All Eyes On Ashley Ortega
If there’s one thing that Ashley Ortega has learned early in life, it is to never stop dreaming and keep moving forward no matter how many times you fall.
Text by Aimee Anoc
Photos by Cyrus Panganiban
Shot on location at Rizal Park Hotel Manila
Ashley Ortega couldn’t help feeling proud as she is now living her dream role in the Philippines’ first-ever ice-skating drama series Hearts On Ice.
In case you didn’t know, Ashley is a figure skater. Before entering the world of show business, she found her first love in figure skating.
“Pangarap ko talagang magkaroon ng show about figure skating and now it’s happening, so for sure ’yung seven-year-old Ashley is cheering for me, nakaka-proud,” Ashley shares in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com.
Now that she has reached the moment that she’d been waiting and preparing for, she is ready to give an ice show that will surely be remembered.
Every step on the ice
The versatile Kapuso actress began her figure skating journey at three years old. It was her parents who introduced her to the sport. Ashley immediately took a liking to it.
Little Ashley was not the only sports enthusiast in her family. Her older brother played hockey, and her younger sister was into ice skating as well.
“We were part of the Philippine team, we would represent our country and compete abroad,” Ashley says of her family.
At the age of five, Ashley began competing locally and internationally. She has competed in different countries like Thailand, Bangkok, Japan, Malaysia, and China and has received numerous awards for her performances.
Her most memorable competition was the 2008 Skate Asia held in Malaysia, where she bagged eight gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal.
“’Yung mga medals na na-achieve ko before nakalagay lang s’ya sa dalawang malaking fishbowl sa house namin, doon lang lahat. I competed in Thailand, Bangkok, Japan, China, and ‘yung mga local dito sa Philippines. Memorable ’yung sa Malaysia, ’yung marami, kasi nalagay ’yun sa magazine,” she recounts.
But Ashley’s journey to becoming a figure skater has never been easy. Before ever reaching the level of being competition-ready, she had to pay her dues. She had to balance everything, her time for training, for studying, and for herself.
“It’s hard to train especially on the days noong nagko-compete pa ako. After school diretso kami sa mall, sa skating rink to train hanggang mag-close ’yung rink—that’s on weekdays. And on weekends, from morning to evening we would train so nakakapagod s’ya. Pero bata naman ako that time so nae-enjoy ko rin s’ya kaya siguro naging passion ko siya kasi I would enjoy that sport. Supportive din naman ang school kasi we would represent our country pero syempre hindi rin namin pinabayaan ’yung studies, that's why we have tutor. Hinati-hati na lang [ang oras]. If gusto mo naman ‘yung ginagawa mo, you’ll find time to balance it. You know in life we should also know how to balance our priorities. Hindi naman pwede na iisa lang forever,” she claims.
These experiences made her realize that whether you win or lose a competition, if you do your best, you should be proud of yourself.
“Kasi it’s not about the gold medal, it’s about performing, expressing yourself naturally, gracefully, and just loving the sport.”
Even if she loved the sport, Ashley had to make the difficult decision to retire from competitive skating at the age of 12, because she felt it was time for her to chase another dream: modeling and showbiz. But before she hung up the gloves (or in her case, skates), she competed, for the last time, at the Summer Skate competition at the SM Mall of Asia, where she won three gold medals.
“Bumalik ako sa figure skating, I think, 19 years old na ako. I went back for one year and I competed also locally dito ng one year. I retired as a competitive figure skater at the age of 12 kasi I entered showbiz at the age of 13,” Ashley recalls.
Gliding into her showbiz career
Although she had interest in showbiz, Ashley never imagined that she would be part of it one day. It was only after she was “scouted” by a modeling agent that she had the guts to go for it.
“I think nu’ng nag-iskate ako may naka-scout sa akin and then try ko raw mag-commercial. So, I tried commercials and nakatanggap ako ng commercials.”
Ashley learned later on that acting wasn’t that much different from figure skating, after all. In both areas, she can entertain people by giving them a good performance.
“Siguro ’yung similarity lang in figure skating I entertained people by performing, same with acting, I would entertain viewers on TV. So siguro I was born with that talent, born to be a performer. Hindi ko rin in-expect actually na mag-aartista ako. Just out of nowhere, pinag-audition ako and I got in unexpectedly, and eventually naging passion ko na ’yung acting na rin,” she says.
