“It was my Ate who advised me to move to GMA and to be managed by her manager, si Tito Perry Lansigan,” she says. “11 years na rin naman po ako sa Channel 2. Nag-start ako sa kanila as a child actress. So for a change, lumipat ako. Sabi ng Ate ko, i-try ko sa GMA kasi mabait sila at magaling mag-alaga ng artista nila. I trust my Ate so lumipat nga ako and so far, no regrets naman. Enjoy naman ako. Napi-feel ko yung pag-aalaga nila sa handlers ko who make me feel valued at inaasikaso ako nang husto.”
She was glad when she was informed she’ll be in Barbie’s show. “Bata pa lang kami ni Barbie, nagkatrabaho na kami sa movie na ‘Ang Darling Kong Aswang’, mga 7 years ago na yun. Mga anak kami ni Bossing Vic Sotto. So parang reunion namin itong ‘Meant to Be’. At saka hindi lang ako ang galing sa Dos dito sa show, kundi sina Ivan Dorschner, Addy Raj at mismong director naming si L.A. Madridejos. Lahat sila nagsimula as a Kapamilya.”
So it’s a reunion for them to be working together again in “Meant to Be”? “Yes, lalo na si Direk L.A., sobrang saya kong nagkasama kami uli. Kasi noong bata pa ako, pinapasan pa niya ako sa likod niya. I feel so blessed na sa first project ko sa GMA, siya ang nakasama ko kasi nga comfortable na ako sa kanya. Nagpaalam naman ako nang maayos sa ABS na susubukan ko munang magtrabaho sa iba at pumayag naman sila.”
Does she live with her sister? “No, she has her own house with her family. I live with my mom and dad, pero yung mom ko, umuwi ngayon sa kanila sa Austria for a vacation.”
Eventually, her relationship with Barbie in “Meant to Be” will go sour and she’ll be a contravida. Does she mind? “No. Enjoy nga akong magcontravida. Mas tumatagal sila sa industry at mas maraming nagagawa. But dito, hindi naman ako salbaheng villain kundi kulang lang sa attention.”
The pilot of “Meant to Be” turned out to be a big winner in the ratings. At the AGB Nielsen National Urban Television Audience Measurement ratings, it got 16.8% while its rival “Till I Met You” got only 9.5%. But even at the ABS-CBN’s own Kantar Media national ratings bulwark, “Meant to Be” also scored higher with 14.1% while the Jadine show got only 11%. Barbie and her four leading men truly have reason to rejoice!
