Around GMA

9 alleged ex-terrorists surrender in Maguindanao del Norte
US Homeland Security orders pause of DV1 visa program
Pop Mart opens first permanent PH store

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

When Maxene Magalona agreed to be part of Una Kang Naging Akin, she knew she would now be entering the realm of more daring and mature roles.
When Maxene Magalona agreed to be part of 'Una Kang Naging Akin', she knew she would now be entering the realm of more daring roles, to be viewed by more mature audiences. But, she says, she still wants to be able to return to more fun, more wholesome roles. Text by Jason John S. Lim; with interviews by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Maxene Magalona describes her very first mature role as "talagang nakakailang. Like when I did my first kissing scene with Wendell [Ramos]—first kissing scene ko 'yun ever!" Not that Maxene hasn't had kissing scenes before—but nothing like what she has to do for Una Kang Naging Akin. "Different talaga with different partners; but with Wendell, I'm more comfortable now. Kasi nga, mas na-practice na namin." She continues, "Nung una talaga, kinakabahan ako. Kasi nga, he's much older—and friend siya ng dad ko. He's much older than me, but that turned out to be a good thing." She attributes this to the fact that Wendell really knows how to take care of his on-screen partner. "So talagang thankful ako na si Wendell, very maalaga siya and he knows what he's doing." "Medyo naka-adjust ako dito." But though she is starting to get the hang of things, Maxene is still hoping to do her best. "I try my best to do talaga 'yung ine-expect ni Direk Joel [Lamangan]. "And I understand na this show has a very mature plot." Even so, Maxene says she still wants to do wholesome, teenybopper roles. "It doesn't mean na magfu-full time na ako. I still want to keep my wholesome image kahit papaano," she finishes. "I don't want to continue na parang palagi na lang love scene, kissing scene—" The young actress says she wants to mix it up. "More of mixture talaga. Ayaw kong bigla na lang ako mawawala sa wholesome image ko. "Gusto ko pa ring ma-keep 'yun." An Experience on Crying "Sa very first shooting day ko talaga, ilang beses ako nasigawan ni Direk Joel." Maxene explains that when Una Kang Naging Akin started taping, she didn't know about their acclaimed director's strict work ethic. "Hindi ko akalain na ganun pala kabilis si Direk Joel magwork!" Of course she laughs at it now, but Maxene didn't have an easy time on set—especially during the crying scenes. "Talagang nahihirapan pa rin ako umiyak hanggang ngayon. But I try, slowly, to work on it. Pina-practice ko rin." Though the show is very challenging, Maxene says she's very thankful for what the show is doing for her, "Mas nahahasa ang skill ko as an actress." She admits to being surprised and rattled at first, of how she couldn't do anything right. But as the show went on taping, she started to get little compliments from Direk Joel—and that made everything better. After her ordeal with crying scenes, Maxene's next challenge are the confrontations and, later on, the fights. "Aabangan pa nila is anong mangyayari sa amin ni Angelika, how we're gonna fight." As Maxene's Una Kang Naging Akin character discovers more of the pain in the world, so will Maxene discover more challenges in acting for heavy drama soaps. She says, "yun 'yung aabangan nila: more confrontational scenes - "And also 'yung mga romantic scenes." See what Maxene's ready to show every weekday afternoon on Una Kang Naging Akin. Catch the show after every episode of Daisy Siete: Tinderella. Find out more about Maxene from Maxene herself! Text MAXENE on your mobile phones, and send to 4627 for all telcos. Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. (This service is exclusively for the Philippines only.)