ANGELI KHANG has just completed taping her first Vivamax TV series, “Wag Mong Agawin ang Akin”, and it’s set to start streaming on July 3.
“I am proud of my first series kasi it’s by Direk Mac Alejandre, who directed me in the very big hit ‘Silip sa Apoy’,” she says. “I’m confident na magugustuhan uli ito ng viewers kasi magaganda ang works niya.”
And how is Angeli now that he helms her for the second time?
“Mas aware na si Angeli ngayon sa kakayahan niya since I last directed her,” says Direk Mac.
“Mas alam niya ang craft niya at mas bukas ang puso niya, mas sensitive siya sa paligid niya kaya mas lalong naisasapuso niya ang trabaho niya.
"Dito sa ‘Wag Mong Agawin’, naging mas masusi ang pag-aaral niya sa character niya. Nakita kong mas tumindi ang pagmamahal niya sa work niya.”
“Totoo yun,” Angeli agrees. “Mas naging deep ang passion ko for acting dahil sa kanya.
"I’m very thankful din na akong pinili niya for this project kasi ang ganda ng material ng ‘Wag Mong Agawin’.
"As Jasmine, I play a girl na iniwan ng ina niya nung bata siya, lumaking nagbebenta ng katawan to survive, and later, nang ma-meet niya uli ang mother niya, naging magkaagaw pa sila sa pag-ibig ng isang lalaki.
"I’m very proud of this series lalo sa scene na nagtangka akong magpakamatay. Direk Mac helped me a lot.
"Sinabi niyang gamitin ko lahat ng sad personal experiences ko as a weapon to be effective sa eksena. He is now really one of my favorite directors among those I’ve worked with.”
How is it working with Jamilla Obispo as her long lost mother?
“I’ve worked with her sa before sa ‘Mahjong Nights’ kaya magkakilala na kami. Pero iba ang naging bonding namin dito kasi mag-ina kami. Kahit pagod na kami sa maghapong taping ng maraming eksena, we’re okay.
"Nagtutulungan kami sa eksena. In our confrontation, sasampalin niya ko, but she was hesitant so ako pa ang nagsabi, sige, sampalin mo na ako nang malakas para maiyak talaga ako.”
She is always disrobing in all her projects? Doesn’t she ever get tired of taking her clothes off?
“Never naman naging madaling maghubad, kahit ilang beses mo nang ginawa, it’s still not normal for me at pinakamahirap pa rin para sa’kin.
"But it’s part of my job as an actress. So you just have to bear in mind na it’s part of your work, your body is your instrument and you are just playing a character para magawa mo nang tama ang trabaho mo.”
It’s been a year since Vivamax discovered her and introduced her in “Taya” and she has starred in many films since then.
How is her life now as Vivamax’ top streaming actress?
“I really feel so blessed dahil unang movie ko pa lang naapreciate na ako ng mga tao at dire-diretso na ang naging career, pati ang blessings na ibinibigay sa akin ni Lord.
"I’m very happy. Hindi madali ang work namin kasi kung minsan, alas kuwatro na ng madaling araw, pero may iyakan, may sampalan pa rin kayo sa eksena. Nag-start kayo ng 8 AM, pagod ka na, but you still have to give your best para sa ikagaganda ng movie nyo.”
She has figured in many love scenes and rape scenes. Has she ever felt being taken advantage of by her leading men?
“Naku, thank God, hindi pa naman, lahat ng naka work ko are very professional. From Kuya Jay Manalo, Sean de Guzman, Vince Rillon, Mark Anthony Fernandez to Markki Stroem, Felix Roco at ang iba pa, I can feel they respect me.
"Before we shoot, they ask kung ano puede naming gawin, kung anong puedeng hawakan sa akin. May effort sila na mag-bonding muna kami, kaya comfortable na kami sa isa’t isa sa harap ng kamera. Wala nang ilangan.”
Isn’t she scared people will eventually get tired of all her baring?
“Yung magsawa sa akin tao? I’m not really scared kasi I know myself and I know that I can do more and I have a lot more to offer.
"I just pray na mabigyan sana ako ng more challenging, substantial role and I will just keep on doing my best in every project they give me para hindi magsawa sa’kin ang tao.”
