Going Gray

Isabel Oli has been switching between protagonists and antagonists for a while now, and after playing the manipulative Rosita, she's back on the good side as Bernadette, a strong and independent superhero. Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim; with additional photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Of course, Bernadette isn't a superhero right away. Isabel Oli reveals her character's back story, sharing that Bernadette almost is a victim first before she becomes strong. And Isabel adds that this fact gives her character that gray area to make her pick one side: good or evil. She will start out as good though. "Si Bernadette, kababata [siya] ni Bino [na] may kapangyarihan ng scorpion." Isabel continues, "hate niya 'yung power niya, kasi gusto niyang maging normal talaga." This gives her character a problem because she received the power because of Bino (Dennis Trillo )—her friend. "Medyo galit siya konti kay Bino, dahil siya 'yung sinisisi niya kung bakit siya naging abnormal." How exactly she receives her powers is revealed in the pilot episode, but it's the journey to who she becomes and who she will be that will become more important as the story unfolds. And journeying with her through life is her best friend Leah, played by Glaiza de Castro. "Cut to present, malaki na kami. Normal na 'yung buhay namin," or as normal as it's going to get with powers, anyway. "Nandoon na 'yung powers, and vocal kami [tungkol dito]. Normal na lang sa amin pag nagagalit [si Leah], nakikita ko 'yung transformation niya." Bernadette then goes on to calm her. And when the tides are turned, it's Leah who prods her to use her powers to protect herself. "Casual lang talaga 'yung usapan na ganoon, so open kami sa ganyan." Her brother Noel, who is played by Mart Escudero , is also in on the secret. With the world set-up with superheroes being an accepted fact, where does this put Isabel Oli’s character in Bino's life? "Parang hinahanap niya kami," Isabel offers. As of this interview, Isabel has yet to have a scene with Dennis. What she does know is that her character is torn between wanting to see Bino again because she misses him, and wanting to see him to punish him for cursing her with the powers. And the latter is looking mighty fine for Bernadette, especially after her character accidentally kills someone. "May background siyang ganoon, so medyo matapang na siya. [And] medyo may dark side talaga siya." To make her portrayal of a scorpion more real, Isabel has been training with the rest of the cast—hand combat, workshops and the likes. She's even gaining a little weight for her role! Plus, Isabel is also doing a little bit of research on the side. She even learned something new: "Mabilis pala [ang scorpions], e mahinhin ako—paano ba ‘yan? Kailangan mag-adjust doon." With it's pilot episode having aired, Isabel is sure that people will like GMA's new fantasy series. But she hopes "sana lang suportahan nila 'yung show. I'm sure mage-enjoy talaga sila. Bago talaga to. Kino-compare kasi nila to Spider Man eh. Sobrang different to. Tapos it’s a story not just about superheroes, mga heroes, it's about friendship. Barkada kami dito. Tapos si Kuya Dennis naman may love story, medyo halong drama, so iba." Carlo J. Caparas' Gagambino has begun to spin its web! Don't miss the web-spinning action weeknights after Codename: Asero. Talk about your show expectations at the iGMA Forums! And learn more about the show from Isabel herself! Just key in ISABEL 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.)