More Mature

A new drama will soon squeeze viewers’ hearts every afternoon. ‘Una Kang Naging Akin’ sets out to continue the winning streak of GMA-7’s afternoon block. Text by Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. “Isa lang ang masasabi ko, hindi ako mapapahiya sa mga actors ng pinakabagong Sine Novela. They are as good as the original [actors].” Respected and award-winning director Joel Lamangan gave this statement during the press conference for the latest afternoon offering from GMA-7, Una Kang Naging Akin. It is a retelling of the 1991 opus of Laurice Guillen that starred Sharon Cuneta, Gabby Concepcion and Dawn Zulueta in truly memorable roles. Out of respect for the original material, none of the main characters are claiming to be better than the parts they’re essaying. In fact, Angelika dela Cruz goes out of her way to say as much. “hindi naman [sinusubukan] na gayahin 'yung original, or gayahin man lang 'yung mga original characters—siyempre hindi natin mahihigitan ‘yun.” Angelika continues that they have their own style and they will use it. “Siguro ‘yun 'yung pinakamagandang way para mas ma-appreciate ng mga manunuod [ang show]. Pagbutihan lang po namin siyempre ang pag-arte namin.” Maxene Magalona confesses that she’s actually intimidated by her co-stars, both of whom have more experience than her, but she’s looking forward to learning a lot from both Angelika and Wendell Ramos, as well as from their director. “[It’s] very, very different from what I’ve done in the past,” Maxene says. “Lahat ng ginagawa ko dito bagong-bago, kaya nangangapa pa ako. But siyempre with the help of my co-stars and Direk Joel, I’m assuming na magagampanan ko naman 'yung role. Kahit na bago for me, tina-try ko talaga 'yung best ko na magawa ng tama.” And as such, Maxene knows that she wouldn’t be able to get everything correctly during the first take. “Talagang pinapaganda namin ang bawat eksena ng show; kung hindi maganda, kailangan i-take two.” All the actors are in agreement that Una Kang Naging Akin will take them places that they’ve never gone before. Angelika admits this is the most mature role she has portrayed so far. Maxene and LJ Reyes could only agree that they are faced with major challenges. LJ says that her character, aside from being an addition to the original roster lifted from the movie, will be antagonizing Maxene for the most part of the story. “I never played a kontrabida before,” she reveals and notes that she keeps getting feedback that she should be meaner to look the part. As for Maxene, this is the first time she’ll be doing a real kissing scene and a love scene. But she says she wasn’t scared at all, “Kasi nga [I’m] very comfortable with Wendell, and nagawa naman po ng tasteful ni Direk. So okay siya, very new and exciting experience for me.” Wendell explains that the story requires them to do the love scene; so much so, in fact, that they were already told of it during the story conference. He continues that even though Maxene is the daughter of his good friend Francis Magalona, he didn’t let his nerves get in the way of shooting the scene. “Hindi ko na inisip na mailang,” he says, joking that he didn’t want to show that he was afraid of how Maxene’s father would react. “Kailangan sa eksena ‘yun.” Don’t miss the premiere of Una Kang Naging Akin on September 1 after Daisy Siete. Talk about the show at the iGMA Forums! If you’re not yet registered, register now! Find out more about the show from the cast! Feel the fun through Fanatxt by texting ANGELIKA, MAXENE or LJ to 4627! (Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. This service is exclusive for the Philippines.)