“She’s blooming and halatang happy siya sa buhay niya kaya hindi siya mukhang losyang,” says a female writer.
Yas is happy to be playing the lead role in her newest afternoon soap, “Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka”, where she is paired with Starstruck 2 male winner, Mike Tan, and with Starstruck 3 female winner as the contravida, Jackie Rice.
“This is an advocaserye,” she says. “Meaning, may meaningful and important advocacy itong itinataguyod, which is to foster awareness about HIV or human immunodeficiency virus kasi, sa halip na bumaba, pataas pa raw ng pataas ang cases ng HIV dito sa bansa natin these past couple of years,” says Yasmien. “Kami ng co-stars ko, we took a seminar about HIV so we can all understand better what it’s all about. I play Thea Balagtas, isang probinsyanang kumukuha sa Maynila ng accountancy. I didn’t know na may gusto pala sa’kin ang isang classmate ko, si Martin del Rosario as Lawrence. He invites me for dinner then drugs me and rapes me. Yun pala, HIV positive siya at inilipat niya yung virus sa akin.”
Things get very complicated when Yas marries Mike Tan as Marco, who comes from a well to do family while she’s poor, so Marco’s mom, Gina Alajar as the domineering Adelaida, is very much against her and prefers Jackie Rice as Ava over her. Things get even worse when Gina finds out she is infected with HIV and all hell breaks loose.
“This show aims to educate viewers about the effects of HIV on a person’s life but it is also inspirational as it offers a very positive message that, even in the midst of your problems, you should not lose hope, malalampasan mo pa rin ang mga pagsubok and you will survive your trials with the help of God and the people who love you and support you,” adds Yas. “Dito, si Mike as my husband, initially rejected me, but he later realizes how much he loves and returns to me to help me all throughout my ordeals in life. Ipinaglaban niya ako pati sa nanay niya at sa lahat ng mga taong umaapi at nandidiri sa akin dahil HIV positive nga ako.”
Also in the show’s cast are Shamaine Buencamino as Yasmien’s supportive mom, Charee Pineda as her very helpful older sister, Ina Feleo as Mike’s older sister who sides with her and not with their unkind mom, Mike Nacua as Yasmien’s cousin, Catherine Rem as Yasmien’s cousin in Manila who helps her and child stars Caprice Cayetano and Sef de la Cruz as the fraternal twin kids of Yasmien and Mike. This is under the direction of Neal del Rosario.
