In Full Bloom

Angelika dela Cruz is blooming. Aside from the baby bump she recently announced, her blessed career in GMA is also something she can't help but rave about. At this point, this girl pretty much has it all. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco, with an interview by Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Una Kang Naging Akin During our last trip to the set of Una Kang Naging Akin, Angelika and Maxene Magalona were rehearsing an emotional confrontation scene—something that the actress says we'll see more of. "Kailangan nilang abangan yung pag-aaway, mga sampalan, mga ganyang moments! Kasi yan yung mga exciting moments ng story." She also reveals that there will be a new twist in the plot. "May malapit nang magkabukingan sa story, so mas exciting na yung story ngayon. Yung friendship ni Vanessa at Jessa, syempre masisira dahil sa lies." Angelika, who plays Vanessa, may be Jessa's (Maxene) mortal enemy onscreen, but it' s quite the opposite when the camera isn't rolling. "Sa set, we talk a lot, we have things in common, tapos okay yung working relationaship [namin]—maganda," shares Angelika. Maxene calls her "Ate Angel," and Angelika says LJ Reyes (who plays Liway, Jessa's half-sister) calls her that, too. " Syempre, I'm older than [them], so parang ate-ate na nila ako," the actress says fondly. Does she give the two acting tips? "No, they don't need it!" Angelika replies. "At saka kung mayroon mang magbibigay ng tips, syempre si direk Joel (Lamangan) yun di ba? Linya niya yun." With the Sinenovela, Angelika advises everyone to watch out for a lot of movement story-wise. "Siguro yung mga twists na wala sa movie, yun [din] yung dapat abangan, kasi yun yung exciting, di ba? Mahaba-haba pa, hanggang December pa kami, so good luck sa pag-extend!" Working with direk Joel Lamangan was Angelika's director for Gilda Olvidado's Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita. "After Babangon—syempre masarap [makatrabaho ulit si direk]. Isipin mo, ngayon ka lang nakakita, 12 [midnight] pa lang, tapos ka na! Fresh ka pa, tapos ka na!" Direk Joel is known among actors to finish taping earlier than most directors. "Sa ibang taping, bangkay ka na, nandoon ka pa sa set!" Angelika remarks with a laugh. "Aside from, syempre, magaling na director, di ba? Maaga kang natatapos, kaya may life ka pa. Yun yung pinakamasarap doon." Angelika shares that she is also discussing a possible movie project with direk Joel. "Mayroon kaming pinag-uusapan—mayroon siyang gagawin na movie, [at] kinausap na niya ako for it, pero wala pa talagang eksaktong plans. Abangan na lang. Sana ,matuloy, kasi matagal ko na rin siyang hindi nakatrabaho sa movie, e. Yun naman yung gusto ko." Busy as can be! You can also watch Angelika in La Lola, where she plays Facundo's (JC de Vera ) model ex-girlfriend. Is it difficult to balance a primetime show with a Sinenovela? "Sa totoo lang, mahirap," Angelika admits. "Kasi lalo na, may dalawang araw na magkasabay yung taping days, e. So [sometimes], pagka-pack up ko dito, dumiretso pa ako ng La Lola. Talagang hating-hati katawan mo. Mahirap, pero tiisin mo!" Does she confuse her two characters at times? "Hindi, kasi pag suot ko na yung wig ko sa La Lola, in character na ako with my 'bengs!' My full bangs! And my 'sirena' long hair! Actually, maganda nga yung bangs, kakulay ng buhok." When asked to give parting words at the end of the interview, Angelika expressed her gratitude to her fans. "Gusto ko lang mag-thank you, kasi nalaman ko na ang rating namin ay 25-something percent, so mas mataas pa kami sa primetime ng kabila! We love it! Syempre happy kami, masyang-masaya kami na maraming nanonood ng Una Kang Naging Akin. And sana naman po, yung LaLola, abangan po nila. Kasi nakakatawa naman [yun]." Talk about Angelika dela Cruz in the iGMA Forums. Click here to join the discussions!