THEA TOLENTINO considers herself very lucky. Her last show, “The Lost Recipe”, where she played a villain role as Chef Ginger, has just ended, but here she is now in the cast of yet another new show, “Las Hermanas”.
“I’m really thankful hindi ako pinababayaan ng GMA at hindi ako nababakante ng matagal dahil may kasunod na agad akong bagong project,” she says.
A lot of fans have professed missing “The Lost Recipe” on GTV and are requesting for them to have a Part 2. What can she say about this?
“I’m really happy with ‘The Lost Recipe’ kasi I learned so much from it,” she says.
“Unang-una, binago nila ang style ng acting ko. Dati kasi, as contravida, lagi akong galit, sumisigaw. But here, naging challenge sa’kin yung pagde-deliver ko ng lines in a calm and collected manner.
"Ibang-iba talaga siya at maganda naman ang epekto. It helped me in improving my craft as an actress.”
The show’s fringe benefit is it also taught her how to cook.
“Yes, dahil ang role ko naman dito is a chef, natuto talaga akong magluto, na before, akala ko, hindi ko kailanman matututuhan. I never knew I could be passionate about cooking and that it can make me so happy.
"Now, when I see the people I cook for appreciating the dishes that I prepare for them, ang sarap ng feeling. So learning experience talaga for me doing this show.”
What can see say about the clamor for “The Lost Recipe” to have a second season?
“Yes, I can see the messages of the viewers and the fans saying nabitin sila kasi parang ang bilis natapos ng show. Walang magagawa kasi it was conceived na talagang may limited number of episodes lang, parang Koreanovelas.
"They’re requesting now na magka-Book 2. Gusto rin namin, e. Sana nga, magdilang anghel sila. Magdasal sila nang magdasal para magkaroon ng sequel.”
Now 9 years in the business, it was in 2012 that she started her showbiz career when she won in GMA’s artista search, “Protege”.
“I’m very happy sa naging takbo ng career ko. Tuloy-tuloy lang siya and now, I look forward to doing ‘Las Hermanas’ or ‘The Sisters’.”
What is its story all about?
“In ‘Las Hermanas’, three sisters kami, kasama ko sina Ate Yasmien Kurdi at Faith de Silva. Ate Yasmien as Dorothy is the eldest, then si Mimi, ako yun, then si Faith as Scarlet, the youngest.
"Playing our dad is Albert Martinez. We’re a rich family but biglang bumagsak ang kabuhayan namin at doon makikita kung paano iha-handle ng magkakapatid ang challenges na dumating sa buhay nila and how they’ll cope with the problems that come they.”
Her role will reflect the difficult demands of being the middle child in a family.
“As Mimi, the middle child, medyo neglected yung character ko. Meron nung tinatawag na middle child syndrome. The eldest child and the youngest one get the most love and attention.
"Si Mimi, wala siyang sariling boses. But she’s a writer, she writes poems, at dun niya nailalabas ang emotions niya. Kakaiba ang hamon ng role ko rito. Kasama rin namin sa cast si Jason Abalos, na nakasama ko na before sa ‘Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko’ kaya bale reunion namin ito.”