Ashley got her first television role at the age of 13 in the 2012 GMA drama series Cielo de Angelina, which starred Bea Binene and Jake Vargas.
“So nu’ng first show, siyempre, wala akong experience about showbiz or acting, iba kasi ’yung acting ng commercial and TV so nanibago talaga ako, nag-adjust ako. Naranasan ko rin ‘yung pagalitan ka ng director and everything. But of course, na-enjoy ko rin siya kasi sa first show ko medyo ang dami ko ring na-experience du’n, and I told myself kung ayaw ko talaga hindi ko naman s’ya itutuloy. Pero pinursue ko ‘yung acting because na-enjoy ko s’ya and it became my passion nu’ng dumagdag pa ‘yung shows ko. That’s why to this day I’m still a proud actress,” she recounts.
Ashley has since appeared in several series, including Dormitoryo (2013), Paraiso Ko’y Ikaw (2014), My Destiny (2014), Kailan Ba Tama Ang Mali (2015), InstaDad (2015), Dangwa (2015), Wish I May (2016), Oh My Mama (2016), Super Ma’am (2017-18), and Sahaya (2019).
The Kapuso actress has also appeared in anthology shows such as Dear Uge, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Tadhana, Wish Ko Lang, and Magpakailanman, where her acting skills are constantly put to the test.
“Actually, lagi akong nacha-challenge kapag gumagawa ako ng Magpakailanman episodes, maliban sa mga show na nagagawa ko. ’Yung Magpakailanman episodes kasi it’s based on a true story and it’s always heavy, it’s always drama. Doon talaga nacha-challenge ’yung pagiging artista ko kasi ang daming demands of the role and variations na kailangan,” she narrates.
In 2021, Ashley got her biggest break when she bagged the role of Marriam in the GMA Telebabad series Legal Wives, a kontrabida role that earned her lots of great feedback from the viewers. This series was also memorable for her because she fully enjoyed her character and had the opportunity to work alongside Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo.
“I’m actually not the lead there, I was just a supporting role pero malaki raw ang naging impact n’ya sa audience. So eventually after Legal Wives, nagkaroon ako ng lead role sa Widows’ Web, which I’m really grateful for. Also, mature ’yung role ko roon, so it’s a challenge,” Ashley says.
Ashley earned the lead female role of Jackie in the 2022 GMA Telebabad series Widows’ Web, alongside Carmina Villarroel, Vaness del Moral, and Pauline Mendoza.
In 2023, she is ready to make everyone fall in love with the sport she first loved—figure skating, as she portrays Ponggay, who desires to fulfill her overbearing but well-meaning mother's dream of becoming a figure skating champion, in the first-ever Filipino figure skating series Hearts On Ice.
Living her dream role
Five months after her successful turn in Widows’ Web, Ashley excited her fans when she confirmed that she would be taking on the lead role in the primetime series Hearts On Ice.
She tells GMANetwork.com that she couldn't help feeling emotional when she found out she’d be starring in a show about figure skating, her long-awaited dream role.
“Actually, nu’ng malaman ko na may show ako about figure skating, naiyak talaga ako. I got so emotional because pangarap ko siya. And sinasabi sa akin, ‘Ano dream role mo?’ I always say figure skating. But at the back of my head, iniisip ko na ‘Parang malabo ’tong mangyari.’ Kasi paano nga naman tayo magkakaroon ng gano’ng show siyempre kailangan mag-adjust ng whole production, di ba? But hey, it’s finally happening. So talagang nagdasal ako kay Lord, nagpasalamat ako sa kanya. And it made me realize, I know it may sound cliché, but dreams do come true. Like ito talaga hindi ko in-expect that it will happen. So, I’m really, really grateful,” she muses.
She began preparing her role immediately after the lock-in taping for Widows’ Web wrapped up in February 2022.
“Nag-train ako kaagad sa skating. Ibinuhos ko ’yung time and effort ko sa training to really have a nice show... Focus talaga ako sa preparations. I think sa lahat ng seryeng ginawa ko, ito ’yung longest preparations na ginawa ko for a character,” she recalls.
As much as she whipped herself into shape so she could execute the necessary moves on ice and look like a legit competitive ice skater, Ashley spent time learning about her character Ponggay.
