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Living in a cruel world may take its toll on completely clueless Tasya, but luckily, she has a support system that cheers her on when the going gets tough.
Living in a cruel, judgmental world may take its toll on nerdy, clumsy, and completely clueless Tasya, but luckily, this girl has a handy support system that cheers her on when the going gets tough. Meet her defenders, Mateng and Miss Brigida. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. The best friend Let’s start with her best friend Mateng (Gladys Reyes), Tasya’s (Yasmien Kurdi) kikay sidekick who knows when to be mataray when the need arises. A good listener, the very patient Mateng doesn’t care how many times Tasya retells a story to her. And as long as she’s there, Tasya doesn’t have to worry about her detractors—such as her only remaining relative, Auntie Ketay, played by Vangie Labalan. “For a change, hindi nila ako makikitang magtataray, at siguro magtataray ako dahil ipinagtatanggol ko si Yasmien sa mga nangaapi sa kanya,” says Gladys, who just finished her Sine Novela stint, My Only Love. “As we all know, remake kasi itong Tasya, di ba? Si Tasya parang nerdy na maraming pantasya sa buhay na talagang eventually, nagkakatotoo. Ako yung ever-supportive na best friend niya, na talaga namang naniniwala sa kanya whatever happens.” Gladys welcomes this shift into comedy-drama after her string of kontrabida roles following Bahay Mo Ba ‘To (2004–2007), her weekly sitcom before. “Na-miss ko rin talaga ang mag-comedy. And okay naman din sa akin, kasi lately, nata-type cast na ako na kahit mataray, may pagka-comedy pa rin. Kahit doon sa Bakekang (2007). Sa akin, okay na rin, kasi ang daming natutuwang mga bata. Tapos even yung mga nanay at mga lola, natutuwa rin sa akin, so okay ‘yun, at least hindi masyadong mabigat yung pagiging kontrabida.” What can she say about her onscreen best friend? “Hay naku, she has every right naman talaga para mag-bida. Marami na rin siyang napatunayan, from Bakekang [Yasmien played Charming], talagang nakita natin siyang nag-grow, and naging aktres talaga. Of course, [nandiyan din] yung mga soap niya sa hapon, tapos ngayon mayroon siyang [primetime show] di ba? So para sa akin, karapat-dapat talagang mapunta kay Yasmien itong project na ito. Talagang mabibigyan niya ng justice.” Tita Vangie agrees: “Nakasama ko na ‘yang [si Yasmien] sa ibang glamorosang role niya [tulad ng] sa Encantadia (2005). Very serious at magaling na artista kahit noon pa. Pero dito, parang bagay pa rin kasi [nakabakas pa] sa mukha niya yung innocence ba? She’s very young. Tapos noong nagkaroon siya ng [salamin at prosthetics] sa mukha, lalong bumagay sa kanya! Kasi she can play yung medyo ‘tanga’ na bata na aanga-anga, [kaya] nakakatuwa!” Gladys is certain that Pinoys will readily accept this new program because of its overall theme. “Ang maganda sa ating mga Pinoy, kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, hindi pa rin nauubusan ng pantasya na malay mo, balang araw, magiging mayaman ka rin, o titira ka sa isang mansion—yung mga ganoong klaseng pantasya. O kaya baka makakilala sila ng prince charming nila na aahon sa kanila sa hirap, yung ganoon ba? I’m sure maraming makaka-relate na mga Pinoy, at saka lalo na yung mga bata,” she says. The fairy godmother Who says only Cinderella can have a fairy godmother? Tasya has one, too! The only difference is, her savior has a secret identity. Miss Brigida is Tasya’s employer at an optical shop, but she is also Queen Virtuosa, the reigning monarch of a magical kingdom. “So bale enigmatic yung character ko,” explains Alicia Mayer, who plays Yasmien’s life saver. “Sa kabilang mundo, reyna ako ng fantasy world. Sa [totoong] mundo, bulag ako, pero nakaayos parati na kulot yung buhok! Yung mata, kulay puti [na halos], and yet parating nakakapag-ayos. Tapos lahat ng mga sinasabi ko [kay Tasya], parating mayroong laman. Kung baga ako yung pinadala dito [sa mundo] para ako yung magbabantay sa kanya.” She adds, “Close kami. Ako yung employer niya, nagtatrabaho siya para sa akin sa optical shop ko. Optical shop, pero ako nga, bulag, ‘di ba? Parang ang gulo! Hahaha!” Alicia agrees with Gladys that Filipinos would find this Sunday series engrossing: “Kasi wala tayong parang ganito na soft na funny comedy, at parang nawawala na rin tayo sa pagkakaroon ng fantasy, eh. So I think it’s gonna be different yet light for the audience.” What’s great about her character is the wisdom she imparts not only to Tasya, but to viewers as well. “Lahat [ng sinasabi ko], puro may lesson. And always, at the end of the story, you’ll learn kung bakit,” she says. More about Carlo J. Caparas’ Tasya Fantasya: Official Forum thread VIDEO: Miss Brigida and Tasya get held up at the optical shop Tasya’s real fantasySunday fun-tasy fiesta!