In upcoming drama series 'Contessa', Glaiza de Castro is all about women empowerment

In the upcoming GMA afternoon series "Contessa", Kapuso actress Glaiza de Castro will be playing Bea Resureccion who is fueled with rage to fight for justice. 

Life hasn't been kind to Bea. She's imprisoned for a crime she did not commit, and experienced the murders of her husband Marco Cabellero (Mark Herras) and mother Linda Resurrecion (Tanya Gomez).

In the press conference on Tuesday, Glaiza said their latest drama series is one tool to promote women empowerment and standing up for oneself.

"I have the strong urge na i-encourage 'yung mga kapwa kong kababaihan na hindi lang lumaban, na parang 'yung pangkarapatan ko, hindi para iimpose sa tao, kundi para hikayatin din 'yung mga tao katulad ng mga lalaki na maturuan kayo ng respeto. Pantay pantay tayo dito, that's what women empowerment is all about," she told the media during a sit-down interview after the press conference.

For Glaiza, women empowerment is not just about holding rallies and protests to fight for equality. It's also about educating men. She said that through Jak Roberto's character Jong Genoroso, "Contessa" will also encourage men to help women in their fight for fair play. 

"Dito, I think napakabalanse ng material ng 'Contessa' para maging tool din sa women empowerment, dahil meron siyang 'yung character ni Jak na si Jong. I think ini-impose niya rin na kailangan ng mga lalake na tulungan ang mga babae para din makamit 'yung katarungan na hinahanap nila," she continued.

Her own experiences with injustice

Glaiza said she is no stranger to experiencing injustice.

"Hindi siyempre ma-i-iwasan yung katulad sa school yung ma-bully ka tapos hindi mo pa napapansin na nababastos ka na pala. Minsan sa work, may isang incident na na-feel bad ako after. Natulala ako [na lang ako], kasi nung una parang medyo binibiro biro pa namin eh. Tapos parang na-realize ko, di siya dapat maging biro, di siya dapat ma-acknowledge nang ganon."

She noted that her experiences has taught her to have better judgement of the fine line between what is violating to one person and what is not.

"Mas nagiging aware ako sa kung ano 'yung nakakabastos sa hindi. Kunwari, regarding street harassment, 'yung catcalling, anything against your will, masasabi mong harassment 'yun. Sinasabi kasi ng iba, 'tinatawag ko lang naman siya, sinisitsitan ko lang naman siya."

Standing up for oneself as a way to teach and educate

She encourages her fellow women to stand up for themselves not to punish the doer and instead to teach and educate. 

"Pwede ko 'yun i-report, hindi para parusahan siya kung hindi para ipaalam sa kanya na, 'uy medyo hindi tama yang ginagawa mo.' Para maturuan maging aware, kasi baka akala nila normal na 'yan eh. Kasi minsan 'yung mga ibang bagay, nagiging okay na lang, but I think malaking factor din na ma-correct siya kasi pano na 'yung mga susunod nating generation?"

Apart from having the guts to fight for yourself, Glaiza said it's important to have a good support system with whom you can share everything.

And for her, it's her parents.

"Isang malaking factor talaga 'yung pamilya mo 'yung meron kang pinupuntahan, 'yung pinagsasabihan, kung wala man 'yung pamilya kung hindi man sila available nasa ibang bansa man sila, meron ka dapat pinagsasabihan kung ano 'yung nararamdaman mo, kung ano 'yung pinagdadanan mo, napakaimportante nun," Glaiza said. — LA, GMA News

In time for International Women's Month, "Contessa" will premiere on March 19 after Eat Bulaga, replacing the top-rating "Ika-6 na Utos."

The drama series is directed by Albert Langitan who also directed the GMA Afternoon Primetime “Impostora.”