“Aside from training, siyrempre inaaral ko rin ’yung character ko. I want to give justice to my role, her name is Ponggay. At saka may extra challenge din ‘yung role ko roon sa figure skating. Extra challenge s’ya for me kasi may something s’ya, so I have to make an effort—to look good inside the rink, to do all my stunts without falling.”
Ashley admits to feeling the pressure that comes with being the lead in a new series.
“This will be different. It's my first to do a sports drama and isa rin ito sa kauna-unahang figure skating na teleserye. Sobrang napre-pressure din ako kasi ang taas ng expectations ng mga tao, pero this is it!”
For her leading man in the series, she will be working for the first time with multi-talented actor Xian Lim. According to Ashley, when she found out she would be teaming up with Xian, she couldn’t help but feel “kilig.”
“I couldn't ask for a better partner. Si Xian Lim talagang he trained for three to four months para lang hindi raw s’ya magmukhang nakakahiya. Kapag nakikita ko s’ya sa skating rink, mas maaga pa s’yang pumupunta sa akin roon. Magbubukas pa lang ’yung mall nandu’n na s’ya. Sabi ko, ‘Bakit nandito ka na tapos parang araw-araw?’ Sabi niya, ‘Nahihiya kasi ako sa ’yo.’ Sabi ko, ‘Bakit ka mahihiya sa akin? Ako nga ’yung nahihiya sa ’yo because you're Xian Lim.’ Pero I really admire his effort and his passion, na-in love s’ya sa sport ko. And nu’ng nagsu-shoot kami... ’yung production, like every time they would film me performing, nai-in love din sila sa sport, na-a-appreciate nila. So sana once na nag-air na s’ya, ma-in love din lahat ng tao sa sport, sa ginagawa namin, because it’s really inspiring.”
Aside from Xian, Ashley will be working with Amy Austria, Rita Avila, Tonton Gutierrez, Lito Pimentel, Ina Feleo, Cheska Iñigo, Antonette Garcia, Kim Perez, Roxie Smith, Ruiz Gomez, Shuvee Entrata, and Skye Chua.
Ashley is now looking forward to seeing everyone be inspired by Hearts On Ice, the country’s first-ever figure skating series that emphasizes the values of hard work, perseverance, and determination.
“It’s not just about figure skating. It’s about love, it’s about family, it’s about chasing your goals. Persevering that even though you fail in life, you should always know how to recover, move on, and keep going.”
Reaching for her personal goals
Ashley is thankful for the overwhelming opportunities now coming into her life. Asked if she wants to go back to competative skating, without hesitation, she answers, “I’m not closing my doors to anything, especially now na ang daming opportunities na pumapasok. So, if nagkaroon ako ng time why not, di ba? Nandito na rin naman ako, nagte-training na rin naman ako. I’m not closing my doors. I’m open to all the opportunities as long as I enjoy what I’m doing.”
Another “passion” that Ashley is not completely turning her back on is interior design.
“Actully nu’ng nasa college ako I was an artista na. I remember grabe din ’yung struggle ko nu’n. Hindi ko alam kung uunahin ko ba ’yung pag-sketch ko o babasahin ko ba ’yung script ko? Dinadala ko pa sa taping ’yung mga sketches ko para lang matapos ko ’yung mga plates. I’m not gonna lie hindi ko s’ya natapos kasi hindi ko kinaya but again I’m not closing my doors to any opportunity. But I’m happy di ba at least natuto ako ng interior design. You’ll never know maybe in the future ganahan na ulit ako, sayang naman ’yung pinag-aralan ko ng two years baka pwede pang i-pursue,” she says.
But for the time being, she is focused on her showbiz career and the personal goals she wishes to achieve.
“Sa personal kong life, siguro my next step is to buy a house for myself or to start a business. Sa career ko naman, as far as I can go hanggang saan ko makakaya, ibibigay ko lahat. Ako naman never akong tumatanggi ng work. I love what I do. Not just because of money or fame, it’s just my passion. I love being an actress. I love performing for people. I love making them cry, making them mad, making them laugh. Masaya na ako sa ganu’n.”
Shoot Producer: Gabby Reyes Libarios | Content Producers: Aimee Anoc & EJ Chua | Digital Staff Assistant: Andrea Gadaza | Stylist: Kat Lizaso | Makeup: Nikki Urfano | Hair: Raymart Espina | Special thanks to Michelle Garcia-Arce
