Camille Prats, Jennica Garcia and Jackie Rice were all smiles as they faced the press last February 5 in the press conference of the newest Afternoon Prime offering of GMA, Bukod Kang Pinagpala. In the family drama, the said Kapuso actresses portray three different faces of women, all willing to do everything a mother can do to gain the love of her child.

 

Being a mother herself, Camille Prats shared that she could relate to her character, Bessie Alcuar. In the series, Bessie is the owner of an organic farm and restaurant, and is married to Leandro, played by Mark Anthony Fernandez. The couple hopelessly yearns for a child. “Having Jennica and Jackie in the picture, who easily can have kids, iyon ‘yung naging mahirap para sa kanya, so as a mother, I think I can actually relate to the feeling of kung paano magkaroon ng isang anak at kung gaano kasarap sa isang ina ‘yung maibigay mo ‘yung pagmamahal na iyon sa isang bata na hindi mo naman makuha kuha,” explains the Mars TV host.

 

On the other hand, Jennica Garcia considers it a challenge to play a mother role. “Sobrang excited ako because it’s something new. Sanay kasi ako ng tweetums at nagpapakilig. It’s my first mother role and I am very, very excited.”

 

Jennica plays Ofelia Almazan. Ofelia is Bessie’s cousin and is a mother to Lizzie, who will eventually pass away. This will make her long for the love of a daughter. To prepare for her role, Jennica asked her mother, TV host and actress Jean Garcia, for tips. “What she said was that she’s gonna buy me DVDs na may mother-daughter theme. Kasi ako, ang na-eenjoy ko lang talagang panoorin, ‘yung mga love stories. Hindi ako masyadong fan ng family dramas pero manonood talaga ako para magkaroon ako ng idea,” shares the charming Kapuso actress.

 

Jackie Rice also plays a mother for the first time in this series. She says, “Iyong role ko, sobrang ibang ibang iba! Challenging siya kasi first mother role ko. At saka dito, walang mabait at walang masama. (Lahat) totoong tao, so first time na may ganoong ipapalabas.”

 

In this project, she plays Janet Perez, an ambitious woman who wants to steal Leandro from his wife, Bessie. She believes that having a daughter with Leandro will tear them apart.  It took a lot of internalizing for Jackie to prepare for the role. “Wala pong bata sa bahay namin, so tinanong ko nalang po si Mama kung papaano po kapag may anak, at siyempre, soon, lahat naman ng babae gustong magka anak, so kung ano nalang yung iniimagine ko sa isip ko, kung papaano maging nanay, iyon ang ginagawa ko.”

 

Bukod Kang Pinagpala director Don Michael Perez explains that all three mothers in the series are blessed. “Bukod kang Pinagpala probably does not refer to a single person. I think the ultimate blessing for anybody is to have a child, and to be able to take care of another human being. In a sense, all three women are bukod na pinagpala dahil lahat sila ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na alagaan ang isang bata.”

 

Follow the struggles and joys in the lives of Bessie, Ofelia and Janet in Bukod Kang Pinagpala, beginning February 11 on GMA Afternoon Prime, right after Yesterday’s Bride.  -- Text by Samantha Portillo, GMANetwork.com