Jasmine Curtis Smith Plays Maria Makiling In The Pilot Episode Of 'Lolabasyang.Com' On TV5

JASMINE CURTIS SMITH is happy to star in the premiere episode of "LolaBasyang.com", TV5's reinvention of the Sverino Reyes classic "Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang". "The pilot episode is 'Maria Makiling'," she says. "Siempre, hindi ko kilala kung sino yun since I grew up in Melbourne, kaya nag-research muna ako and I learned she's a diwata at sa kanya nagmula ang bundok ng Makiling in Laguna. Kasama ko rito sina Rodjun Cruz and Carlos Agassi."

Has she found a new love after her breakup with Sam Concepcion? "No, and I prefer it that way. I'm focusing on my work right now. I'm hosting 'Happy Truck ng Bayan' and I'm enjoying going to various barangays, like Gagalangin in Tondo where I've never been to before, to stage our shows. I'm also venturing into theatre. I want to try doing a stage play as I know it'll help improve my craft."

Has she seen Sam since their split? "Please, let's not just talk about him anymore. Tapos na yun. It will just open up more intrigues, so quiet na lang."

The pilot episode of "Lola B.Com", hosted by Boots Anson Roa as Lola Basyang of the new generation, will start on July 11, Saturday, at 7 PM. We asked its director, Perci Intalan, if getting the rights for the show was expensive.

"No, madaling kausap ang heirs ng late Severino Reyes," he says. "They just asked why we want to do it on TV. I said para maipakilala ang stories to today's generation of viewers. They liked that. They then requested us to accommodate an administrator appointed by them to sit with us in writing new versions of the stories. And we did just that, so they're pleased."