RABIYA Mateo din not win in the Miss Universe but she’s luckier than winners Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray as she’s now a GMA artist and she’s getting a big break as the leading lady of Sen. Bong Revilla in “Agimat ng Agila, Season 2.”
This is a very auspicious start for any newcomer. We think Rabiya’s edge is that her morena beauty is really more of the “pang-artista type.” She reminds us of Cindy Miranda, who didn’t win big as a beauty queen but now has a stable acting career as a leading lady in Vivamax movies.
Sen. Bong Revilla has nothing but praises for Rabiya, saying she shows much promise. “Magaling siya at hindi natatakot kahit sa action scenes niya,” said Bong. “Malayo ang mararating niya. Puede siya maging action queen.”
And what’s Rabiya’s reaction? “Salamat po kay Sen. Bong sa mga papuri niya,” she said.
“I’m really very grateful to be part of ‘Agimat ng Agila, Season 2.’ Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa GMA-7. Grabe ang tiwala nila sa akin para ibigay ang role na ito sa akin. Kaya I promise na hindi ko sasayangin ang blessing na ito. Sana nga, magtuloy-tuloy siya.”
How is Sen. Bong as a leading man? “Siempre, intimidated ako nung una, but sobrang bait niya sa set. Hindi siya nagsasawang alalayan ako, kasi aminado naman akong baguhan lang ako. And I learned so much from him, lalo na about the do’s and the don’ts sa showbiz.”
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She is in two big shows premiering this year: “What We Could Be” and “Voltes V.”
Ysabel Ortega feels so fortunate to be included in the first batch of Kapuso stars introduced in the rebranding of GMA Artist Center as Sparkle. She’s the newest among them. How does she feel about it?
“It feels really good to be in the company of Sanya Lopez, Bianca Umali and Gabbi Garcia who have all played lead roles,” she said. “It’s also nice to know that GMA believes in me. It helps in motivating me to do better.”
Ysabel just turned 23 on January 25. Her dad is Sen. Lito Lapid and her mom is former actress Michelle Ortega. She started as a teen star playing supporting roles in ABS-CBN then moved to GMA where she’s given bigger roles in shows such as “The Gift” and “Pepito Manaloto.”
What’s her take on GMA Artist Center now being known as Sparkle? “I think it’s a good way of relaunching their management arm. New Year, new name, and it’s a big opportunity for us, their talents, to show the people our own sparkle. I feel so happy to be a part of this group and I expect that it will help me to grow in my career.”
This year, expect Ysabel’s star to soar as she will have her own teleserye, “What We Could Be,” a co-production between GMA and Atty. Joji V. Alonso of Quantum Films and TV. She has no less than two good-looking actors as her leading men, Miguel Tanfelix and Yasser Marta. She is also in “Voltes V Legacy” where she will play the female lead role of Jamie Robinson.
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Paolo Gumabao stars in two new movies after winning two acting awards for his m ovie last year, “Lockdown.” Now both being shown on Vivamax Plus are “Sisid” and “Silip sa Apoy.” He is the most daring actor on Vivamax now.
In “Sisid,” he has bed scenes with both Kylie Versoza and Vince Rillon. In “Silip sa Apoy,” he has sexy scenes with Angeli Khang and there’s even a brazen scene where he exposed his erect manhood. What can he say to the comment of some detractors that all Vivamax does is sexy flicks?
“I respect their opinion but I think some of them make such comments kahit hindi pa nila napapanood ang mga pelikula ng Vivamax,” he said. “The movies of Vivamax are just focusing on reality more. Love and lust are part of our life and that’s what we show, as realistically as possible. But it’s just a part of the film. ‘Sisid’ also focuses on environmental protection and ‘Silip sa Apoy’ is about domestic violence and woman empowerment, so hindi sila puro sex lang.”
Now that he’s with Viva, would he like to work with his older brother, Marco Gumabao, who’s been with Viva for some time now?
“I really want to work with him, so I was delighted when the offer from Viva came. I even visited him and I told him na, sana, magkaroon kami ng film together. Sabi niya, sana nga. We really both welcome the experience of working with each other. At sana, maganda ang material.”
