MAJA Salvador says her fans and those of Maine Mendoza’s have long requested for their collaboration, but she’s with ABS-CBN then and Maine is with GMA-7. But now, it’s coming true as they are both part of TV5-Cignal’s new talent search, “PoPinoy.”
“I’m glad na, heto, nangyari na. Host siya, headhunter naman ako or judge/mentor sa ‘PoPinoy’,” she says.
So how is it working with Maine and with Paolo Ballesteros who are both from GMA?
“It’s very refreshing na makasama sila, kasi pare-pareho kaming bagets in one show. First time na we’re working together and we aim to discover new talents na pasisikatin sa industry. I’m hoping makabuo kaming lahat ng magandang friendship while doing ‘PoPinoy’ together.”
So what qualities will she look for in their contestants in “PoPinoy”?
“Una, gusto kong makita ang puso nila habang nagpe-perform. Kasi, let’s face it, maraming magaling kumanta at sumayaw, pero hindi galing sa puso ang performance nila. So ‘yun ang unang hahanapin ko, puso, ‘yung passion nila to give their best in entertaining their audience.”
Maja was asked about John Lloyd Cruz during the press con but she begged off from answering. “Hindi po nag-audition si John Lloyd dito.” Obviously, she feels the press con is not the right venue to talk about John Lloyd who her Crown Artist Management agency is now handling.
Maja as a bonafide Kapatid star now has two regular shows on TV5/Cignal. Monday to Friday nights, she will be seen with Noel Comia Jr. in the heartwarming inspirational dramedy, “Niño Niña”, and on Sunday nights, she will be a headhunter/mentor in “PoPinoy.”
The show will officially start on June 13 but, on June 6, there will be a primer to orient audiences about “PoPinoy,” hosted by Lourd de Veyra and titled “Idols of Pinoy Pop: Manila Sound to KPop.”
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‘Siguro, nagsawa na rin ako dyan, kasi nung bagets ako, kailangan, laging in love. — Katrina Halili’
Katrina Halili is just waiting for the start of the lock in taping of the Book 2 of their hit afternoon show, “Prima Donnas.” Meantime, she’s busy doing a movie, “Abe Nida,” with Allen Dizon for BG Productions, directed by Louie Ignacio. And she’s the special guest in a fresh new episode of Eugene Domingo’s “Dear Uge” that ends this Sunday.
“Ang sarap nga ng feeling na hindi ako nababakante,” she says. “I’m thankful to GMA sa sunod-sunod kong assignments sa kanila.”
In “Gangsta Sistah,” Katrina Halili plays the title role of Badette, a woman with two faces.
As Red Pepper, she’s the leader of the notorious Red Pepper Gang, with Rob Sy and Buboy Villar as her henchmen, Matador and Dogs. But she has a sister who is a nun, Angela, played by Kate Valdez.
Angela comes to live with her for a while and, in front of her, Badette projects the image of a kind philanthropist who is like a saint to poor people in need. Angela is so proud of her magnanimous sister, but what she doesn’t know is that when she is not looking, Badette transforms into this ruthless crime lord who snarls orders at her obedient men. “Maganda ang episode as it imparts valid messages,” says Katrina. “For Badette, she realizes that you can lie to the whole world, but not to yourself. Isa pang na-realize niya, ipinanganak tayo para maging totoo, hindi para maging perpekto. For Angela naman, she eventually learns that kindness means choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgment.”
She’s been loveless for nine years now. Does she miss the feeling of being in love?
“Naku, 35 na ang lola nyo no? Wala naman akong nami-miss. Siguro, nagsawa na rin ako dyan, kasi nung bagets ako, kailangan, laging in love. I’m now happy with my simple life with my daughter Katie and my career. Siguro kapag may nakita akong guy na worth it talaga, baka. Ngayon, wala talaga.”
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Alexa Miro is tapped by director Erik Matti to play the lead role in his new movie, “A Girl + A Boy,” to be streamed as an original on Upstream.ph starting June 24. So how was she discovered?
“I’ve always wanted to become an actress,” she says. “Papansin ako noon, I go up the table to sing ‘Ispageting Pababa.’ I was taking up Mass Communications in La Salle when I was discovered to do TV commercials, then Direk Ted Boborol of ABS-CBN got me to do a role in the soap, ‘Araw-Gabi,’ and on TV5, I hosted a show ‘Fill in the Blank.’ I’m now managed by Dondon Monteverde.”
She has daring love scenes in her first film. How was she convinced to do them? “I’m already 24 years old and I can now make decisions for myself. I’m ready to give my all alang-alang sa craft ko, sa art. The film is not just about sex, it’s more a relationship story about millennials and I can identify with my character, Fiona, an aspiring writer na go-getter, gives her all to what she does.”
How is it working with leading man Rob Gomez?
“We met lang when the movie was cast. Pero naging comfortable agad at magaan ang loob ko sa kanya as he’s very friendly. Lumalim ang friendship namin as the shooting went on, nagtutulungan kami. We help each other with our lines, and how to trigger our emotions in doing our scenes together Magaling siya, malayo mararating niya.”
Did they have a sensuality workshop since they’ll do sexy scenes?
“No workshops whatsoever. I never imagined myself doing such scenes but I just trusted him. Rob is a gentleman and after each take sa love scene, kino-cover niya ako agad. We take care of each other kasi mahirap gawin ang movie which is not for the fainthearted, kasi sobrang tapang niya. But it’s just what real life is and you will see yourself in the characters we play and the heartbreaks we experience.”
