We see her from Mondays to Saturdays in the high-rating series “Ika-6 na Utos” as Georgia, the villain to Sunshine Dizon’s Emma. But in “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B,” Starstruck Batch 2 Ultimate Female Survivor Ryza Cenon will be unlike anything you’ve seen her before.

She was actually auditioning for the role of Jewel’s best friend which had a little exposure in the film but ended up playing the main character of the film. It has been thirteen (13) years since she won the reality artist search but this is her first lead role in the film, and this is before her found fame in the on going afternoon series Ika-6 na Utos.

Truly, Ryza Cenon deserves all the blessings she’s been getting for her hardwork and patience for the break she’s waiting for.

Both effective in portraying the fragile and calm Jewel who also gets to be sexy and the wild and fierce manananggal, producers Jun Robles Lana, Perci Intalan, writer Jen Chuaunsu and director Prime Cruz felt they chose the right person to play their main character.

But the highlight of all the promotions of the film is her “masturbation” scene.

The sexual urges are vital in the film. It’s one of the reasons that triggers Jewel to transform into a full-blown manananggal. But Cenon actually doesn’t have experience in masturbation as she jokingly tells her director Prime Cruz to “practice” when she goes home. But the masturbation scene was tastefully done.

The film is a different take on the Filipino mythical creature, and the story does not portray her (Cenon) as just a flesh-eating villain but also a human who has choices and can love. That’s where Martin del Rosario enters the picture.

It’s unlike any Manananggal movie released before. More than the scares, the film also showcases the human side of the mythical creatures, most especially their ability to love and what they sacrifice to love.

Be sure to check out “Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B” when it opens nationwide August 16, as an official entry to the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.