Glaiza De Castro

A Life of Gratitude

She’s an actress, adventurer, and a lover of life. Glaiza De Castro is no longer here to impress,
but to do things that are good for her heart and soul.

Text by Jansen Ramos

Photos from Nagbabagang Luha, Glaiza De Castro's Instagram, and David Rainey's Instagram

Videos from GMANetwork.com (Kapuso Profiles), Glaiza de Castro Official Youtube (video header)

"Alam mo, if it weren’t for my job as an actress, ’di ako magkakaroon ng confidence sa sarili ko, kasi in reality awkward ako, hindi gano’n kataas ’yung confidence ko."

People may see Glaiza De Castro as a fierce, strong-willed woman on TV but, in reality, she’s the complete opposite of her antagonistic, provocative roles like Eunice in Stairway to Heaven (2009), Heidi in Temptation of Wife (2012), and Pirena in Encantadia (2016).

During her younger years, she was awkward and she lacked self-confidence, a far cry from the woman that she is today. It was only when the opportunity to enter show business came Glaiza was able to break free from her introverted self.

“One time may conversation kami ng pamangkin ko yata sabi ko, ‘Alam mo, if it weren’t for my job as an actress, ’di ako magkakaroon ng confidence sa sarili ko, kasi in reality awkward ako, hindi gano’n kataas ’yung confidence ko, mas pipiliin ko na lang na mag-isa. And doing characters like Pirena, Eunice, and now Maita, parang na-empower nila ’ko and parang kapag nakikita ko ’yung sarili ko ngayon, masasabi ko na ‘Ay, kaya ko pala,’” she tells GMANetwork.com, grinning.

With her striking features and incredible acting range, it didn’t come as a surprise that the roles that came Glaiza’s way were often villainous.

In her new show, Nagbabagang Luha, however, she presents a different level of emotions as Maita, a loving daughter and a sister, to which she is most challenged.

"Nakikita ko na nagkaroon na kami ng sariling bahay, nabigyan ko na ng maayos na sasakyan si Tatay, kapag nagda-drive s’ya, mas komportable s’ya, ’yung mga gano’n. Kaya pinili ko rin s’ya over college e kasi para sa ’kin ito na ’yung trabaho. ’Di ko naman pinagsisihan.”

“May nagawa naman na rin naman akong remake like Encantadia, Temptation of Wife but this time kasi parang ’yung character ko, may ibang klase siyang palaban. Tinatanggap niya lagi ’yung mga pang-aapi sa kanya kasi si Contessa pinapantayan n’ya ’yung level ng pagiging antagonist n’ya e. Dito kay Maita, ang panglaban n’ya is ’yung resilience n’ya na, ‘Sige tatanggapin ko lang lahat, lululunin ko lang lahat’ pero may mga times na sumasabog din siya.”

She then adds, “I wouldn’t say fierce pero ’yung laban n’ya nanggagaling talaga sa loob, hindi siya laging outward.”

Nagbabagang Luha is the TV adaptation of the 1988 movie based on the comic novel by Elena Patron.

It packs an emotional wallop that makes Maita’s life so painfully glorious and her story so bitterly beautiful after her own lone sibling Cielo (Claire Castro) and the man she loves, Alex (Rayver Cruz), bring her tears of misery in a shocking, unthinkable, and unforgivable manner.

“’Pag binabasa ko ’yung script, talagang gusto ko talagang labanan pero as Maita, hindi e, hindi ko karakter. Mapapa-question ka talaga na, ‘Bakit? Bakit hindi n’ya ginawa ’yon?’ pero it’s all coming from a place of love kasi. So it’s very difficult for her to choose between her sister and the love of her life,” Glaiza shares, adding her personal reflection on her character.

Remakes, as expected, draw comparisons. And Glaiza’s turn in Nagbabagang Luha is no exception.

Asked if it’s a big deal for her to be compared with seasoned actress Lorna Tolentino who played Maita in the original version of Nagababgang Luha, here’s what Glaiza has to say: “I try to see it as a challenge na, ‘Okey, marami naging followers din ’yung movie but ang message for me is not to be complacent.’

“So tina-try ko as much as possible na, especially kapag remake, to make my own version of it kasi remake na nga ’yung story e so ‘di naman necessarily ‘yung mga characters, siyempre, ando’n ’yung backbone ng mga characters. Binigay sa’yo ’yung background ng characters, so siguro bilang actor, ang challenge sa’kin is to put my own flavor into it.”

Glaiza’s evolution
as an actor

Glaiza joined showbiz when she was just 16.

