Having started acting over eight ears ago, Anna Luna said it was more than worth the wait to be one of the lead stars of the film Maestra which is part of the upcoming Cine Lokal starting December 8. “Sobrang overwhelming kasi sunod sunod ang mga nangyayari. First time ko kahit papaano na magbida sa pelikula, first time kong magka-supporting best actress award tapos first time kong makasali ng Cinemalaya. Ang daming first time. Masaya sobrang saya. Sana bago matapos ang taon ay nagkaroon ako ng mga blessings na ganito. Ang tagal kasi nag-start ako nung 16 years old, tapos 24 years old na ako and ngayon lang ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Para sa akin feeling ko okay din yun na hindi ko agad nakuha kasi at least pinaghirapan ko talaga from theater,” she told PUSH during the Maestra special screening held last November 30 at the Black Maria cinema in Mandaluyong city.

Anna, who will also be also singing the Maestra theme song by Vehnee Saturno, said she is proud to play the true-to-life role of Iah Seraspi, a fisherman’s daughter from Romblon who topped the 2015 board exams for teachers. Anna said it was a big help to have the actual person she was playing on the set with them. “Malaking help sa akin si Iah kasi siya yung ginampanan ko mismo. At kasama namin siya lagi sa shoot kaya kapag may mga questions ako regarding sa script tinatanong ko din siya,” she shared.

Even during her teens, Anna said she already knew she wanted to act. “Lahat naman kaming mga artista mahal namin yung trabaho namin, sa akin sobrang passion ko ito. Passionate talaga ako sa pag-arte period. Gusto kong umarte talaga. Mga third year high schoool ako nag-ho-home study na ako para makapasok ako sa musicals at plays. I look up to actresses like Angeli Bayani and Alessandra de Rossi kasi sila yung mga artista na sobrang nirerespeto nila yung craft nila,” she explained.

In Maestra, Anna hopes viewers will learn from the inspiring stories of three teachers who never gave up on their dreams. The talented actress said she is also planning to go back to her studies as a third year film major. “Kasi sa pelikulang ito di ba tatlo sila dito? Tapos sobrang na-inspire ako kay Iah kasi magka-edad kami halos pero dumating siya sa point na walang wala talaga siya. Ang gusto niya magturo, ang gusto niya mag-aral at magtapos. At kahit wala siyang kahit ano sa plato niya, nagawan pa rin niya ng paraan. Yun yung sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na bakit ako hindi pa ako naka-graduate ng college. On hold ako ngayon. So na-inspire ako sa kanya,” she admitted.

Maestra: An Educator also stars Angelia Bayani and Gloria Sevilla. Directed by Lemuel Lorca and produced by Dr. Carl Balita. Watch it at the Cine Lokal festival from December 8 to 9 at select SM cinemas.