GLAIZA DE CASTRO is known for playing strong women but she now plays a totally different character in “Nagbabagang Luha”, an adaptation of the movie directed by Ishmael Bernal in 1988.
“Yes, nasanay ako in playing strong characters,” she says. “Ito, walang bahid at all ng pagiging fierce or pagiging mataray like in my roles as Pirena of "Encantadia", in ‘Temptation of Wife’ and ‘Contessa’.
"So very different ito for me dahil total around, lagi akong umiiyak so nahihirapan ako. I want to thank Direk Ricky Davao for being patient with me, lagi akong ginagabayan. We put a very different flavor sa role ko rito as Maita.”
But was she able to identify with her role as Maita?
“In a way, yes, kasi si Maita kapantay ko pagdating sa pagmamahal sa family. Pareho kaming yun ang priority namin, ganun siya, she’ll do everything for her family.
"Si Maita kasi, naging nanay siya ni Cielo, played by Claire Castro, after iniwan kami ng nanay namin, si Jaclyn Jose at mapatay ang tatay namin, played by Allan Paule.
"But very different din siya from the real me kasi nga hindi siya palaban. Sa kanya, sige tatanggapin ko na lang ito lahat, which, in real life, hindi ako papayag.”
Is she pressured by the fact that her role was originally played by Lorna Tolentino?
“Siempre, may pressure. Lagi naman, if you’re doing a remake, it can’t be helped if you’d be compared sa original like ‘Encantadia’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Pero nababawasan ang pressure dahil sa suporta ng mga katrabaho ko, lalo na si Direk Ricky and all my co-stars dito.”
What would she do if what happened to her character, Maita, will also happen to her in real life?
“Naku, hindi ko siguro kakayanin yung lokohin ka ng asawa mo, lalo na kung ang nag-cheat sayo, kapatid mo pa. It’d be really more frustrating, more sad kapag malapit na kamag-anak ang gumawa nun sayo.
"That’s the difference of ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ from other stories about infidelity, kasi dito, sister niya ang gumawa noon sa kanya, inagaw ang husband niya, kaya mas masakit.”
She’s officially engaged to her Irish boyfriend. Have they fixed a date for their wedding?
“No definite plans yet for marriage, kasi lets face it, very challenging ang pandemic ngayon lalo na sa pagta-travel. Mahal yung relationship namin, kasi maraming travels na involved.
"We are hoping the restrictions will ease out. Iniisip na lang namin na test ito for us, sa relationship namin, for us to be more trustful and patient with each other.
"Pero may effect nga itong ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ sa akin which is about cheating. Naiisip ko na, naku, baka may iba na siya, kaya gusto ko na ring magkita kami.”
Will their wedding be here or in Ireland?
“Ideally, gusto ko dito ang wedding namin. Kasi ang laki ng family ko, e. Hindi ko sila kayang dalhin lahat sa Ireland. E, sila sampu lang sila sa family nila.
"So when it comes to logistics, mas practical to do it here at para rin ma-experience nila ang Filipino culture. I’m so excited to bring them around.”
DOn't miss "Nagbabagang Luha" when it starts airing on GMA's Afternoon Prime on August 2.
