Snooky Serna

Snooky Serna proudly sports a band around her wedding finger not because she has exchanged "I do’s" with her current beau but to symbolize her eternal bond with her mother Mila Ocampo, who succumbed to emphysema on Jan. 6.

“Ang nakalagay dito ‘Mommy’s Girl,’” she points out as she showed the sterling silver jewelry to Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online after the Jan. 17 premiere night of her latest movie, “Sagrada Familia.”

“Parang it’s my friendship ring with my mom, forever loyalty ko sa kanya. If people don’t know it, iisipin nila na ‘Uy, kasal na ba si Snooky?’ But funny nobody asks me. You’re the first person who I told this to—na may ‘wedding ring’ ako.”

Snooky adds that the ring reminds her of her late mother and the lessons that she’s learned from her. “Sabihin mo nang weird pero tuwing magde-desisyon ako, Mommy ko pa rin ang pumapasok sa utak ko na parang kinakausap ako [telling me], ‘Gawin mo 'yan, gawin mo ‘to…’ but in a nice way. Yes, I still have her guidance,” she nods.

Snooky recalls that while watching “Sagrada Familia” at its SM Megamall premiere, she felt happy and humbled that the audience was moved by the movie, especially towards the end part.  But she admits despite feeling proud at that moment, sadness had also overtaken her.

“Bigla kong naalala tuloy,” she says. “‘Ay, sayang sana kung nandito si Mommy, siguro she would be one of those people who would react also.’ Kasi very reactive din si Mommy and siguro she would be the first person to hold my hand. Magkatabi siguro kami, ini-imagine ko naglalakad kami dito.”

“Aha, naiiyak na ‘ko,” she pouts. “I hope I’m making sense. Lutang pa rin ako [because it’s been only a few days ] since mom passed on. It’s a tragedy for me—the same way when my father [actor Von Serna] passed on. I love them equally.” But she stresses that it’s been with her mother that she’s shared a very reciprocal relationship.

In “Sagrada Familia,” Snooky plays Merly, an OFW who comes home to find her husband (played by Emilio Garcia) sexually and physically abusing their daughter (Lovi Poe), while her mother-in-law (Gloria Diaz) hopelessly suffers in silence.

Snooky, who is mother to teenage daughters Sam and Sachie by ex-husband Ricardo Cepeda, states that like Merly, she would fight to death for her children. “Ang kaibahan lang, mas feisty ako sa kanya. Kumbaga you should not be deceived by my innocent looks kuno,” she maintains.

“Kasi ang role ko tatanga-tanga tapos madali rin s’ya matuliro kasi mahal na mahal n’ya ang husband n’ya. But in my case, mas kakampi ako sa anak ko at mas lalaban ako.”

“Sagrada Familia” has received an “A” grading from the Cinema Evaluation Board for its timely theme and commendable direction (by Joel Lamangan), acting, and technical aspects.  Joining Snooky, Emilio, Lovi, and Gloria in the cast are Robert Arevalo, Jim Pebanco, Rico Barrera, and Felix Roco for this initial movie venture of Legalas Entertainment Production.

It opens in Metro Manila theaters on Jan. 20.