His last comedy movie was ‘Kung Fu Divas’ with Marian Rivera and Aiai delas Alas but as a supporting actor only. ‘Ded Na Si Lolo,’ which was released in 2009, Roderick starred along Gina Alajar, Elizabeth Oropesa and Manilyn Reynes. It has been more than two decades since Roderick Paulate starred in his own movie. But this year, Roderick returns to his roots, starring in ‘Mudrasta’ – the upcoming CreaZion Studio Release family-comedy film arriving in cinemas on August 20.
But why did he chose Mudrasta as his comedy movie comeback?
“Yes, I think… Ako naman, hindi nagtatago sa’yo—especially sa’yo, Alvin. May mga offers, alam mo ‘yun, pero hindi talaga swak eh. Parang ang feeling ko kasi, kahit na ba sabihin na pelikula mo ito, pero ang mga nangyayari lang doon sa mga in-offer sa akin simula, parang basta makagawa na lang ng comedy film, maibalik lang,” Roderick shares.
“Siguro naman alam mo na I’m very particular with the story—kung paano rin gagawin at paano ipe-present. Maganda ang Mudrasta in the first place. Siguro naman it’s self-explanatory. I’ve never been a Mudrasta, so first Mudrasta role ito. So, nung pinresent sa akin ito ni Rex, talagang sabi ko, “Challenging na agad.” Pero ang dami kong questions: ‘Paano ako magiging Mudrasta dito?’
So, binigay ang storyline. Then after that, sabi ko, “Sige, payag akong gawin ito, pero gusto ko pa rin makita yung script. Gusto kong makita yung screenplay.” Kasi pwedeng maganda ang story, maganda ang storyline, pero hindi naman maganda pagdating sa script.
Doon na kami nagkasunod-sunod. Proseso na ‘to—kina-cut ko na yung stories, proseso ng pagbabantay na namin, pag-uusap. A series of meetings ang ginawa namin ni Direk Julius at ang ating writer na si Jon Mones Fontana. Per sequence ang pinag-uusapan namin dito sa pelikula. And every… Ito yung pelikula na sabihin na nating na-involve ako sa ibang pelikula, pero dito talagang per sequence, lumalabas kami ni Direk (Julius) para tapusin yung pelikula.
And along the way, habang pinag-uusapan yung pelikula, yun na—nung binanggit na yung mga gustong makasama, I’m free to choose kung sino ang gusto kong makasama. Lalo na akong na-excite dito sa Mudrasta. Maraming factors kung bakit gusto ko ang Mudrasta. I think—and I’m sure—hindi ako nagkamali. Ito talaga yung gusto ko na maging comeback ko sa comedy,” Roderick continues.
Aside from being a Mudrasta, your character is the “kabit” of Tonton Gutierrez. Why did you choose him as your leading man? May kissing scene ba kayo, kasi magkaka-kabit kayo sa movie?
“Meron, pero di ako pumayag. Kasi yung reputation, pinangangalagaan. Wala namang kissing scene. Gusto ko naman, panoorin pa rin ng mga bata, ‘di ba? Gusto ko lagi, family.
Siguro natutuwa ako kasi yung last na nag-interview sa akin—mga, I think, millennials na batang vloggers. And sila mismo, natuwa ako na it came from them. Alam niyo po, hindi kami nagulat nung ini-interview ko dito na sinabi ko, “Si Tonton.” Hindi kami nagulat kung bakit si Tonton Gutierrez—kasi kahit bata pa kami, inulit-ulit po namin ang ‘Wristwatch’ ng Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK). Kinikilig po talaga ako doon.
So, alam nila na si Tonton, nakasama ko na sa ganitong role. And why Tonton? Unang-una, kalimutan muna natin yung pagiging magkaibigan—Tonton is a good actor. Hindi natin maaalis ‘yon. At yung experience ko sa kanya sa Maalaala Mo Kaya, mahirap eh.
Sabihin natin sa comedy, pag sinabing comedy, “Pre, Aga Mulach ‘yan!” Pero pagdating dito sa ganitong mga scenes—Tonton Gutierrez ‘yon. Malaking bagay ‘yon sa pelikula. Kaya nga lagi kong sinasabi kay Ton, “Hindi mo pa napapanood yung buong pelikula, pero may eksena don na maraming umiyak sa’yo. Very sincere talaga yung eksena.”
So I’m very thankful. In fact, I’ve been saying that I’m very grateful na ang mga kaibigan talaga ay umoo sa project na ito. Plus, of course, nariyan pa rin yung magic ni Direk Julius Alfonso.
By the way, I want to say: fan ako ng Deadma Walking. Okay? I’ve been telling him—Direk—nung nakita ko siya na siya ang magdidirek, sabi niya sa akin… ngumiti lang siya. Ako pa nagsabi, “Direk, kilala kita!” Sabi ko sa kanya—nagyakapan kami—sabi ko, “Fan ako ng Deadma Walking.” Sabi ko, “At naging judge din ako. Malaki ang puntos ko doon. Talagang gustong-gusto ko.”
Mudrasta follows the story of Victor “Beki” Labrador (Paulate), a flamboyant ex-lover who finds himself back in his former flame’s life after inheriting half of his estate and being forced to live with the family he left behind.
The trailer, now a viral hit, has racked up over 6.35M views across platforms, and is currently #11 on the Top 30 Trailers in the Philippines on YouTube. Viewers were quick to highlight the film’s most quotable and theatrical moments, including:
● The dramatic Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin confrontation between Beki and Evita: “Nagkarelasyon po kami ni Enrique… Relasyon! Kerida, Kabit, Mistress, Number 2—Relasyon!”
● A visual callback to MMK’s Lobo, when Beki lets go of the balloons
Directed by Julius Ruslin Alfonso (Deadma Walking) and produced by the same team behind Patay Na Si Jesus, Mudrasta promises a rollercoaster of hilarity and heart.
Watch out for more nods to iconic scenes from Filipino movies and series in Mudrasta. Catch it in cinemas nationwide starting August 20, 2025.
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Transcription by Raymart Nieves