Glaiza gets reborn on Stairway to Heaven

Nang tanggapin ni Glaiza de Castro ang role na Gladys Andrada for 'Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin', she knew that she would be breaking out of her comfort zone. What she didn't know was that she would also begin breaking the expectations of everybody—bagging one of the lead roles in GMA-7's remake of 'Stairway to Heaven.' Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim. Yesterday, August 24, was Glaiza de Castro's first day sa set ng Stairway to Heaven. Pero kahit ngayon pa lang siya nagsisimula, masasabi na ni Glaiza that she is comfortable with her co-stars already. "Nakapagworkshop kami," she explains to us. "Nag-run through kami ng ilang scenes from the script [ng first week]." Kaya naman, for sure, may working chemistry na agad ang lead stars when they first appear on screen at the same time. Hindi ikinaila ni Glaiza sa amin na kinabahan siya the first time she went to the workshop with Dingdong Dantes, Rhian Ramos and TJ Trinidad. She tells us, may pressure daw talaga for her to do well, "kailangan ma-perfect ko 'to, kailangan maging maayos 'yung performance ko." But, she tells us, "nung nakasama ko sila, in a way, nawala din 'yung mga inhibitions ko." Truly amazed, Glaiza shares with us na kahit daw considered big stars na ang mga co-stars niya sa Stairway to Heaven, "open sila sa lahat [and] they can take criticisms din." Dagdag pa niya sa amin, "although Dingdong na sila, si Rhian, si TJ—parang madaling nag-click 'yung workshop namin. "Lahat sila, nagparticipate talaga ng maayos." Prior to the workshop pa lang, Glaiza has already started preparing for the role by starting to watch the original series. And buti na lang daw ginawa niya 'yun, kuwento niya sa amin. "Although bata pa yung mga napanood ko, nakita ko doon 'yung pinagmulan nung character ni Eunice (the character she will portray), kung bakit siya ganyan." Bukod sa this helps with her acting, "kung bakit niya hinahayaan mangyari sa kanya 'yung mga ganoon," mas nakatulong raw ito sa kanilang internalization during the workshop. "Nagkaroon talaga ako ng idea kung sino talaga si Eunice as a person," Glaiza explains. During the workshop kasi, ayon sa kanya, may process sila wherein they would have to become their character—and not the other way around. "Hinihimay-himay namin 'yung characters ng bawat isa," she explains. Ilan sa mga kailangan niyang maintindihan, Glaiza reveals to us, is kung sino ba talaga ang mahal ni Eunice? Bakit niya ba ginagawa ang mga ginagawa niya? At sino ba ang mas mahal niya. Glaiza tells us, "I'm becoming more of Eunice, than Eunice becoming Glaiza." Sa pagsimula ni Glaiza ng kanyang bagong show, what will this mean for her ongoing series na Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin? "Hindi ko nga alam kung paano e," Glaiza answers teasingly. Mawawala raw ang character niya sa finale week ng Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin, which is three weeks from now. "'Yun 'yung twist, kasi wala rin silang choice dahil mago-overlap nga 'yung Stairway to Heaven." Pero bago 'yun mangyari, may mga pagbabago rin daw na mangyayari kay Gladys—na magsisimula this week, sa pagkawala ng isang character sa kanilang mga buhay. Glaiza says, "it struck her, 'yung nakita niyang namatay si—." No, we're not going to reveal who dies. You'll have to watch and find out. Glaiza continues, "hindi niya alam kung ano na 'yung mararamdaman niya, parang na-guilty rin siya in a way." But will this lead to the long-awaited redemption of Glaiza's character sa Kung Aagawin? You'll have to wait til the third week of September to find out. Meanwhile, Stairway to Heaven begins early the same month. Kung Aagawin Mo ang Lahat sa Akin airs weekday afternoons sa Dramarama sa Hapon ng GMA; while Stairway to Heaven will be part of GMA Telebabad. Be always updated sa mga ginagawa nina Glaiza! Just text GLAIZA(space)ON to 4627 para sa lahat ng telcos. 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 only.)