUBO Productions, is scheduled for release next year.
“It is based on a true story of a young woman in the Philippines who is torn between love and her love for Flamenco. This is an opportunity for me to show my other passion, which is Flamenco. I’m so excited. The film is very personal to me and I’m playing the lead role in the film,” said Liza.
Truly, great things have been coming Liza Diño’s way which fill her with so much joy. “I’m just so excited for bigger things ahead. God willing, it will be another happy new year,” she says with a grin.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Dec 14-16, 2011 MDWK pg.2)
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