Pokwang hopes to work with Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano after Best Actress win

Following receiving critical acclaim at the 2026 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her dramatic role in “2 Valid IDs,” Pokwang is relishing her “drama actress” era, with a hope to work with the likes of Sharon Cuneta and Maricel Soriano.

During a chat with entertainment reporters where she bared that “2 Valid IDs” will now be up for theatrical release begining October 14, Pokwang said she is happy that the movie where she was able to showcase her serious acting chops was offered to her.

For “2 Valid IDs,” Pokwang used her real name Marietta Subong to distinguish her work as dramatic actress from being a comedienne, eventually winning the Cinemalaya Best Actress award and tying with fellow actress Ruby Ruiz for the film “Status: Rejected.”

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READ: Ruby Ruiz, Pokwang tie for Best Actress at Cinemalaya 2026

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“Kasi sabi nila pag [Marietta] ang ginamit ko dito, ibig sabihin seryoso na. At lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Sylvia dito seryoso. Pag Marietta na, award-winning na,” she said in jest during a chat with entertainment reporters on Monday.

After her award-winning performance for a serious role, Pokwang was asked if there are any particular dramatic actors that she would want to exchange lines with in a film or series and the names of Soriano and Cuneta came to mind.

“Nakatrabaho ko na si Ate Vi (Vilma Santos) sa ‘The Healing.’ Si ‘Nay Maricel (Soriano) hindi pa e. And of course, si Mega (Megastar Sharon Cuneta), yun talaga sila ang mga gusto kong [makasama]…. Sayang nga si Ate Guy (Nora Aunor), nakasama ko sya sa isang event, pero kung nandito pa sya sana sayang di kami nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Si ‘Nay Maricel nag guest lang ako sa vlog nya, tapos si ate Shawie (Cuneta) hindi pa rin. So sana mabigyan tayo pagkakataon na makatrabaho sila,” she said.

Among comedians that she would want to work with next, she said it would be Vice Ganda in a drama-action genre.

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“Tapos na kami ni Kumareng Eugene (Domingo). Parang gusto kong maka one-on-one sa serious naman, kami ni Vice. Vice, di pa tayo nagkatrabaho, ‘nak! Wala pa kami ni Vice,” she said. “Gusto ko yung drama na may action, wow!”

Asked if her talent fee went up after winning Best Actress, Pokwang smoothly said that she is more interested in leaving behind a good legacy as an actress.

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“2 Valid IDs” marked Pokwang’s second Cinemalaya movie after 10 years, after “Mercury is Mine.” Aside from her Best Actress award, the movie also received the Audience Choice Award and Special Jury Award. It also ranked No. 1 at the festival’s box office.

Eye-opener

Pokwang said the movie is close to her heart because she, too, walked in the shoes of her character Sylvia, as she too had to source out valid identification cards when she was hoping to work abroad for her family before she became an actress. She also experienced how hard it was to get help when she brought her late son to a public hospital in 1998.

“Kwento po ito ng buhay natin araw-araw… Naranasan ko yung sistemang ganito bago ako nag artista, nung nag OFW ako at kukuha ako ng passport. So ang haba ng pila, kukuha ng ganito, babalik ka, titipirin mo yung pamasahe mo. Pinagdaanan lahat ito ni Sylvia. Nung in-offer sakin etong pelikula at nabasa ko yung script, mayron kaagad akong naramdamang awa at gigil,” she said.

Among those who watched the movie premiere at the Cinemalaya film fest was Senator Risa Hontiveros, but Pokwang said that she was told that the movie will be shown at the House of Representatives to help lawmakers craft a law that would help make the process of securing government IDs more efficient in order to ease the burden of citizens.

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“Yung hinahanapan ka ng ID e kaya nga gusto mo kumuha ng ID kase wala kang ID. So sana magawan ng paraan ng mga nasa pwesto… Itong pelikulang ito ay napakaganda ng kwento, napapanahon. Eye-opener, ika nga. Happy ako na sa akin na-offer ang pelikula,” she added.