Ysabel Ortega:
The One to Watch
Ysabel Ortega has so much on her plate right now—work, law school, and everything in between—but she has no regrets. Ysabel has full control over her own destiny.
By Jansen Ramos
Photos courtesy of Voltes V, Aya Cabauatan
Sometime in the first quarter of 2019, Ysabel Ortega found herself reduced to tears in front of GMA bosses. It was when she learned that she was chosen to play Jamie Robinson in Voltes V: Legacy.
Ysabel cried like a child because admittedly she felt she fell short at the auditions. When she was called up to sit down with the bosses one day, she was tricked into believing she didn’t pass. In a rather intimidating tone, Voltes V: Legacy director Mark Reyes told a visibly nervous Ysabel, “You didn’t do well in the auditions… You did very well. Congratulations, you are now Jamie Robinson.” Ysabel could not stop the tears and said, “Hala, akala ko po iba ito.”
That was four years ago. Fast forward to today, Ysabel is more confident than ever, proving that she really is meant for the role.
Ysabel Ortega is Jamie Robinson
Serendipity runs in the whole production of Voltes V: Legacy.
When the program opened auditions, Ysabel was a newbie in the network. She only became a full-fledged Kapuso in 2019 when she signed a contract with GMA’s talent management arm, GMA Artist Center, now called Sparkle.
At that time, the actress didn’t miss any opportunity so even giving the massive project a shot was on her list.
“Nag-audition ako for Jamie Robinson pero I remember kasi the day of the audition, nagpa-audition din sila for Zandra so meron silang binigay na script sa ’min for Jamie and for the Zandra roles. Parang wala lang, never ko kasi in-expect na makukuha ko ’yung Jamie Robinson. Parang binasa ko lang and everything pero ’di ko s’ya ’yung pinagtuunan ng panahon para i-internalize and things like that. Mas inaral ko ’yung Zandra kasi sabi ko, ‘I’m not gonna get Jamie,’ ’di naman nila ’ko magugustuhan for Jamie. Tapos ’yun din no’ng nasa audition na rin ako, sabi nila, ‘Can you read for Jamie?’ Sabi ko, ‘Shoot, okey kaya ’to. Game, push.’ Tapos ’yun, tuluy-tuloy na.”
That audition she once thought was nothing led her to the biggest break in her acting career.
“Umiyak talaga ako kasi the reason why I thought na hindi ako mag-o-audition as Jamie because I never felt that I would get it. This was too big of a role, lead role e. Siyempre, ’di naman ako nagle-lead role so never ko inisip na iko-consider nila ’ko. Parang sobrang na-touch ako sa fact na ’yon kaya talagang humagulgol ako. And even my Mom was there also, umiyak din siya with me.”
Portraying Jamie Robinson, a female ninja, requires a lot of action stunts. Ysabel had to take mixed martial arts lessons, which were like second nature to her as she was a trained gymnast when she was younger.
“Laking tulong ng gymnastics kasi nagamit ko dito sa Voltes V. Kahit bata pa lang ako, na-train ko na rin ‘yung basic ng flexibility, sa mga basic movement kasi ninja dapat very flexible so nagamit ko rin until now.”
To be an action star is somehow in Ysabel’s DNA, Mark Reyes said. Asked if she’d like to do more projects in this genre in the future, Ysabel is down for it.
“Oo, of course, super. Super na-enjoy ko ’yung pagganap here sa Voltes V so kung may isa pang opportunity na mag-action role ako, why not? For example, pulis or spy. Ang dami rin kasing pwedeng paglaruan na role pag action e, so super exciting.”
Young Dreamer
It’s no surprise that Ysabel’s influences to enter show business are her parents who both made a name for themselves in local Tinseltown. Ysabel is the daughter of singer and actress Michelle Ortega, and actor-turned-politician Lito Lapid.
Like how she landed the role of Jamie Robinson, it was fate that brought her to the limelight.
“Actually ’yung Mom ko ’yung nag-inspire sa ’kin din na mag-join sa showbiz. Of course, other than my Mom, my Dad kasi, siyempre, ando’n na ’yun pero no’ng pumasok ako sa showbiz it was because my mom released a comeback album niya. When she did that, bumalik lahat ng connections niya. Parang andon’ na rin s’ya sa mundo ng showbiz so that was when na-meet ko ’yung mga tao na tumulong sa ’kin na mag-start mag-artista so nag-try ako ng mga acting workshops so parang do’n ko nakuha ’yung passion na okay, gusto ko palang umarte, parang naging passion ko na rin sy’a. Tapos ‘yun tuloy-tuloy na, nag-TV na ’ko, nag-audition na ’ko for different shows.”
Even before acting, singing was her first love. She might be focused on acting for now, but who knows, she might be Vehnee Saturno’s next balladeer.
