LIANNE VALENTIN
Stellar
Make way for Lianne Valentin, the star to watch in GMA Network. She's driven, she's passionate, and she's on a roll.
Text by Maine Aquino
Photography by Cyrus Panganiban
Lianne Valentin was on the lookout for a project that would test her acting skills when the role of a seductive and complex character named Stella in Apoy Sa Langit came her way.
Bringing Stella to life was the perfect challenge. Not only did Lianne have to give justice to the sole kontrabida character in the afternoon series, she also had to level up her acting game to match the performances of her more experienced co-actors.
Despite the challenge, Lianne delivered more than what was expected of her. She turned in a convincing performance that people started recognizing her more as Stella than Lianne.
This was the moment that she had been waiting for all her life. When her moment came, she stepped into the spotlight and never looked back.
The humble beginnings of Lianne Valentin
When Apoy Sa Langit premiered in May 2022, viewers thought Lianne was a rookie. What they didn't know was that Lianne had long started her career in showbiz as a child actor.
Lianne first appeared on TV through a children’s show called Tropang Potchi when she was 9. Young as she was at the time, she enjoyed performing on TV. For her, being in a children’s show was far from “work” as it was a lighthearted and fun project with other fellow young stars.
Some of Lianne’s co-stars in Tropang Potchi were Bianca Umali, Miggs Cuaderno, Julian Trono, Ella Cruz, Sabrina Man, Miggy Jimenez, and Lenlen Frial.
Lianne was discovered by director Louie Ignacio in a candy commercial. She briefly recollected how she started doing commercials for different brands as early as 6 years old.
“Commercials lang ako before pero never ako nag-host, never ako nag-act,” she says. "Sabi ko, 'Okay, let's try.' Hanggang sa ayan na nakakahiligan ko kasi bata kami noon. 'Yung trabaho hindi pa mabigat.”
It was only when Lianne started acting that she realized she could do a lot more than hosting.
“Noong na-try ko 'yung pag-arte, I realized there's more pa pala na I can try, na puwede ko pang ma-experience and matutunan.”
Some of her first projects were Sinner or Saint (2011) and Time of My Life (2011) where she played the young Djanin Cruz and young Kris Bernal.
Admittedly, she was terrified at first. But it didn't take long for her to develop a love for acting. She knew that if she let her fears get in the way, she would get stuck.
“Naalala ko Sinner or Saint, I played young Djanin Cruz. Doon ako nagulat na, a, ganun pala dito. Una puyatan ganyan, tapos mabibigat na agad, may iyakan na. Nakakatakot pero okay sige, hanggang sa tuloy tuloy na.”
Lianne soon realized that if she persevered and took "acting" a little more seriously, she could go places.
“Host lang na-imagine ko before. As in very very unexpected talaga lahat ng pangyayari. Masyado akong naging focused sa current na nangyayari, pero I never imagined what the future will be.”
Bigger and better projects eventually started coming her way. Lianne became part of GMA Network’s highly successful shows like Mulawin vs. Ravena (2017), Kambal Karibal (2017), and Ang Dalawang Ikaw (2021). It was in 2022 she got her big break: the opportunity to star in the highly-rated GMA Afternoon Prime drama, Apoy sa Langit, sharing screen time with Maricel Laxa, Zoren Legaspi, and Mikee Quintos.
The wait is over
At the age of 21, Lianne accepted a challenging and daring role to show that she can be a force to be reckoned with. Driven by passion and ambition, Lianne showed everyone why the role of Stella was hers and hers only.
When she was handed the script, she knew right away that Stella was no ordinary character.
“Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano'ng meron kay Stella pero noong binabasa ko 'yung script, sobrang naramdaman ko 'yung passion ko for acting and talagang na-realize ko na itong role na 'to, bihira lang 'to and bihira lang itong mangyari. Bihira lang 'tong may mga ganitong klaseng role. Noong natanggap ko and noong nakuha ko 'yung role sabi ko, 'I'll do everything, I'll do my one hundred percent. I'll do my two hundred percent best for this role.'”
Lianne is quick to clarify that her Apoy Sa Langit role didn't fall on her lap. She got the job because she worked hard for it. There were other artists who expressed their interest in the Stella character, but it was Lianne who came to the auditions with guns blazing.
“Hindi siya basta basta bumagsak lang sa akin, na parang bumagsak lang sa palad ko ganoon,” she recalls. “Pinaghirapan ko 'to sa audition, kay Direk Laurice [Guillen], kulang na lang manginig ako, mahimatay ako, habang nag-aaudition kami kasi I really wanted this role. I really wanted Stella.
“Noong nakuha ko, sabi ko hindi ko papalagpasin 'to. Hindi ko hahayaan na mag-slip lang 'tong role na 'to sa hands ko, kasi oo she's a kontrabida pero there's more to her. Malalim e, malalim 'yung pagkatao ni Stella."
Her determination and passion for her role didn't go unnoticed. During the early weeks of the series, Lianne started receiving both positive and negative remarks. Positive comments were made about her terrific performance as Stella. The negative comments, on the other hand, came from those who were greatly affected by Stella's evilness.
For those who don't know, Stella is the mistress of Cesar (Zoren Legaspi). In the drama series, Stella introduced herself to Cesar’s new wife Gemma (Maricel Laxa) and stepdaughter Ning (Mikee Quintos) as his estranged daughter.
Lianne is grateful for the people who appreciate her performance in the show.
“Thank you sa mga nagagalingan sa akin. Hindi ko rin magagawa o hindi ko maisasabuhay si Stella kung hindi dahil sa tulong ng direktor namin, si Direk Laurice, na napakagaling na direktor at aktres. Siyempre si Ms. Ana Feleo na anak niya, na acting coach ko rin. Sila talaga 'yung mga tumulong sa akin.”
