MAJA SALVADOR gets to play the title role in TV5’s new primetime drama, “Niña Niño”, where she plays Niña and former child now teen actor Noel Comia plays Niño.
She was given a grand zoom presscon where the audio visual presentation addressed her as Her Majasty, the Queen of TV5’s Primetime.
TV5 top honcho Robert Galang welcomed her and proclaimed they are very happy to have her with them.
The show is co-produced with Cornerstone Entertainment and its exec, Jeff Badilla, was asked why they chose Maja for the teleserye.
“As an actress, sobrang lawak ng range ni Maja, ang dami niyang kayang gawin,” says Mr. Badilla.
“Magaling siya in both drama and comedy, which is what the show requires. And very charismatic siya. Viewers will easily regard her as part of their family. Madaling nakaka-relate ang tao sa kanya.”
Maja says the show was first pitched to her in October.
“When they pitched it to me, nagustuhan ko agad, there were butterflies in my stomach,” she says. “Kasi bagay na bagay ang tema nito sa mga nararanasan natin ngayon with the pandemic.
"Ang ganda ng konsepto, about faith, miracles and the importance ng dasal sa buhay natin. Kakaibang Maja rin ang mapapanood nila rito. Ang last teleseryes ko, paubusan ng boses dahil sa sigawan at iyakan. This is much lighter kasi balanse ang drama at comedy.”
In the story, her brother Noel dies in an accident. She prays so hard for him to recover and when he does, he got healing powers to heal the sick. Does she really believe in miracles?
“Everyday, paggising ko pa lang sa umaga, nagpapasalamat muna ako then I pray na sana maganda mga mangyari today.
"Actually, ang bawat paggising ko pa lang, isang milagro na yun for me. With this teleserye, it will remind us na, kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, don’t lose faith na hindi ka Niya pababayaan.
"Nandiyan lang Siya at may milagro lagi. Itong nangyayari, it’s also a reminder for me and also the audience, lalo na ngayong Holy Week, kasi baka nakakalimutan na natin siya, so we have to return to Him and pray some more.”
All her soaps before were with ABS-CBN, so how is it working now with TV5?
“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na nagkaroon ako ng chance to work with other people in the industry, make new friends and also get to explore other venues.
"I’m very grateful they offered ‘Nina Nino’ to me kasi it’s a show that is full of love, hope, puno ng saya at pag-asa na siyang kailangan natin sa sitwasyon natin ngayon.”
Was it a hard decision for her to leave ABS-CBN and transfer to TV5?
“Sa ABS, naikot ko lahat ng drama production units nila and I’m very thankful for all the shows they’ve given me. So I questioned myself, okay ba tong paglipat ko? Tama ba to?
"May doubt noong una, but as I started taping with TV5, gumaan ang loob ko, nakapag-adjust ako. Sa buhay kasi, wala namang madali, meron ka siempreng pagdaraanan, but kapag nalampasan mo yun, magiging proud ka sa sarili mo kasi you know you didn’t just give up."
Working with TV5 is a fresh start for her.
"I really feel this is a new beginning for me. And I appreciate it na TV5-Cignal is giving me so much importance. Masaya ako sa way na tinatrato nila ako, just like sa ABS din before.
"I just feel so lucky na andaming taong nagtitiwala sa akin at willing sumugal sa akin. Nae-enjoy ko yun. Freelancer naman ako so I can work with anyone. I don’t have a contract with any network, so dito muna ako ngayon.”
He was paired with top leading men in ABS. Now, she’s paired with a teen actor, Noel Comia Jr. as her brother, and with comedian Empoy Marquez as her love interest. How does she feel about it?
“Ever since naman, wala talaga akong permanent na ka-love team. I am now paired with Empoy and I have a good feeling, tatalunin namin ang Kathniel. Joke! Masarap siyang katrabaho kasi magaan sa set, walang ginagawa kundi patawanin ka.
"At yun ang nadiskubre ko rito, mas madaling umiyak kaysa magpatawa. Kaya yun ang naging challenge sa akin, kailangang hindi OA ang nuances na ibinibigay mo sa eksena. Our director, Thop guides me, para hindi mukhang epal ang dating ko, kasi hindi talaga madali maging komedyante.”
It’s her working relationship with Noel Comia Jr. that they had to work on.
“Kasi magkapatid kami rito and viewers have to feel that. So bago kami isinalang ni Noel, nag-workshop kami, getting to know each other para maging totoong magaan ang loob namin sa isa’t isa. Nung nag-lock in na kami, mas nabuo ang bonding namin, nawala na yung hiya-hiya sa amin.
"Lagi ko siyang pinapakain kaya magkamukha na mga pisngi namin. Now, pareho kaming nararamdaman talaga ang bawat eksena, may koneksiyon kami, nagbibigayan kami. May kemistri kami as brother and sister. So you’d really believe na magkapatid kami.”
Didn’t she get scared to do tapings now that cases of virus infection have gone up?
“We taped this kasi bago nagkaroon ng surge and in fairness sa TV5, they followed all the required protocols sa lock in taping. Nagsaw-swab test, nakamonitor ang lahat.
"We have taped enough episodes and we just pray na when we do the next cycle ng taping namin, hindi na ganun karami ang cases like now.”
How does she feel that her show will be a pre-program to the shows produced by ABS, starting with “Ang Probinsyano”?
“I’m happy about it kasi ang nangyari, ang TV5, nagsanib-pwersa with ABS. Di ba maganda yun? Parang isang bagong yugto sa industriya natin na nagkakatulungan at ang viewers ang siyang makikinabang.”
Is she and partner Rambo Nunez getting married soon now that they’re also business partners with their own talent management company?
“ Ipagdasal po natin yan, kasi ang respective families namin ni Rambo, gusto nila talaga na sana nga, kami na talaga ang mag-end up together, so hinihiling ko sa sambayanan, ipag-pray sana nila yon.
"Kasi okay na okay naman ang relasyon namin ni Rambo. We’re both very open and honest with each other, kung ano ang makakaya naming dalawa sa paging partners namin para sa management business namin.”
Someone asked more questions about their company but Maja begged off.
“Naku, in respect po sa TV5 at sa show namin, huwag na po nating pag-usapan yan kasi balak kong magpa-presscon separately for that. Siguro next month.”
Aside from Maja, Noel and Empoy, also in the cast of “Nino Nina” are Ruby Ruiz as their lola, Aaron Villaflor as their contravida, plus Moi Bien, Ian Pangilinan and Millette Esteban. Aside from this, Maja has also finished shooting a new movie titled "Arisaka".
“It's an action-thriller, directed by Mikhail Red, naisingit namin,” she says. “I play a policewoman who's kidnapped and has to escape from my captors. Ewan lang kung kailan maipapalabas.”
So what does she miss the most now that we’re in the midst of the pandemic lockdown anew?
“Ako kasi, workaholic din ako, but to recharge, kailangan ko lang magpunta sa dagat to rest at okay na uli ako. E sa ngayon, bawal, so I really miss the ocean.”
Any encouraging last words for our countrymen?
“Sa mga kababayan natin, alam kong ang hirap ng sitwasyon natin ngayon. Walang pinipili ang virus, kaya natural lang na makakaramdam tayo ng anxiety.
"Basta kumapit tayo sa Panginoon, palakasin ang ating loob, alagaan ang ating katawan, pati ang ating mental health, at lagi tayong magdasal para matapos na ito.
"At panoorin nyo ang ‘Nino Nina’ starting on April 5, at 7:15 sa TV5 dahil tiyak na mabubuhayan kayo ng loob at di mawawalan ng pag-asa when you watch this inspirational show.”
