‘Definitely, itong ‘First Lady,’ mas mahirap talaga siya kasi they even gave me some workshops to help prepare me for my role as the First Lady. — Sanya Lopez’
FIRST Lady,” the sequel to the 2021 primetime hit “First Yaya,” will start airing on Valentine’s Day. The fairy tale journey of Sanya Lopez as Yaya Melody continues, but this time, she is now the wife of the country’s president, Pres. Glen Acosta (Gabby Concepcion), and she is the country’s First Lady.
Director L.A. Madridejos said: “Tuloy ang puso ng show na magbigay ng saya at positive vibes sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi puedeng ang Season 2 is just like Season 1, so this is much bigger. Timely nga ito kasi panahon ng election so we will give insights tungkol sa mundo ng politicians and what is happening behind the scenes.”
What can Sanya say now that she is a big star whose hit show on primetime even has a sequel?
“Honestly, hindi pa pumapasok sa isip ko ‘yung sinasabi nilang big star ako at ayokong ilagay ‘yun sa ulo ko,” she said at the press con for “First Lady.” “Ako pa rin ang dating Sanya, wala namang nagbabago sa akin. Pero thankful talaga ako na nagkaroon ng Season 2 ang show namin kasi hindi naman lahat ng shows nabibigyan ng ganitong pagkakataon.”
So, which is more difficult to do: “First Lady” or “First Yaya”?
“Definitely, itong ‘First Lady,’ mas mahirap talaga siya kasi they even gave me some workshops to help prepare me for my role as the First Lady. Siempre, dapat mas refined na ang kilos ko bilang unang ginang ng bansa.”
In the story, they will get her consultants to help her become more presentable as the First Lady. “Yes, bibigyan nila ako ng advisers na puro dating First Ladies para turuan ako on how to dress up, how to behave as a First Lady. Pero lahat sila, may lihim na galit sa akin, kasi dati lang akong yaya tapos naging asawa ng president. They will tell me: Once a yaya, always a yaya! Gagawin nila ang lahat para mapahiya ako. So ako naman, I will try to prove to them na nagkakamali sila.”
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Viewers of “Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune” seem to be enjoying the nasty encounters between the characters of Maricel Laxa as Valerie Lim, the mistress of Edison Chan (who is already dead when the series starts) and Sunshine Cruz as Cristine Chan, Edison’s sister, and also Almira Muhlach as Elizabeth Chan, Edison’s first and legal wife.
“Viewers tells me that they love it kapag nagbabangayan ang characters namin in the story because of our power struggle,” said Maricel. “Sa confrontations namin, kung minsan, si Sunshine ang panalo at kung minsan naman, ako. But bilog ang mundo so, both sides, may times na panalo, may times na talo. First time for me to play an antagonist and I’m enjoying it.”
“It’s a great privilege to work with Maricel and I really look forward to do our confrontation scenes with each other dahil enjoy raw ang viewers kapag nagtatarayan kami,” Sunshine said. “Magaling siya, so macha-challenge ka to be on your toes and also give your best in front of the camera. We also get the chance to be friends and know each other better. We might seem hostile in our scenes but off cam, we’re really friends who are enjoying each other’s company.”
Maricel said that when they were younger as Regal Babies, people mistake them for each other.
“Yes, palaging sinasabing magkamukha kami noon. Minsan, people talk to me na akala, ako si Sunshine. So now, I’m really enjoying learning more about her life, her passion for acting, her love for her family. I admire ang pagiging single mom niya na talagang ipinaglalaban niya ang three daughters niya. Tapos, she is also very active in her acting career na nagagawa niya nang maayos. There is so much to admire in her at ngayon, hindi talaga sasama ang loob ko at hindi ako mapapahiya kahit sabihing kamukha ko si Sunshine. I’m really happy we’re given the chance to work together in ‘Mano Po Legacy’ at thankful din kami kasi tinatangkilik siya ng viewers every night.”
And the good news is that “Mano Po Legacy” will now be seen on an earlier timeslot starting this week.
“Yes, from 9:35 p.m. po, ililipat kami sa 8:50 p.m. after ‘yung show ni Heart Evangelista,” said Maricel.
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Julius Babao laughs off the rumor that it’s his wife, Christine Bersola, who convinced him to move to TV5 since Christine is with Cignal TV OnePH, the sister station of the Kapatid channel.
“It’s really my decision.” he said. “After being with ABS-CBN for 28 years, parang may hinahanap ako. I felt I needed change and explore what else I can do in media. I’m now 53 and I want to get more opportunities in my career.”
He will be the main anchor of TV5’s primetime newscast, “Frontline Pilipinas.” He said he prayed with his wife and their two children (Antonia, 16, and Antonio, 12, their patron saint is San Antonio de Padua). They all asked for divine guidance. They always pray the rosary as a family, then they’ll pray for each other and it helped them all become closer to one another.
One sign is a text he got from Luchi Valdes asking him if he’s interested to join TV5. He told ABS-CBN about it and they said they’ll respect his decision.
And now, TV5 hosted a press con to officially present him and welcome him as “Frontline Pilipinas” anchor. “I’ll always love ABS-CBN since everyone knows that’s where I met my lifetime partner,” he said. “I only have so much love for the Kapamilya people.”
He also hopes to host a service-oriented radio program. “I’m hoping for a show where I can use my skills as a radio anchor to reach listeners and viewers even in the provinces.
Matagal kasi nawala ang ABS-CBN sa mga probinsiya and I heard malakas ang TV5 sa mga provinces. It’s my way of reaching out to them again and helping them after about two years of absence.”
He feels like he’s starting again. “I’m really very excited and I feel like I’m about to begin a new chapter in my life and my career. So now, I’m ready to grow some more kasi in this life, you should never stop growing, you should never stop dreaming, you should never stop reinventing yourself and I’m ready to do all that now in my new home as a Kapatid.”
