Around GMA

Ada slows down as 4 Bicol areas under Signal No. 2
Check out the scenes from the Miss World Philippines press presentation
Brgy. chairman, nephew killed in Cotabato shooting

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

Rita Avila is one of the most prolific dramatic actresses of our time. Now, she brings to life Toyang, a woman willing to fight for her rights.
Rita Avila is one of the most prolific dramatic actresses in Philippine showbusiness. She can now be seen in GMA’s Sine Novela offering – Magdusa Ka, portraying Toyang, Katrina Halili’s mother, a strong woman who knows how to fight for her rights! Text by Loretta G. Ramirez, Interviewed with Jillian Gatcheco, Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio A drama classic, Pablo Gomez’ Magdusa Ka gives us a story about how a woman rises from her misfortunes and fight for what she believes in. “The story is something that is very compact. It’s about a mother and daughter relationship. It’s about woman’s empowerment and the emancipation of a woman. Hindi lang dahil nagkaron siya ng mga exploitative situations kumbaga it is about how she rose above these situations,” says the award-winning director Maryo J. delos Reyes about his newest project in GMA. Aside from the character of Christine, who is played by Katrina Halili, Rita Avila’s Toyang is also an apt example of what Direk Maryo is talking about. A single mom Raising her only daughter by herself and making sure she teaches her how to stand on her own feet, Toyang is an ideal mother to Christine. “I’m reprising the role of Ms. Nida Blanca, mahirap na mother na pinalaki niya ng mag-isa 'yung anak tapos parang tinuring nya talagang nagi-isang prized possession 'yung anak niya,” says Rita about her role. She also described her character as someone who will be forced to fight for her rights as the wife of Bernardo Doliente – Christine’s father, even if she swore to herself in the past that she would have nothing to do with the Dolientes ever since Bernardo failed to fight for her and their child. Toyang’s rights Left with no choice but to work hard for herself and her child, she has to be strong and resourceful for both of them. So when Bernardo, played by Gardo Versoza, tries to gain custody of Christine, she fought tooth and nail just to keep her daughter from the Dolientes. Rita admits that this role is quite different from her usual roles. “Normally kasi parang mabait na laging api. But here, kahit mabait siya may paninindigan 'yung character. 'Di ba? Parang strong 'yung character ni Toyang,” explains Rita. Toyang’s struggle in the story is an interesting subplot of the show and one of the scenes that we should watch out for is when she utters the famous line ‘Magdusa Ka!’ which will happen this week! So be sure to catch this Sine Novela classic by Pablo Gomez, weekdays right after Daisy Siete during the Dramarama block of GMA. Click on the following videos for trimmed clips of Magdusa Ka: Hope for Toyang A reunion Olivia finds a way