Rocco Nacino’s near-drowning experience
Rocco Naccino realized how fragile his life is when he almost drowned while shooting the Metro Filmfest entry “Pedro Calungsod Batang Martir” in Zambales.
The wind was howling and the waves were high. One leg was tied to a chain and his whole body was submerged in the sea.
“Hindi natanggal ang chain kaya hindi ako nakaahon agad,” says the actor who plays the Visayan saint. “Nawawalan na ako ng oxygen at ang tagal tagal bago dumating ang rescue. Eh six feet underwater pa kami ni Christian Vasquez (who plays a Spanish priest).”
Sheer will power pushed Rocco and Christian to finish the trying scene until someone came to their rescue.
Up to now, Rocco does not know what kind of miracle saved him from plunging into a watery grave.
“Muntik na ako malunod. Hindi ko alam papano ako nakaligtas.”
Awakening
Others involved in the indie film which took two years to make, because producers didn’t want to invest on a project that seemed to have no commercial value, also experienced an awakening.
Banker Ida Tiongson, who finally agreed to bankroll the indie, recalls how she kept tossing and turning in bed one fateful night. Writer-producer Francis Villacorta presented the project earlier, and she was undecided on whether to fund it or not.
Then, for some strange reason, she saw a light shine from behind her. That was the turning point. She told herself, “Let’s go for it!”
Johann Santos, one of the support cast also has his story. He was parked across his house when another car blocked his path. Next thing Johann knew, the guy in the other car was poking a gun at him and warning him not to make a move. Johann did not know how he found the courage to start the car so it can move. The gun was fired and luckily, the bullet missed Johann. It hit the other window instead. The character actor can only thank San Pedro Calungsod for giving him a new lease in life.
Rocco speaks for the cast and crew when he observed that the entire shoot was a spiritual experience.
“Naramdaman ko yung presence Niya. Parang nakabantay si God sa set namin. We would shoot in the middle of a typhoon in Zambales. Ang tataas ng alon at umaabot kami sa gabi. Wala pa kaming life vest nung nasa bangka kami. But we got home safe.”
Generation Next
It came to a point where Villacorta had to assure himself, “If I died there, at least we did something meaningful for the next generation.”
“San Pedro Calungsod,” he goes on, will help them re-focus.
After all, the saint is a teenager like them. And like them, San Pedro is searching for his own identity through a father he longs for so badly.
“The film is about love, faith and righteousness,” Villacorta adds.
He points out that Rocco’s role is an acting piece. He had to learn the Visayan dialect, with all its unique intonation and accent. And because the role landed on his lap late in the day (the first choice, JM de Guzman, had to be taken out of the film shortly before the cameras started to grind), Rocco had to read the script and absorb his character in record time.
Since he was taping “Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas” at the same time, Rocco had to get into one character and get out of it at once to play another role. He had to speak with a Visayan accent one time, and forget all about it the next.
Luckily, his bosses and co-stars in GMA understood.
“Everything fell into place.”
David among Goliaths
Rocco believes he is a David among the Goliaths of the annual Metro Filmfest, like Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda. But Rocco is not afraid.
“Hindi ko iniisip ang competition. Para sa akin, mas importante na maipakita ko ng maayos ang mensahe sa mga tao. Magiging eye-opener ito para sa kanila.”
