KATE VALDEZ is launched to solo stardom in her own afternoon series, “Unica Hija”, which will replace Derrick Monasterio’s “Return to Paradise” that is now on its last two weeks.
Kate will play two roles. First as Bianca and later, as the clone of Bianca called Hope.
“Pero hindi naman sila magkikita ni Bianca sa isang eksena,” she says.
“Sa story, si Bianca is the daughter of Katrina Halili and Alfred Vargas.
"Bianca is in a relationship with Kych Minemoto, but Therese Malvar is also in love with Kych at itinulak niya si Bianca sa bangin and she dies.
"Her parents are crushed, but Kuya Alfred is a scientist who has perfected cloning and he cloned Bianca.
"Nagtagumpay siya, but his rival, played by Bernard Palanca, tries to get the baby from him.”
While Alfred is running away from Bernard, he leaves the baby girl in the forest where a man, Biboy Ramirez, finds the infant and takes her home to his wife, Maricar de Mesa.
The girl grows up to be Hope, but she is continually abused and oppressed by the cruel Maricar and her equally heartless daughter, Faith Da Silva.
Kate as Faith finds an ally in Kelvin Miranda, a young man who is the son of a rich matron, played by Issa Litton, who somehow has a complicated connection about what happened to Alfred.
Kate says she enjoyed playing both Bianca and Hope.
“Yung isa is human, at yung isa naman, clone. Bianca has a happy sheltered life kasi her parents love her and take good care of her.
"Si Hope is totally different kasi lumaki sa hirap na inaapi-api nina Maricar de Mesa and Faith Da Silva. All her life, she longs for acceptance. She wants to belong.”
Kate says she also enjoyed working with Kelvin as her leading man.
“Nagkasundo kami agad and we got along fine during the whole duration of our location shoot,” she says.
Kelvin says he enjoyed doing a drama after being involved in two light comedies, “Mano Po Legacy 2” with Bianca Umali and the sitcom “Tol” on GTV.
“‘Unica Hija’ offers a different kind of content kasi it’s about cloning, na hindi pa nagagawa sa local dramas,” he says.
“The creative team and the production team did a lot of research and also got consultants to help them to make the material more authentic.
"I play Kate’s protector laban sa mga nang-aapi sa kanya. Ang puso ng show is in the need to belong and be accepted.
"I think yun ang part ng story na magre-resonate sa audience.
"GMA wants to create something different and offer something new to the audience and this is it.
"Don’t miss it when it airs on November 7 after ‘Abot Kamay ang Pangarap’.”