The rising star of GMA also gives credit to her co-actors. According to Lianne, the scenes are always trending because of the talent and generosity of every actor in Apoy sa Langit.
“’Pag nandoon ka na sa set at kaeksena mo na silang lahat, 'yung tipong nagbibigayan na kayo pagdating sa pag-arte, sobrang sarap sa feeling. 'Yun nga nagpapadala lang ako sa mga co-actors ko.”
Aside from her viral kontrabida moments, viewers also watched Lianne and Zoren’s numerous steamy scenes in Apoy sa Langit. Most of them have reached millions of views in just a matter of hours after getting uploaded online.
Lianne is particularly grateful for Zoren, the actor with whom she has the most difficult scenes, for the fact that he guided her every step of the way. Everything that they had to do, Zoren communicated well with her, especially their intimate scenes, which would have made any newbie uncomfortable.
“At first, natatakot talaga ako sa kanya. Nanginginig talaga ako kasi siyempre it's my first time. First time ko 'yung ganitong role, first time ko magkaroon ng partner na medyo mas older sa akin. Nahihiya lang ako kasi first time ko. May mga scenes kami na very, very steamy and sensitive and I didn't know what to do at first talaga. Noong nakilala ko nang husto si Kuya Zoren, he's very very professional and sobrang galing niya talagang aktor. Pagdating sa mga eksena namin ni Cesar and Stella talagang nakikita ko 'yung determination niya to make every scene, actually hindi lang sa amin, to make every scene memorable and talagang one hundred percent effort."
What’s next after Apoy sa Langit
As Apoy sa Langit comes to an end, Lianne still can’t believe how far her career has come because of Stella. She is humbled and honored that she was able to showcase her talent in a project that she can be proud of for a long time.
“Very grateful rin ako sa management na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako ng ganitong klaseng kabigat at kaganda na role. I want to make the management proud and make them realize na hindi kayo magsisisi na ako ang pinili ninyo as Stella kaya talagang ginawa ko lahat ng best ko para makapag-perform nang maayos for this show. I want to make my supporters proud of course, na hindi kayo magsisisi.”
Lianne knows that not many aspiring actors are given the chance to be part of worthwhile projects.
“Maraming gustong mag-artista, pero hindi lahat ng tao nabibigyan ng opportunity. Kaya noong nabigyan ako ng opportunity na 'to talagang sabi ko hindi ko palalampasin, and ’yun nga, I want to make every fan and supporter proud of me.”
With Lianne’s determination and passion, she promises to continue to do her best in the next projects that GMA would give her.
“Itong pagiging aktres, pag-acting, it's my passion. Alam ko na ibinigay itong talent sa akin ni Lord and I really want to use it. I really want to make the most out of it hanggang sa makakaya ko.”
Now in the spotlight, Lianne admits that she does feel the pressure at times. But it's a good pressure, the kind that would keep her motivated and driven.
“Nakaka-pressure!” she says with a laugh. "Nakakataba ng puso na ganoon ’yung nakikita nila sa akin.”
Lessons about waiting and winning
With her journey from child star to phenomenal actress, Lianne learned that there is something to appreciate about waiting.
“'Yung showbiz hindi talaga siya madaling pasukin. Kapag pinasok mo na hindi mo na talaga alam kung ano 'yung mga puwedeng mangyari. Pagdating sa showbiz, your project will either make or break you. ‘Yun ang lagi kong iniisip. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang puwedeng mangyari sa career mo. Hindi ka one hundred percent sure na kung ano'ng maiisip mo 'yun ang mangyayari.”
Lianne adds, “It's a complex journey. Hindi naman agad agad na yung gusto mong role makukuha mo. Puwede kang ma-reject, puwede mong makuha, puwedeng hindi rin. Puwedeng tumagal na sobrang tagal ’yung process.”
If there's one thing that she learned from all those years of waiting for her big break, it's that she must give her 100 percent in every role. It's a lesson that Lianne wants to share with other actors.
"You need to give your best lagi—you need to perform your one hundred percent lagi and 'yun nga i-cherish mo yung every moment na matanggap mo, every project na matanggap mo. Everytime na may project kang matatanggap, lagi mong iisipin na this is my last. Ganoon yung mindset ko.”
After Apoy sa Langit, Lianne is eager for more challenging roles and to explore her craft. Her growing fans are now excited and patiently waiting for the next chapter of her career as a Kapuso star.
“Ang dami pang puwedeng mangyari. Gusto ko pang ituloy ang journey na 'to." Lianne hopes that dreamers and hopefuls will learn a thing or two from her story, even if it's still being written.
“Magkakaroon ka ng disappointments, magkakaroon ng doubts, of course. Pero one thing that I can share to them is paniwalaan nila ang sarili nila, 'yung talent nila.”
When life makes you wait, it doesn't mean you're being forced to languish. Lianne sees waiting as life's way of preparing her for bigger challenges with better rewards.
“Ano 'yan e, pana-panahon. Basta alam mo sa sarili mo na 'Ito ’yung talent na meron ako, dito ako magaling, I want to be an actress, this is my goal, ito ’yung nakikita nila in the future,' panghawakan nila ’yun. Paniwalaan nila ’yun. Ibigay lang nila ’yung one hundred percent best nila in everything kahit audition pa lang ’yan. Ibigay na nila ang one hundred percent.
“Mahirap makapasok dito, but if they believe in their talent, everything will just follow. ’Yung confidence, ’yung pagkawala ng doubt ’pag may disappointments. Kapag naniniwala kayo na kaya ninyo, kaya ninyo talaga.”
Styling by Paris Roxas
Makeup by Theresa Padin
Hair by Florenz Torrontegui
Shot on location at Citadines Bay Manila