As the 33-year-old actress looks back at her humble beginnings, she does not deny the fact that she once believed that TV was not for her. Such a mindset changed only when she started reaping the fruits of her labor.

She says, “Honestly, lagi ko naman ’tong sinasabi at alam ng pamilya ko na never ko naman nakita ’yung sarili ko na magiging artista pero since naging influence sa’kin ’yung kapatid ko na gustung-gusto talaga ’yung pag-arte, so sinubukan ko.”

Glaiza goes on, “No’ng time na sinubukan ko, nagkaroon ng sunud-sunod na opportunities tapos nakikita ko na maganda ’yung epekto sa family ko so natutulungan ko sila. Nabibigyan ko ng comfort ’yung buhay namin so ayon ’yung nag-motivate sa ‘kin.

“Tapos no’ng time na talagang nagtuluy-tuloy na, nakikita ko na nagkaroon na kami ng sariling bahay, nabigyan ko na ng maayos na sasakyan si Tatay, kapag nagda-drive s’ya, mas komportable s’ya, ’yung mga gano’n. Kaya pinili ko rin s’ya over college e kasi para sa ’kin ito na ’yung trabaho. ’Di ko naman pinagsisihan.”

It took Glaiza years before she finally got her first title role in Grazilda in 2010. While waiting for that big break, she played such iconic kotrabida roles as Eunice in Stairway To Heaven (2009) and Tiffany in Diva (2010), where she made life miserable for its respective lead stars Rhian Ramos and Regine Velasquez.

But little did she know that bigger roles were coming her way. Her quintessential tough-girl characters in soap operas that shook TV screens like Amaya (2011), Biritera (2012), Temptation of Wife (2012), The Rich Man’s Daughter (2015), and Encantadia (2016) have long been the talk of the town.

"Kapuso Network kasi gave me lots of opportunities pagdating sa mga roles at nagpapasalamat ako at hindi ako na-box or na-typecast sa isang role, sa isang image."

Describing her acting career in GMA, Glaiza says, “Kapuso Network kasi gave me lots of opportunities pagdating sa mga roles at nagpapasalamat ako at hindi ako na-box or na-typecast sa isang role, sa isang image. Parang they gave me freedom to express who I really wanted to be or kung ano ’yung gusto kong gawin pagdating sa mga projects. ’Di nila ’ko pinipilit, and I think na nagwork na iba-iba ’yung binibigay nila sa’kin. I think do’n ako nacha-challenge lagi.”

Even though Glaiza started her career in the rival network, she’s found a home in the Kapuso Network and she’s forever grateful for that.

“Hanggang ngayon e, ’di ko alam kung ano ’yung next kong gagawin so panibago na namang assignment. Lagi n’ya akong china-challenge, nakaka-humble ’yung feeling na everytime may project ka, siyempre, ando’n ‘yung gratitude pero ando’n ’yung feeling na pag-iigihan ko ’to, ipu-push ’ko ’to, not just for the network, but also for myself.”

Admittedly, Glaiza, whose first project in GMA was the 2006 fantasy adventure series Fantastikids, was idealistic and was scared to fail at the outset. But as she grew older, Glaiza learned not to put too much pressure on herself and to just enjoy the rewards of acting.

“Before I would always think na kapag nasa harap ako ng camera, kailangan ko magpakitang gilas, kailangan maging maayos ’yung eksena, kailangan ’di ako magkamali sa lines ko. Pero, as I grow older, I get more opportunities in acting, I think of it as a different world so parang mas na-enjoy ko s’ya kasi I get to step into other people’s shoes especially kapag mga period dramas like Amaya, Grazilda, Encantadia, ’yung mundo na totally different from mine.

“Feeling ko mas na-e-excite ako sa mga gano’ng klaseng story na talagang hindi mo makikita sa normal na araw mo. ’Yun ’yung nasa isip ko na this is a different world tapos kapag nararamdaman ko na ayan na naman ’yung camera, tin-atry kong bumalik do’n sa world na ’yon.”

"Nakaka-humble ’yung feeling na everytime may project ka, siyempre, ando’n ‘yung gratitude pero ando’n ’yung feeling na pag-iigihan ko ’to, ipu-push ko ’to, not just for the network, but also for myself.”

At home in Baler

"Bata pa lang ako mahilig na talaga ako magdagat. Pero no’ng tumagal ako sa city kasi nagtatrabaho ako, nawala ’yun, nawala ’yung koneksyon ko with nature. Kailangan nating lahat ng nature. Kailangan natin to reconnect with it kasi ito ’yung magpapa-humble
sa ’tin."

For Glaiza, her adult life holds the highlights of her life.

