23/09/2025
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๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Re:living Journey to Success
โ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ
For teacher-turned-actress Gaynor A. Calizo, those words are not just a line but the truth she has lived and carried into her craft. From the classroom to the cinema, her journey has been one of embracing opportunities with heart. That wholeheartedness led her to Re:Living Kalipay, a short film directed by Mariel Joanachim I. Rovero, and produced by Gnezel Niรฑo Sim and Barrio Yero Productions (BYP) that not only mirrored her lifeโs joys and losses but also earned her the title of Best Actress at the Sarรณk Short Film Festival 2025, presented by KCCA, the Municipality of Kalibo, FDCP, and NCCA.
Re:Living Kalipay tells the story of Kalipay, an elderly woman who discovers mysterious doors that allow her to relive seven minutes of her happiest memories. On the eighth night, she faces the choice of stepping into an inviting white room, a symbolic crossing between life and death.
For Ma'am Gaynor, the role struck close to home. โThe last scene was the hardest,โ she admitted. โIโve lost my mother, father, brother, sister, and even my husband. That final moment brought all those memories back. Even after the director shouted โcut,โ I was still crying.โ
The role came to her not through auditions or screenings but through a message. Behind it was director and scriptwriter Mariel Rovero, one of her former students. โShe asked for my support, and of course, I said yes,โ Ma'am Gaynor shared. โIโve always believed in supporting young talents who want to bring their masterpiece to life. How could I say no?โ
With only the script in hand, Ma'am Gaynor relied on instinct and empathy to embody the character. For her, preparation meant internalizationโunderstanding Kalipayโs emotions and allowing them to breathe naturally on screen. โYou donโt simply jump in and do the acting. You have to study and know the personality of your character and feel her inside you.โ
It was this process of feeling, rather than performing, that gave depth to her portrayal. Each scene became not just a role to play, but a story to live through.
Filming was no walk in the park. The young production team had limited equipment, often moving from one location to another while innovating with what they had. Yet Ma'am Gaynor admired their grit. โThey were so resourceful. Kakabilib nga mga unga, very talented. And they treated me so well, palangga gid ako nanda.โ
When she finally saw the finished film, Ma'am Gaynor cried, not out of pride for her performance, but out of the storyโs impact. โIโm a mother, and I could really relate to it. Watching it, I didnโt see myself on screen. I just felt the story.โ
The night of the film festival, Ma'am Gaynor didnโt expect much. When her name was announced as Best Actress, she was stunned. โI actually asked myself, โAko nagdaog?โ It took a moment before I realized it was real.โ
What started as a simple gesture of support for a student had turned into a defining moment in her life, a recognition of her ability to turn lived experience into art. As a teacher and an actress, Ma'am Gaynor sees her journey as a message to others. โIf you have talent and passion, donโt hide it. Being shy is never a reason for not doing it. Go for it!โ she advised.
Her journey reminds us that artistry knows no age or boundary. With passion as her compass and authenticity as her gift, Gaynor Calizo shows that sometimes the greatest roles are the ones we never expect to play.
| Mayrielle Legaspi
๐ผ๏ธ Schuyler Enerio
๐ท Sarรณk Short Film
