Louise de los Reyes left GMA-7, which gave her stardom, to be managed by Viva in 2017.
They were able to cast her in Kapamilya shows like “Ang Probinsyano” and “Asintado.” Her latest TV assignment with Viva is “Encounter,” a local version of a hit Koreanovela where she plays the friend of Cristine Reyes.
She also made several movies like “Para sa Broken Hearted,” “Sanggano, Sangguwapo,” “Hanggang Kailan” “My Bakit List.” Her latest movie with Viva is the local adaptation of the Korean thriller, “The Housemaid,” where she plays the wife of a billionaire magnate, Albert Martinez.
“I’m happy kasi hindi ako nawawalan ng assignment. Sunod-sunod nga,” she says. “I’m so happy to be part of this movie where I get to work with Albert Martinez, Jaclyn Jose, Alma Moreno and with Kylie Versoza in the title role. Buntis ako rito tapos, di ko alam, my husband Albert, may affair na pala sa housemaid naming si Kylie.”
How is Kylie, who is a comparative newcomer? “Bilib ako kay Kylie kasi ang role niya rito, sobrang naapi siya. May scene na binigyan ko siya ng mag-asawang sampal. Tapos sinaktan din siya ni Tita Alma. Puro walang daya ang mga eksena and she’s very game about it. Those scenes wouldn’t have worked without her full dedication sa role niya.”
She’s also grateful to Viva. “I’m thankful to them for giving me this role na ibang-iba sa nagawa ko na before. My character here is so self centered, kaya nilagyan namin siya ng maraming layers of emotions ni Direk. She’s quite complex kaya nilagyan din namin ng naiibang nuances to give her a redeeming moment para hindi masyadong maging negative ang dating niya. I’m really proud of my work in this movie.”
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He has played several gay characters but he is not about to date gay men.
Christian Bables is very thankful to director Joel Lamangan for handpicking him for the role of the effeminate robber, Donald, in Vivamax’ “Bekis on the Run.” He has one hilarious scene in the trailer where someone asks him: “Bakla ka, no?” And he replies: “Hindi. Tomboy ako.”
“I really dream to work with Direk Joel, and we should have worked noon pa but I was then busy with a TV show kaya hindi ko nagawa,” he said. “Nanghinayang nga ako, but fortunately, heto, I’m given another chance to work with him in ‘Bekis on the Run’.”
He’s happy to finally act again after so long. “Thankful ako to have work again kasi it helps preserve my sanity. When the pandemic came, naging very challenging for me, kasi wala akong masyadong ginagawa after most of my projects were shelved. I really miss acting and one year and a half din akong hindi nakaarte. Mahirap na walang outlet para sa artistic side ko. Para akong gutom at uhaw kundi ako nakakaarte.”
So how is his experience working with Direk Joel? “At first, siempre, nandun ang kaba, kasi he’s a veteran director, but it turns out that he’s very generous at hindi siya napapagod i-guide kami ng co-actors ko sa characters naming lahat.”
He has a boyfriend in “Bekis on the Run,” played by Sean de Guzman. “In my past films, wala akong love interest, pero dito, may kissing scenes pa kami ni Sean. First time ko ginawa ‘yun. Actually, wala ‘yun sa script. Sinabi na lang sa amin ni Direk Joel, doon sa set na mismo.”
Will he fall for a beki character in real life? “I am a proud ally of the gay community, but i don’t see myself falling for a beki because my sexual preference is definitely not with the same sex but, I understand kung ano mga pinaglalaban nila. Sa gay characters na nagawa ko na, I think I help naman the community to help the audience know more about their plight in celebrating gay pride.”
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Rep. Loren Legarda of Antique has been hosting the award-winning docu series, “Dayaw,” for several seasons now. “Dayaw,” a word that means to praise and have pride in our own culture, is being shown on ANC.
We remember we enjoyed so much some of its past seasons as they are very enlightening and educational, like the one on Old Manila and various heritage sites, and the one about indigenous peoples and their cultures.
It is good she is documenting all this and preserving a chronicle of Filipino culture and soul for posterity. ANC and NCAA hosted a special press con for her and she calls it a thanksgiving press con to show her appreciation to all the people she has worked with through the years in the show.
“I’m also thankful that many young viewers appreciate episodes we post on YouTube which they can watch anytime,” she says. “It’s a passion project for me and the feedback is great, even global audiences enjoy watching it to see how rich our culture is, so we are inspired to come up with more enlightening documentaries in the future.”
On its 11th season, “Kakaibang Sigla, A Vital Energy,” Loren focuses on Filipino games, sports and dances. She hopes this new season will inspire Pinoys to be more active and energetic to help boost their immune systems, especially in this season of the pandemic.
“Dayaw’s 11th season is significant in reminding our younger generation, especially those who devote endless hours on gadgets and mobile games, to be physically active as well as experience and learn from the world outside,” Rep. Loren says.
“Dayaw,” a production of ANC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is a concept of Legarda, NCCA’s Dangal ng Haraya Patron of Arts. It airs every Thursday, 6 p.m. on ANC and the ANC Facebook page.
