When her name was announced as the Best Actress winner for the film Apag during the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 awards night, Gladys Reyes was visibly surprised as she went up on stage.

The talented actress shared her thoughts during that time at an interview after the event.

“Lagi nating naririnig na hindi ini-expect pero hindi ko talaga ini-expect kasi natuwa na ako na na-nominate. Kaya nung tinawag yung pangalan ko, talagang kita naman nila yung reaction ko, kasi mahusay rin si Kylie (Padilla), mahusay din si Bela (Padilla) at yung mga pelikula nila. Kaya sobrang ganong na lang, overflowing happiness.

“Siyempre una kong naisip yung pamilya ko, ang Panginoon of course una na lahat and naisip ko worth it lahat ng mga pinagdaanang challenge during the shoot. Sabi ko nga the most haggard set I’ve ever been sa isang pelikula, yun na yung Apag eh.

“ And sabi ko kung buhay ang papa ko talagang siya yung inspirasyon ko sa pelikulang ito kasi talagang fresh na fresh yung ICU scene dito eh. Talagang pinagdaanan ko sa totoong buhay. Kaya salamat talaga sa lahat,” she said. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gladys Reyes-Sommereux (@iamgladysreyes)

READ: Gladys Reyes reacts to rumor she got her legs insured

Apart from her award-winning performance in Brillante Mendoza’s crime drama Apag, Gladys is also part of the cast of another Summer MMFF film entry, the comedy Here Comes the Groom. 

The 45-year-old actress admitted it was a different kind of acting challenge for her to execute director Chris Martinez’s script. 

“Actually akala nila ganun kadali magpatawa, ang challenging magpatawa ah. Kasi kailangan proper timing.

“Thankful ako kay direk Chris Martinez kasi yung mga bato ng dialogue sa Here Comes the Groom sa kanya galing yun eh. As director siyempre expert niya dun. Bawal mag-adlib.

“Kung kay direk Brillante most of the lines are adlibbed halos wala kaming script, sequence guide lang. Sa Here Comes the Groom baliktad. By the book, so bawal. Ipagpapaalam mo pag mag-a-adlib ka,” she revealed. 

READ: Gladys Reyes and husband Christopher Roxas open a catering business amidst the pandemic

During the awards night, Gladys reiterated how crucial it is for the local industry to have venues like the MMFF in order to put a spotlight and to showcase Pinoy talent and stories onscreen.

“Sobrang importante kasi sabi nga namin sana makatulong ito para lumakas yung film industry lalo na ngayong Summer film festival. Heto na nga, binibigyan na nga tayo ng pagkakataon na walang kasabay na masyado ng foreign film na palabas. Please lang panuorin naman natin.

“At of course validation sa trabaho namin di ba? Kaya kita niyo naman ganun rin ka-emotional si KaladKaren kasi first movie tapos may award na. Kaya maraming, maraming salamat sa jurors. Thank you for choosing us.

“Sana ito na yung signal na mas lumakas, palakasin pa natin ang pelikulang Pilipino ngayong Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. Sana naman huwag tayong madaig lang ng mga foreign films kasi talaga naman dekalidad ito. Kita niyo naman About Us But Not About Us humakot talaga ng mga awards. So sana lahat ng pelikula panuorin po nila,” she shared.

In a recent Instagram post, Gladys gave thanks for her role in Apag, which she hoped more people would be able to watch in local cinemas until April 18.

She wrote, “Salamat Nita, sulit ang lahat ng masakit at mapait na pinagdaanan mo.Sa mga di pa nakapanood, palabas pa rin po ang Apag sa mga sinehan.

“Bukas sweldo na, manood na kasama ng pamilya at mga kaibigan.

“Cabalen, mekapanalbe na ka? Manalbe ta na!!”