“FIRST LADY”, the sequel to the hit “First Yaya”, starts airing on Monday and it has a much bigger cast now so they had two different presscons to divide the cast.
Lead stars Gabby Concepcion and Sanya Lopez headed the first presscon.
Included in the second presscon are the supporting case led by Glenda Garcia as the scheming reporter Marni Tupaz who will team up with Alice Dixson in bringing down Gabby Concepcion as president, Maxine Medina as Lorraine the assistant secretary who now becomes the PR of Melody, Cassy Legaspi as Nina (the first daughter of Gabby), JD Domagoso as Jonas, Thia Thomalia as PSG Lt. Valerie Canete,
Kakai Bautista and Cai Cortez as the palace maids Pepita and Norma, Shyr Valdez as their foil Manang Sioning, the unlikely love team of comedians Atak Arana and Cecil Paz as Impak and Jesse, Muriel Lomadilla as Bevs, Divine Aucina as Bella, and the three former First Ladies who are meant to help Melody become a good First Lady but actually want to embarrass her: Isabel Rivas as Allegra Trinidad, Samantha Lopez as Ambrocia Bolivar and Francine Prieto as Soledad Cortez.
Of the three former First Ladies, Isabel Rivas acts as the alpha female who is the leader of the trio.
“My last soap was ‘Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit’ sa Afternoon Prime,” she says. “So I’m glad na napasama ako sa ‘First Lady’ which is now on primetime. Napanood ko kasi ang ‘First Yaya’ at nagustuhan ko.
"I was glad when I heard it has a Season 2 but I didn’t expect na mapapasama pala ako rito. When they got in touch with me, siempre, I’m so happy. And now I’m really thankful na naging part ako ng ‘First Lady’ kasi I’m enjoying myself working with everyone in the cast in our lock in tapings.”
Is it easy for her to bully Sanya Lopez? “Actually, hindi. Kasi nga mabait siya in real life, napakadaling pakisamahan, kaya mahirap apihin. But she’s a good actress. Ang bilis niyang maapektuhan kapag inaapi namin at madaling mapaiyak.”
Samantha Lopez, formerly known as Gracia, is also enjoying herself as First Lady Ambrocia.
“Nagpapasalamat akong sina Isabel at Francine ang mga nakasama ko as the former First Ladies kasi ang ganda ng team work naming tatlo,” she says. “First taping day pa lang namin, naging magka-vibes kami agad na lahat. So enjoy kaming magkakasama sa aming lock in taping.”
How is it bullying Sanya Lopez? “Like what Isabel said, it’s a challenge na apihin siya kasi she’s very sweet, walang ka-ere-ere, walang diva attitude kahit siya ang title role dito, at napakabait niya. Dapat tigasan mo loob mo kasi parang baby ang inaapi mo.”
At 39, Francine Prieto is the youngest of the three ex-First Ladies. She was last seen in GMA’s horror afternoon series “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko”.
“That was more than two years ago pa so I’m glad nabigyan uli ako ng assignment and it’s on primetime,” she says.
So what is her experience doing “First Lady”?
“I’m having fun. Nagkasundo agad kaming tatlong ex-First Ladies at naging okay kami agad. Ang ganda ng pagkasulat ng script sa characters namin at maganda ang batuhan namin ng aming lines. Maganda rin ang individual stories ng tatlong ex First Ladies, kaya abangan nyo.”
They’re always dressed to the nines in every scene they do in the show. Did they get a special budget for their gowns and other wardrobe?
“In fairness to GMA, they gave us a stylist at sila ang bahala sa lahat ng isinusuot namin sa show,” says Isabel. “Dapat lang na lagi kaming glamorosa in every scene kasi nga First Ladies kami.”
“First Lady” truly has an impressive powerhouse cast and we won’t be surprised if it would continue to capture the hearts of viewers nationwide and be a toprater again just like “First Yaya”. Don’t miss it on Monday to be shown right after “24 Oras” at 8 PM.