“Before that, ang gusto ko talaga maging singer kasi ’yung Mom ko nag-launch s’ya ng album so, siyempre, ang mga una kong na-meet yung mga producer, songwriters like Vehnee Saturno. S’ya yung unang nag-push sa ’kin. Sabi n’ya, mag-singer ako sali daw ako sa mga singing competitions pero ’yun ’yung time na nag-a-acting workshop ako, parang ‘Ah okey, parang gusto ko rin ’to. Parang gusto ko rin maging actress,’ and that’s how it started. ’Di naman din ako professional singer, nakita lang din n’ya ’yung passion ko for singing so ’yun din ang gusto n’yang i-explore and ’yun din ’yung gusto kong i-explore at the start.”
Ysabel’s baptism of fire in show business came at 16. At the outset of her showbiz career, she went by her screen name, Ysabel Ortega. To clear things out, Maria Ysabel Lapid is her real name and she has a valid explanation as to why she chose her mom’s maiden surname as her screen name.
“I want to make a name for myself. Siyempre, gusto ko rin naman makilala ako na anak ako ng parents ko because who doesn’t want that naman, ’di ba? And nakaka-proud din naman sabihin ’yun. But career-wise, ’pag ’yun ’yung una nilang madidinig ’yung name ko, ang gusto kong ma-build na recall kung ano ’yung nagawa kong name for myself. So ’yung mga projects ko, ’yung mga series ko. Parang ’yun ’yung gusto kong unang tumatak sa mga tao and that’s what I really wanted for myself kasi, syempre, it’s my career naman e. It’s not my parents’ so mas maganda rin na as Ysabel Ortega nila ’ko nakilala. Hindi as anak ni ganito, anak ni ganyan.”
Ysabel is not keen on using her family name and her connections to advance her career. In fact, even during her Voltes V: Legacy auditions, Ysabel didn’t use the “anak ng artista” card to prove she could stand on her own two feet.
“’Di ko naman ’yun binabanggit. Parang I just wanted to deliver na lang din. I think Direk Mark found out din after or like, during the audition. Happy rin naman ako na na-impress ko s’ya for what I delivered and knowing din the fact na may possible din akong pinagmanahan. Siyempre nakakakilig ’yun.”
Future Lawyer
During her high school years, Ysabel developed an interest in the study of Law. She enjoyed participating in debates and always won. As opportunities in showbiz came, she first thought pursuing Law would not be possible, especially at the beginning of her blossoming career.
“Second year na ’ko ng college no’n tapos sobrang hirap na hirap na ko no’n kasi ’yung taping ko was Batangas and minsan maaga ’ko matatapos sa taping ko, mga 9 a.m. Hahabol pa ko sa klase ko so isipin mo ’yung three hours ’yung travel para makapasok sa school or, for example, ’yung pack-up ko diretso ako from my taping papunta ako sa 7 a.m. class ko so ang hirap talaga no’n i-juggle.”
But for the sake of her childhood dream, Ysabel beat the odds and is now pursuing Law after graduating with a Political Economy degree in 2021.
“Tapos nagkaroon ng opportunity na may program sa school na you can take up Law while getting your master’s and your degree at the same time. Usually kasi college in law school, eight years ’yung program nila. You can do that all in seven years so I’m really contemplating on that kasi gusto ko rin talagang mag-lawyer. It’s one of my passions din talaga so inisip ko kung magki-quit na lang ba ’ko ng showbiz kung mag-lawyer na lang ako, kung mag-focus na lang ako sa studies ko kaso ’yun nagkaroon ng opportunity na lumipat ako sa GMA and then do’n bumalik ’yung parang passion ko for what I do. Mas ginaganahan ako na parang I wanna do this, mag-focus din ako, ’di ako susuko, kaya ko ’to. Mga dalawang taon na 'ko no’n, konti na lang and then thankfully, natapos ko naman.”
An actress, aspiring singer, and future lawyer, Ysabel proves she’s more than just her Voltes V: Legacy character.
She may have too much on her plate right now, but the strong-willed doesn’t mind the stress, exhaustion, and hardships that come with it for she believes these things fill her with experiences that make her stronger, better, wiser.
“’Wag kang maging kampante, always give your best. If hindi mo gagalingan, forever na ’yang magsi-circulate kasi and ’yan na ’yan e. So make sure na hindi mo s’ya ire-regret kasi you’re not supposed to be stagnant. Dapat ’yung learning mo, ’yung growth mo is palaging pataas or mas palaki nang palaki kasi with your experience, you’re going to learn more and more so if you give your best then, for sure, mas marami kang matututunan.”
Ultimately, if you want to be successful in anything, it’s not the connections that will pull you up. It’s your attitude.
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Ysabel Ortega: The One To Watch
Published :May 31, 2023 05:29 PM PHTYsabel Ortega has so much on her plate right now--work, law school, and everything in between--but she has no regrets. Ysabel has full control over her own destiny.
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