Bayang Barrios

Singer Bayang Barrios, who made her big screen debut in Pepe Diokno’s 2009 Venice Film Festival winner, “Engkwentro,” conquers the movies anew in Chito Rono’s forthcoming musical film, “Emir.”

“It’s based on a true story of an Ilocana who became the head of nannies [for a rich family] in Morocco,” Bayang tells Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online, adding that Francesca Farr, the female champion of GMA-7’s “Are You the Next Big Star?” essays the lead character of Amelia.

“And I play her mother,” Bayang adds. “I was invited to audition for the part and that’s how I got into the movie. Seven shooting days ako sa location sa Ilocos. Now I think [the production] is shooting in Morocco.”

Bayang describes the “Emir” director as meticulous and recalls the time when the shoot was packed up because the sun had already set, making it impossible for Roño to achieve the effect he desired.

She shares that other musicians like Gary Granada and Sugarfree frontman Ebe Dancel are also part of the movie, so she still felt at home on the set. She’s also thankful that she sang most of the time in the movie and had only minimal speaking lines.

Bayang, after all, is first and foremost a musical artist whose unique voice first found venue in Joey Ayala’s defunct band, Ang Bagong Lumad. Since going solo in the late ‘90s, the Agusan del Sur native has established a respectable place in the industry.

Aside from writing and producing – usually with her musician husband Mike Villegas – her albums (the latest of which is titled “Biyaya”), Bayang is also into musical theater. In fact, young director Diokno cast her in the movie after seeing her perform in a musical in Davao, where he was then doing his research for “Engkwentro.”

Regular gigs still make up most of Bayang’s workload. On Jan. 8, she’ll jam with Mike, his twin brother and bassist Angelo Villegas and Budeths Casinto at Conspiracy Bar located along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

Come Jan. 14, Bayang will play at TEN02 on Scout Ybardaloza St. corner Timog Avenue, also in Quezon City, with Luzviminda and 5inco.