Hilda Koronel And Her Return To An Old Passion

Hilda Koronel And Her Return To An Old Passion

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

August 27, 2012, 10:12am

MANILA, Philippines – Six years since her last film, Hilda Koronel gracefully reunites with her craft as if it were an old friend.

The award-winning actress compares her return to acting with riding a bike: The skill stays even if you've not been able to utilize it for a long time.

"Once you're there, you're there," Hilda enthused to "The Buzz," Aug. 26. "The second or third day I shot already and I had all these 'tuhog' scenes and it was wonderful. I thought, 'Oh my God, I can do this right.'"

If there was some concern on her part, "it's more [about the] memory," she said.

"You know, you're getting older. So you're thinking… 'Mame-memorya ko pa ba 'yang mahahabang dialogue na 'yan?' But acting-wise I don't have jitters about those," Hilda, 55, related.

Prior to her return to the country last month to shoot for the film "The Mistress," Hilda has been living a peaceful and happy life in the United States with her family for the past six years. She and husband, Fil-Am lawyer-businessman Ralph Moore, Jr., have been together for 12 years now.

Looking back in 2006, the esteemed thespian felt "burnt out" with work, and deemed that she "needed a break." The hiatus was apparently well needed, as she has been in the industry for more than four decades. Her first year in the business was marked with swift success, becoming the youngest recipient of the FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Award at the tender age of 12 for the Fernando Poe, Jr. starrer, "Santiago." Eventually her artistry got honed through the likes of master filmmaker Lino Brocka ("Insiang," "Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag").

"My husband [also] needed to go back home, for work, so sabi niya, 'Honey, I think... you have to understand if I go back, you have to go back with me.' So yes I did… My family is my priority," Hilda added.

A compelling script—about a four-sided love story—eventually paved the way for Hilda's big screen comeback.

"I believe it was the right timing for me. My husband said yes, I could go… I told him about the story and in the beginning he was a little, 'Okay…' He said, 'You think about it. If you really want to do it this time, you should go.' And he went with me, he's with me, he's here. So he gave me permission.

"I wanted to see the script first and foremost. [So] I read it, and I really liked it. It wasn't so hard-hard na from beginning to end na iyakan and everything else. But it was just perfect for me," she enthused about "The Mistress."

She also had no qualms about her co-stars, including Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, having worked with them in the TV series "Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin" in 2005.

"I love them both… They're great kids," she said of the onscreen pair.