Shaira Mae & Mark Neumann Took Several Workshops To Prepare For Their Roles As Takgu & Sunshine In 'Baker King'

SHAIRA MAE says she’s not stalking her boyfriend, Edgar Allan Guzman, as previously reported when she allegedly visited him on the taping of “Your Face Sounds Familiar”. It was even said that she got jealous because Edgar was being linked to co-star Maxene Magalona.

“Actually, ang tagal na po noon, March 19 pa,” she says at the presscon of “Baker King” where she plays Sunshine, the female lead. “But kailan lang nila nilabas. At hindi naman talaga si Edgar ang sinadya ko roon kundi si Ma’am Sharon Cuneta. Kasi naging close kami noong magkasama kami sa ‘Madam Chairman’ sa TV5 and she said puede ko siyang bisitahin sa taping niya. Hindi rin totoong nagseselos ako na tambalan nila ni Maxene, in the same way na hindi rin siya nagseselos sa love team namin ni Mark Neumann. Feeling ko nga, nagagamit ako sa promo to boost yung tandem nila ni Maxene.”

How would she explain the fact that viewers support her team up with Mark even if they know she’s really on with Edgar? “Kami mismo ni Mark, hindi rin namin ma-explain. But siempre, very happy kami kasi may nag-form pa ng Shark love team, pinagsamang Shaira and Mark. I guess may nakita sila sa tambalan namin sa maraming ‘Wattpad Presents’ episodes na ginawa namin. At heto nga, nagulat na lang kami when TV5 management told us na kami ang gaganap sa local version ng ‘Baker King’. We’re really very thankful na sa amin napunta ang napakalaking project ito ng TV5.”

What preparations did they take for their respective roles? “Naku, marami. Unang-una, nag-workshop kami with the other cast members to make sure maganda ang magiging working relationship naming lahat. Then kami nina Mark, Akihiro Blanco, Malak So and Nicole Estrada, we had an actual baking workshop with a real baker. Marunong na nga kami gumawa ngayon ng pandesal and pan de coco. We have some Korean lines in the show so may coach din kami to teach us how to pronounce Korean words correctly.”

Mark says he’s also taking workshops for fight routines. “Si Takgu kasi, the character I play, basagulero siya, laging napapaaway, so maraming fight scenes. Feeling action star nga ako rito.”

Boots Anson Roa, who plays the family’s Korean matriarch, says she’s so happy with Mark Neumann’s progress as an actor. “I was their mentor noon sa Artista Academy and when Mark started, hirap na hirap mag-Tagalog yan. But masipag siya. Sa kanila, siya lagi ang pinakamaagang dumarating sa workshop. Dumarating ako, nakahandusay sa loob ng room, doon na natutulog, samantalang yung iba, laging late. And now, very fluent na siya sa Tagalog at may nuances na ang acting niya. He’s serious with his work at determinadong matuto kaya ang laki ng progreso niya bilang actor.”

“Baker King” will start airing tomorrow night at 9:30 on TV5 after “Wattpad Presents Hot and Cold” starring Ella Cruz and Bret Jackson.