In her 30s, she took up a music production course in London, won a number of acting awards for the indie film Liway, entered a new relationship and got engaged, and bought a property in Baler, Aurora—the big move she’s most proud of.

Admittedly, Baler is not her first choice to invest in, but it seems she was fated to be in that unfamiliar place.

“Wala akong kakilala sa Baler pero no’ng time kasi na ginagawa ko ’yung Contessa, ’yun ’yung time na napapadalas na ko mag-beach tapos nag-start na ko mag-surf. Tapos nagpunta kaming La Union and then naghahanap ako ng mga properties do’n kasi may kakilala ako sa La Union. Tapos no’ng time na tumitingin-tingin na kami do’n, parang ’di ko nakikita ’yung sarili ko na tumira do’n. Pero okey s’ya. May pagka-city pa rin, ewan ko kung sa part lang na tinitingnan namin na crowded.

“May na-invest din kami sa Nueva Ecija tapos no’ng time na ando’n kami sa Nueva Ecjia, may nagsabi na, ‘Alam n’yo one hour away lang ’to from Baler.’ Sabi ko, ‘Puntahan kaya natin?’ So pinuntahan namin at nagulat ako. So sabi din ni Rafael Rosell, ‘Kung gusto mong matuto pa mag-surf na hindi masyadong crowded, punta ka ng Baler.’

“No’ng pumunta ’ko do’n, parang may feeling ako na ang saya naman dito, okey pala dito. So na-experience ko lang siya fully no’ng last year no’ng ando’n ako for three months straight, ’yun ’yung pinakahabang time na nasa Baler ako.”

Besides Baler being a perfect spot for surfing, the ultimate reason Glaiza invested in the coastal municipality is to give her life a sense of balance again.

“I was able to get in touch with the locals. Nagkaroon ako no’ng mga kaibigan do’n at masasabi ko na sobrang welcoming nila at ang sarap sa pakiramdam na hindi ka rin nila nakikita bilang artista. Parang no’ng time na ’yun, estudyante ako ng buhay kasi na-in love ako sa lifestyle tapos sabi ko ang sarap ng ganitong balanse, lalo na ngayon iba na ’yung sistema ng taping namin, lock-in taping. So pagkatapos no’n, pwede na ulit bumalik sa Baler so nag-work talaga s’ya perfectly for me.”

“So ’yung buhay mo hindi lang s’ya nagre-revolve around city, around work kasi every time kailangan nating mag-replenish or mag-restart, pupunta tayo sa dagat, somewhere na malapit sa nature kasi mare-realize mo at the end of the day, ito lang ’yung kailangan mo—peace.”

At the end of the day, Glaiza wants nothing but peace and she was able to obtain it when she set foot in Baler.

She explains, “Bata pa lang ako mahilig na talaga ako magdagat. Pero no’ng tumagal ako sa city kasi nagtatrabaho ako, nawala ’yun, nawala ’yung koneksyon ko with nature. Kailangan nating lahat ng nature. Kailangan natin to reconnect with it kasi ito ’yung magpapa-humble sa ’tin. Ito ’yung other side of life na kailangan mong ma-appreciate at kailangan mong ipagpasalamat kasi na-e-enjoy natin s’ya sa ngayon.

“So ’yung buhay mo hindi lang s’ya nagre-revolve around city, around work kasi every time kailangan nating mag-replenish or mag-restart, pupunta tayo sa dagat, somewhere na malapit sa nature kasi mare-realize mo at the end of the day, ito lang ’yung kailangan mo—peace.”

Glaiza sees retiring in Baler as a plan. As early as now, she prepares herself and her family for their possible permanent residency there. In 2018, Glaiza opened her bed and breakfast in Baler and, soon, the actress will open her café there called Café Galura.

“Ayon na talaga e parang do’n na namin ibubuhos kasi ang Manila ay source ng work pagdating sa TV, ganyan ’di ba? May mauuwian pa rin naman kami dito sa Manila pero pagdating sa Baler, ang kailangan mo lang din ay magkaroon ng income for your everyday needs e, kumbaga sapat lang na income. So nire-ready na lang din namin ’yung sarili namin in case na magbukas na ’yung tourism. At least nakikita ko na lahat ng pinagtrabahuhan ko do’n kasi parang investment na nga rin ’yun para sa ’kin.”

Unexpected blessing

It seems that the universe has been preparing Glaiza for things that truly matter in life.

After acquiring their retirement home in Baler, Glaiza met her “the one” in Irish national David Rainey.

When she met her now-husband-to-be in Siargao, the actress was not really looking for love. David's arrival was a blessing that she didn’t wish for at the time.

