GLAIZA de Castro’s new drama series was supposed to have started last week, but GMA-7 decided to postpone it after the new lockdown. This is “Nagbabagang Luha,” an adaptation of an old Lorna Tolentino movie where Glaiza is paired with Rayver Cruz, directed by Ricky Davao.
Rayver takes over from the role originally played by Gabby Concepcion. Introduced in that movie in 1988 was Alice Dixson. Now being introduced in the Alice role is Claire Castro, daughter of Diego Castro who was recruited from a series of auditions. Also in the cast are Mike Tan and “Prima Donnas” director Gina Alajar who will now act this time.
While she’s not taping for the show, Glaiza is busy with the construction of a cafe in Baler, Quezon, where she has a vacation house. Her fiance, the Irish businessman David Rainey, enjoyed it so much when he stayed there and they are now putting up their own coffee business to cater to tourists. Glaiza says David himself will manage their cafe when he settles in the Philippines after their wedding. The coffee shop will be named Cafe Galura, which is Glaiza’s real family name.
David is also in the cafe business in his native Ireland and his specialty is artisan coffee and homemade bake trays. He himself shared photos of their cafe in Baler now being constructed in his own social media account. Glaiza confesses that she has a COVID scare recently when her swab test came out positive, even if she didn’t feel any symptoms at all.
“Wala talaga akong nararamdaman, but I quickly isolated myself,” she says. “Nag self-quarantine ako for several days tapos nagpa-test uli and it came out negative na.”
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She is in “First Yaya” on weeknights and on weekends, in “Agimat ng Agila,” making her one of the most visible stars these days.
Sanya Lopez feels so blessed. Her current GMA series, “First Yaya,” is number one on primetime and she’s getting lots of positive feedback for her performance as Yaya Melody. Now, GMA will air her other new show with Sen. Bong Revilla, “Agimat ng Agila,” this May.
This means she can be seen in “First Yaya” on weeknights and on weekends, in “Agimat ng Agila,” making her one of the most visible stars these days. Soon, she will be in lock-in taping again and she’s told that health and safety protocols will be stricter this time because of the continuing rise in the number of COVID cases.
“Nakakatakot nga, but we have to go back to work to be able to tape fresh new episodes,” she says. “Actually, it can be done naman, provided na wala lang pasaway sa cast and crew, ‘yung kahit alam nang bawal, nagpipilit pa ring lumabas mula sa lock-in location site.”
No doubt her popularity went up because of the huge success of “First Yaya.” Her love life might suffer because prospective suitors might be intimidated to court her.
“Naku, may mga pumoporma pa rin po,” she laughs. “Hindi naman sila intimidated kasi very friendly ako sa kanila, sa lahat ng fans. Utang namin sa kanila ang success ng ‘First
Yaya,’ kaya wala akong karapatang magsuplada sa kanila.”
So she’s open to have a love life despite her busy schedule these days?
“Actually, hindi naman po ako naghahanap. At hindi ko rin hinihintay. Kasi I believe na kung darating, kusang darating kahit hindi ko hanapin. I believe na si Lord ang bahala sa akin. Siya ang magbibigay ng lovelife ko sa tamang panahon, in His own time.”
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Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon is back with GMA-7 in “The Lookout” after he was last seen in ABS-CBN’s “Love Thy Woman.” His wife, Sandy Andolong, is now also with GMA playing the role of Sanya Lopez’ mother in the hit romcom, “First Yaya.” Brother Bo (as he’s called by his friends in showbiz) is in “The Lookout,” a week-long episode now shown in GMA’s drama anthology, “I Can See You.”
“I enjoyed working with Kapuso young stars Barbie Forteza, Paul Salas and the other members of the cast,” he says. “I gained new friends. Lahat sila, very professional at magaan katrabaho when we did our lock in taping. I get my energy from them and they get into their characters right away. I’m inspired by their enthusiasm to work and I’m so happy to be part of this project.”
What’s the role he plays?
“I play a doctor named Dr. Robert Penuliar, who’s connected with a top hospital. In the story, father ako ni Paul as Marius and my wife is played by Marina Benipayo as Tessa.
Daughter namin at youngest child si Elijah Alejo as Christine. We live in a village of fairly wealthy people na katabi lang ang isang community of squatters where Barbie and her family live naman. Pagpaplanuhan kaming nakawan nina Barbie.”
Barbie’s character is so hard up she agrees to be the lookout when her friend, Dalo (Luis Hontiveros), plans to rob the house of Dr. Robert and his family. But to their amazement, when they get into the Penuliar home, an intruder has already broken in ahead of them and killed the housemaid.
“The story is presented as a suspense-thriller,” adds Brother Bo. “What is the mystery that is happening in our household? Who killed the maid and what are the plans of the bad guys for our family? ‘Yun ang mapapanood nyo sa ‘The Lookout’.”
How is it working with GMA again?
“I’m grateful I did this with GMA. I’m doing another show after this na out of the box ang material. GMA is doing very well and I thank God for the blessings that come my way.”
