Romnick Sarmenta on playing gay roles: 'It's best if you have open heart, open mind to everyone'

Romnick Sarmenta has done several acting roles in the past, including being a priest, a rebel, and most recently, a gay man in the film "About Us But Not About Us," an official entry to Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.

On "Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel," the veteran actor said when choosing roles to accept, he focuses on the storyline and not so much on the character's sexual preferences.

"Panuorin natin 'yung storya and focus on the story, hindi do'n sa gender or sa sexual preferences kasi materyal lang 'yun, it doesn't make the whole person," he said.

Romnick also said giving life to challenging roles like a gay man is not a problem for him.

"Blessing din naman, in my case, that I have a lot of friends in the industry na gusto nila actually ipa-try sa akin 'yung [iba't ibang] roles," he said.

The actor also stressed how his generation was the most strict regarding gender preferences in the past.

"I'm 50, and I'm turning 51 this year, so sa generation ko lalo 'yung very strict about 'yung gender preferences," he said.

"I've come to a point where I think it's best if you have [an] open heart and open mind about everyone. We should be more loving towards people and understand," he added.

"About Us But Not About Us," which also stars Elijah Canlas, bagged 10 awards at the recently concluded Summer MMFF, including Best Actor for Romnick and Special Jury Prize for Elijah.

—Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News