“I was just there to have fun. Sa totoo lang everytime na umaalis ako, no’ng time na single ako, iniisip ko ’yan sa sarili ko na ‘Ito na kaya? Alam mo ’yung parang nag-e-expect ka talaga na baka dito ko s’ya ma-meet, baka ito na ’yung time pero when you stop thinking about it do’n nangyari.

“So yes, David came out of nowhere pero I would say na s’ya ’yung pinakamalaking blessing na dumating sa’kin and until now hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kami pa rin,” Glaiza says smiling.

At first, Glaiza thought it was just a ‘Siargao flame,’ a fleeting romance, but David proved that his intentions were pure, something that she never thought she would get from a complete stranger.

“Gano’n kasi siya ka-persistent e. No’ng time na nagkakilala kami, ’di ko talaga nakita na magkakaroon ako ng relationship sa isang foreigner, ewan ko, ’di ko lang naisip. Pero ’yung time na lagi na kaming nag-uusap and then after we met, nagkaroon ng mahabang gap na hindi kami nagkita. He kept on saying na, ‘I will see you again,’ ‘We will see each other again soon,’ ‘I will visit there’ ganyan, tapos ako ’yung, ‘Ha? Talaga ba?’” Glaiza recalls, with a note of kilig in her voice.

David is Glaiza’s first non-showbiz boyfriend. And despite their cultural differences and distance, she has found assurance in the blue-eyed fellow.

"David came out of nowhere pero I would say na s’ya 'yung pinakamalaking blessing na dumating sa 'kin and until now hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kami pa rin."

She fondly shares, “Never siyang nag-fail na ipadama sa’kin na how sincere he is so do’n nagsimula ’yung mga pa-letter. I mean pwede mo naman i-text ’di ba, bakit ka pa susulat na ipadala ’yun sa post, magpadala ng kung anu-ano. Hindi sa sinasabi kong do’n ako parang na-fall, pero parang na-appreciate ko ’yung gesture na kahit malayo siya, he really tried to make an effort.”

Glaiza points out the stark differences between her current relationship from her previous ones. “Ang nangyari nga sa past relationships ko, nasa same bansa kayo pero ’di man lang nagawang magpakita sa’yo, ’di ba? ’Di man lang magawang mag-textback or tumawag, pero do’n ko s’ya na-appreciate and do’n nag-complement na iba talaga kami ng mundo para lalong maging exciting ’yung relationship namin. So ang dami naming pwedeng ma-discover together and sa isa’t isa.”

Now that they’re ready to settle down and build their own family, Glaiza remains firm that she would not leave her job as an actress, a decision that David fully accepts and respects.

“Alam mo napag-usapan namin ’yan na never mawawalala ’yung urge ko to work kahit na sabihin na mag-migrate ako sa Ireland, hahanap at hahanap ako ng paraan para umarte or mag-produce. I would say na kahit na magkaroon na ’ko ng pamilya, ando’n pa rin ’yung urge ko to act at hindi mawawala ’yun pero, siyempre, magbabago ’yung sistema, ’yung routine, ’yung priorities. Pero I would not say na handa akong talikuran lahat kasi nagkaintindihan na kami ni David do’n na nasa dugo ko na magtrabaho.”

Glaiza is a living testament that great things take time. She’s had a fair share of highs and lows, which she had learned to appreciate while waiting for the perfect time.

“I think everything happens for a reason and everything has its own timing. Para sa’kin, ’di ko naman masasabing eto na talaga ’yung time. Pero natutuwa ako na pine-prepare ako, I don’t know if it’s for a responsibility or bigger role sa buhay ko.

“Kasi iniisip ko rin ’yan e kasi lately mahilig ako mag-self-reflect. In fairness ’no, every year may highlight sa buhay ko. Tapos no’ng time na akala ko walang ganap sa 2020, I got engaged so ayon ’yung pinaka-highlight ng 2020 ko kasi nangyari ’yung pandemic so lagi mong tinitingnan, walang work, na-stop ’yung work namin. Pero kung titingnan mo ’yung other side of life, naging rich din ’yung experience. And yes, ang daming naging highlights ng personal life ko and nagpapasalamat ako dahil do’n.”

Good things come to those who wait, indeed.

"I would say na kahit na magkaroon na ’ko ng pamilya, ando’n pa rin ’yung urge ko to act at hindi mawawala ’yun pero, siyempre, magbabago ’yung sistema, ’yung routine, ’yung priorities. Pero I would not say na handa akong talikuran lahat kasi nagkaintindihan na kami ni David do’n na nasa dugo ko na magtrabaho.”