Second chances

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SUNSHINE Dizon is one of GMA’s prized stars.

She is now in the cast of two new shows, no less. She plays the lead role in the first offering of “Wagas” titled “Throwback Pag-ibig” now showing as a pre-program to “Eat Bulaga.” And she’s now also taping for “Magkaagaw,” with Sheryl Cruz and Jeric Gonzales.

Well, the fact that she’s so busy is not surprising because you can count on Shine as a really good actress. In “Throwback Pag-ibig,” she plays July (if you don’t know it yet, she was really born in the month of July, July 3 to be exact). She’s happily married to Mike Tan as Ryan. But their marriage crumbled when they tragically lost their daughter in the floods. They eventually separated. But as the show’s title indicates, there will be a throwback in their lives and hope for a reconciliation.

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In real life, it is common knowledge that Sunshine has called it quits with her husband, Timothy Tan. What if a throwback situation would happen to them also, just like in “Wagas,” would she be amenable?

“Honestly, mahirap sagutin ‘yan. But it takes two to tango,” she says. “It has to work both ways. Kasi lahat ng tao, puede namang magbago. I look at the positive side of life. If it’s bound to happen, hindi mo naman kailangang ipilit. Ultimately, it boils down to forgiveness. Dapat complete, kasi kung may natitirang hurt and bitterness, it will not work.”

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Sylvia Sanchez plays Luz, the mother of eight kids in “Pamilya Ko,” the fruits of her marriage to Joey Marquez. To avoid confusion, she names her children after fruits: JM de Guzman is the helpful and hardworking “panganay” and he’s called Chico. Next is Kiko Estrada as the family’s black sheep and troublemaker, Berry. They’re followed by Kid Yambao as the obedient Apple, Jairus Aquino as the effeminate Persi, Maris Racal as the fashionista social media influencer Peachy, Kira Balinger as the introverted and artistic Lemon, Mutya Orquia as the hilarious joker Cherry, and Raikko Matteo as the math genius Pongky, who is everyone’s favorite.

“Kapag tinatawag ko silang lahat, I just say fruit salad and that means kailangan ko silang lahat,” says Sylvia.

She also played a mother in her past hit soaps, “Greatest Love” and “Hanggang Saan.” How is “Pamilya Ko” different from them?

“Doon sa past two soaps ko, wala akong asawa. Single mom ako. Dito, hindi lang ako may asawa, si Joey Marquez, kundi may kabit pa siya, si Irma Adlawan. At sobrang dami ng anak ko rito!”

How important is family for her?

“Very important. Family is life. I have five kids in real life and they’re my reasons for living. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit ako humihinga.”

“Pamilya Ko” follows the journey and struggles of the Mabunga family. “This is our tribute to the family as an institution,” she says. “It shows infidelity, sibling rivalry, the usual fights among family members, but in the end, your family is your fallback. You can always count on your family for forgiveness, acceptance and unconditional love.”

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Andrew E admits he’s no longer as visible today as during his heyday in the 1990s when he was doing hit songs and movies, one after another.

“But I’m glad hindi naman ako totally nawawala sa eksena,” he says. “I’m now 52 years old and I can say I’m still around. Napapasali rin ako sa TV shows, like ‘Dolce Amore’ as the father of Liza Soberano, as a judge in ‘Showtime’ and in ‘I Can Hear Your Voice’ as a sing-vestigator. Last movie ko was six years ago, ‘Raketeros,’ and now, heto ang ‘Sanggano Sanggago’t Sangguwapo’ and I’m happy to be reunited with Janno Gibbs and Dennis Padilla, and our director, Al Tantay.”

He plays Andy in “Sanggano” that opens in theaters tomorrow. “Best friends kami nina Dennis, who plays Dondon, and Janno, who plays Johnny,” he says. “Lagi kaming napapatrobol. Pero si Janno pala, anak ng isang mayamang negosyante and when his father died, minana niya ang mga negosyo nito. Hiningi niya tulong namin ni Dennis in managing the businesses na naiwan ng father niya. Sa hacienda nila, ako ang pinakilala niyang si Johnny kasi ayaw niya doon sa mabibigat na mga responsibilidad na minana niya.”

This leads to some complications. “Siempre, mga poor boy lang kami, at nang makatikim kami ng buhay mayaman, biglang nagbago ang lahat lalo na nga’t surrounded na kami by sexy, gorgeous women like Louise de los Reyes, Cindy Miranda and Vanessa Wright na siyang leading ladies namin.”

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Bea Binene is happy to be back on primetime in the action-drama, “Beautiful Justice,” which starts airing on September 9. In the series, her brother, played by Anthony Magbanua, is killed by drug pushers and she is now seeking justice for his untimely demise. She joins Yasmien Kurdi and Bea Binene as crimefighters and they become like the trio of ass kicking women in “Charlie’s Angels.”

For someone who started as a child actress, this is her most mature role to date. “Kasi ang tingin ng ibang tao sa’kin, nene pa rin ako,” she says. “So I’m trying to project a more mature image. Pati boses ko, binabaan ko na para hindi magmukhang boses ng little girl.”

She’s also trying to project a sexier image. “Ang mga damit ko rito, medyo mas revealing. I’m sure maninibago ang iba kasi ako mismo, naninibago rin. But I have to do it so I won’t get stuck in teenybopper roles. Kailangan ng transition, ng transformation, pero kailangan ding hindi pilit ang dating but natural lang.”

Is she ready to do kissing scenes?

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“It will depend sa story, sa eksena, kung ano ang requirement sa role ko. Dito, I trust our director, Mark Reyes, na director ko na sa ‘Tween Hearts’ pa lang so lumaki ako sa kanya. I’m sure hindi naman nila ako isusubo sa isang sitwasyong hindi ko makakayang gawin. Maganda ang role ko rito sa ‘Beautiful Justice’ as Kitkat. Beautician ako rito and later on, magagamit nila ang talent sa pagme-make up kapag may missions kami na kailangan naming mag-disguise.”

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Miguel Tanfelix is happy to be the mentor of “Starstruck 7” hopeful Abdul Rahman at this point when the show nears its finals. All the other remaining contestants now have their respective mentors: Mark Herras for Kim de Leon, Yasmien Kurdi for Lexi Gonzales, Kris Bernal for Allen Ansay, LJ Reyes for Pamela Prinster and Katrina Halili for Shayne Sava.

So what’s Miguel’s advice to Abdul?

“As an actor, I told him: you need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Number 1 tip is be well grounded. Be open. Tapos huwag kang kakabahan. Kasi ‘yun ang first na magba-block sa mga emotions mo. You also need to know the character you’ll play and memorize mo ang script para hindi ka nawawala.”

Miguel and Abdul are both very good looking but also both vertically challenged that you’d wish they’d grow a few inches taller for their own benefit. Meantime, Miguel wants to remind loyal viewers of “Sahaya” that their primetime drama series is ending this week. “Marami pa pong dapat abangan sa pagpapatuloy ng ‘Sahaya; kaya huwag na huwag po kayong bibitaw on our last remaining episodes. Patuloy na ginigipit ni Ana Roces as Irene si Bianca Umalis as Sahaya pero mismong ang sarili niyang anak, si Ashley Ortega as Lindsay, bumaligtad sa korte at sinabing puro kasinungalingan lang ang sinasabi ng ina niya and she cannot stand it any more.”

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