Jennica Garcia

First she was afraid, she was petrified in “Hide and Seek,” her debut in a horror movie under Regal Films. Then came “Nieves,” an action-horror episode in last year’s, “Shake, Rattle and Roll X” that she found easier and fun to do. But in her third and latest horror flick entitled “Lamang Lupa,” part of the trilogy in “Shake, Rattle and Roll XI,” it was her most grueling and scariest by far!

“The hardest for me was my rape scene,” she said in Filipino. “You’re coming from a long chase and then the ‘lamang lupa’ suddenly appears in front of you from nowhere. Then you get raped. That rape scene was shot the longest because our director took close-ups, tight shots, long shots and more. I couldn’t stop myself crying and the actor playing the ‘lamang lupa’ was huge and very strong!”

The actress added that because she herself was scared of that scene, the instructions of their director, Jessel Monteverde, didn’t sink in her head as to where the “lamang lupa” would appear.

Thus, it really startled her when the “lamang lupa” appeared in her chase scene.

Before the rape scene was shot, the actress said she has internalized the physical aspect of being raped as well as the psychological trauma of bearing a child from a “lamang lupa” after. All added to her fear for the scene.

“Even if I don’t believe in a ‘lamang lupa’ I have to believe that it was chasing me and that they exist in our world… you also have to motivate yourself because the fear moviegoers would experience on the big screen would be real. It just can’t be a put-on,” explained Jennica. She added that being in a horror movie is a mixture of different emotions. She’s happy to be in one, yet after each “scary scene” she finds herself panting and grasping for air as well as having “chest pains.” She attributed this to the taxing physical requirements of being raped by a “Lamang Lupa.”

The irony is that Jennica Garcia, in real life, is easily scared by horror movies. “I never and couldn’t enter any horror booth or rides in my life. But with my horror movies, I have to be brave because that’s my job. I have to fight my fear and I have to look scared on screen,” she quipped.

“Lamang Lupa” is about a group of friends who went camping. Because of an unexpected incident, they found themselves haunted and hunted by “lamang lupas.”

“We will all become victims. And I’m the last one to die,” she sighed.

Joining her in “Lamang Lupa” are Rayver Cruz, Mart Escudero, Iya Villania, Bangs Garcia, Dominic Roco and Felix Roco.

“All I can say is that I gave my best for this project. I’m also grateful for Mother Lily and Regal Films for giving me my first lead role in this horror movie. I can feel the same care that Mother Lily gave my mom 20 years ago in her film debut ‘Impaktita.’ I’m flattered with the opportunities she has given me,” she said.

In “Shake, Rattle and Roll XI” Jennica is reunited with her ex-boyfriend Mart Escudero but Rayver Cruz is her leading man in the movie. She revealed that nothing romantic is happening between her and Mart.

“We tried to work things out but it didn’t work. I think we have outgrown each other and we already have different priorities in life. We also realized that we’re better off as friends,” she intimated.

As of press time, Jennica is dating but doesn’t have a boyfriend. But she hopes to someday find a boyfriend that would also become her lifetime partner.

“Our break-up only made me realize that I’m not yet ready for a serious relationship or commitment. My mom and dad were both right when they told me I wasn’t ready,” Jennica giggled. She wants a boyfriend and future partner in life to be as loving as her father is to his children. Of course, he should have a stable job.

“We should be emotionally and spiritually compatible and he should be family oriented,” she added. As to what she wants this Christmas and on her 20th birthday on Dec. 26 – a BlackBerry! she readily answered.