CHERIE GIL says playing kontrabida to a midget like Jo Berry in the hit drama series, “Onanay”, is very challenging for her. “Mahirap kasi ang tangkad ko and each time magkaeksena kami, lagi akong looking down on her,” she adds. “E kasi I’m used to having co-stars na ka-size ko lang kapag kinakalaban ko. E, si Jo, sa mga eksena namin, lagi akong nakatingin sa ibaba. But we have to give credit to our director, Gina Alajar, dahil nagagawa niya talagang ayusin ang camera angles. Kitang-kita agad na I’m Jo’s antagonist in our scenes together. I just worry na baka dahil sa katitingin ko sa ibaba, magka-double chin na ako. Andami kong iniisip, ano?” she laughs.
Once, Jo hugged her in one scene. “Siempre, ang mayayakap lang niya, yung legs ko. Naku, hindi ako makakilos. Sabi ko, isang sipa ko lang dito, hello, titilapon siya. At tiyak na lalong magagalit sa akin ang viewers ng ‘Onanay’ dahil sa mga pang-aapi ko sa kanya.”
Someone already bashed her for being so mean to Onanay and wrote in social media: “Isang taong maliit na walang kalaban-laban, pinagmamalupitan mo. Sobrang kasamaan mo.”
“Naku, sorry na lang dahil wala akong magagawa at yun ang kailangan ng istorya,” says Cherie. “E, hindi naman sila maaawa kay Onay kung walang kontrabidang gaya ko na aapi sa kanya.”
How would she rate Onay’s acting considering she’s a total newcomer? “Aba, in fairness to her, mahusay siya. She should thank Direk Gina who’s taking good care of her. Alam na niya ang mga technical aspects sa shoot, like kunsaan siya dapat titingin, ang mga blocking niya. She’s a fast learner.”
She said she accepted “Onanay” right away. “Hindi ko pa alam ang role ko, they just told me the director is my Ate Gina and I’ll be working with Nora Aunor, tinanggap ko na agad. First time na madidirek ako ng isang award-winning actress na former wife pa ni Kuya Michael ko, so hindi ko puedeng palampasin yan. Then the chance to work again with Ate Guy, of course, I really welcome it. And now, I’m enjoying doing ‘Onanay’ very much and we’re all thankful kasi mataas agad ang rating ng aming show and the viewers embraced it right away.”
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