Eula Valdez Wins As Best Performer For 'Dagitab' And Joins Cast Of Toprating GMA Afternoon Soap, 'The Half Sisters'

EULA VALDEZ won as best performer in Pinoy Rebyu’s 4th Annual Poll of the Best in Philippine cinema, as voted by online film reviewers. This is for her portrayal of a married college professor wrongly accused of having an affair with one of her students in “Dagitab”, Giancarlo Abrahan’s debut pic that also got the best screenplay, best cinematography awards, among others. Second best film is Lav Diaz’ “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” while third best film is Sigrid Bernardo’s “Lorna”, but the best director award goes to Jun Lana for “Barber’s Tales”.

Second best performer is Shamaine Buencamino for “Lorna” and third best performer is Eugene Domingo in “Barber’s Tales”. Allen Dizon’s internationally acclaimed performance in “Magkakabaung” is top among the male performers, landing him on the 4th slot. Best supporting performer is Barbie Forteza for “Mariquina” and runner up is Gladys Reyes for “Barber’s Tales” and “Magkakabaung”.

Eula is now happy to join the cast of the country’s numero uno afternoon soap, “The Half Sisters”, giving a new twist to the story as Isabela Zuñiga, the rich haciendera who saves Benjie (Jomari Yllana) from an accident that made him forget his past. She will do whatever it takes to fight for her love for Benjie. She was last seen on the primetime series, “Ilustrado”.

“Actually, ang first offer sa’kin is for a primetime show, but dumating ito and kinuha ko agad kasi excited ako to work again with Direk Mark Reyes in ‘Half Sisters’,” she says. “Kasi he’s my first director when I moved to GMA in ‘Kamandag’. Thrilled din ako to be part ng number one afternoon show ngayon.”

She’s also reunited in the show with Jean Garcia, with whom she did great work in ABS-CBN’s “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” and GMA-7’s “All About Eve”. “2009 pa kami huling nagkatrabaho so I’m really looking forward to work with her again kasi kami talaga ang magka-love team. Abangan nyo ang mga eksena namin dahil marami kaming confrontation scenes dito sa pag-aagawan namin kay Jomari.”

Off cam, Eula is doting mom to her teenage son, Miguel (who looks good enough to be in the movies himself) and daughter Julianna. Aside from Jean, Jomari and Eula, The Half Sisters is topbilled by Barbie Forteza, and Thea Tolentino, Derrick Monasterio and Andre Paras and Gloria Romero, Mel Martinez, Vaness del Moral and Ryan Eigenmann.

How does Eula feel about the remake of “Pangako Sa’Yo”? “Ang feeling ko lang is parang sobrang babata nila. Jodi is too young, but ang advice ko, huwag eksaktong gayahin yung mga ginawa namin noon but have their own style. When we did, wala akong stylist as Amor Powers. Kanya-kanya kaming bili ng mga gamit namin. And I remember that seen sa tapunan ng basura taken at San Fernando. Noong first taping day, nagsukahan kaming lahat but after a while, nasanay na kami sa baho ng lugar.”

Her son Miguel, now 20 (her son with Ronnie Quizon), is better looking than some of our current young actors. Is he joining showbiz? “Noong una, ayaw. But I was surprised he chose to take up film in La Salle. He’ll try showbiz daw kapag graduate na siya. Nagulat nga si Direk Joey Reyes kasi estudyante and someone told him anak ko. My daughter naman, Julianna, is very artistic. Mana sa ama (Richard Litonjua, who’s based in Australia.)”

Do her kids have regular contact with their respective dads? “Si Miguel, lately, wala. But si Yanyan, may regular communication with her dad who also helps in supporting her.”

How about her current partner, Rocky Salumbides? He was good in “Tarima” which he did with Fanny Serrano. How come there’s no follow up? “Actually, he got a lot of offers after that but he’s heart is not really in acting. He’s now in the States visiting his mom. Nami-miss na nga siya ng mga bata kasi very close sa kanya dahil maalaga siya and he cooks so well. Pero sa March 6 pa ang balik niya kasi it will be Fashion Week in New York and he’ll see muna kung may trabaho sa kanya roon.”