MELISSA RICKS is launched to stardom in “Nasaan Ka, Elisa?”, an adaptation of a Chilean mystery-thriller, “Donde Esta Elisa?”, a hit in other countries like Indonesia, Turkey, Spain, Peru, etc. The first three episodes were previewed to us and it’s pretty interesting. Melissa as Elisa is the eldest daughter of wealthy tycoon
Albert Martinez and Agot Isidro. The other two daughters are Isabella de Leon (the former Momay and Roberta who’s now 16) and Alexa Ilacad. Albert has two sisters: the gossipy Mickey Ferriols married to Christopher Roxas and has Franco Daza as their son, and the scheming Vina Morales who’s separated from her husband, has Aldred Gatchalian as her son, and Eric Fructuoso as her new boyfriend. While vacationing in a plush beach resort for Albert’s birthday, Melissa goes missing. It turns out she is kidnapped and everyone is suspect. Joem Bascon and Desiree del Valle are the cops assigned to handle the case. Also in the cast is Allen Dizon (who’s happy over his best supporting actor nomination in the Golden Screen Awards for “Sigwa”) as Albert’s best friend who’s having an affair with Vina.
Director Jerome Pobocan (who also directs “Mara Clara”) says they adapted the show to suit Filipino sensibilities. “Ang birthday party ng father sa original, simply lang. Dito, ginawa naming bonggang-bongga. The original is also very sexy, with bedscenes involving breast exposure. Siempre, hindi namin magagawa yun dito, but very sexy pa rin ang dating ni Melissa. Hindi na siya pa-tweetums dito. Vina also goes daring here. I told her ibahin muna yung sweet image like in ‘Agua Bendita’. Dito, kontrabida siya, a strong woman, babaeng palaban. Marami silang gugulatin in ‘Nasaan Ka, Elisa’ which we shot on location sa Tali Beach and Canyon Cove.”
