Sharmaine Arnaiz reveals “instant connection” with ‘Genesis’ son Derrick Monasterio

Her stint in Genesis may be short, but versatile actress Sharmaine Arnaiz made sure that she gave justice to her role as Donna Dimaano, the mother of computer kid Andy, played by Derrick Monasterio.

Their onscreen relationship as mother and son was very effective, and she's happy to have made that connection with the Kapuso teen star.

"He's very easy to work with, kaya hindi ako nahirapan sa kanya. I also met his mom, at nakita ko kung paano siya with his mom. He's very malambing that's why naka-connect kaagad ako sa kanya."

Portraying mother roles is not new to the awarding-winning actress, as she is a real-life mom to three kids.

Although she has played as the mother of Marian Rivera in My Beloved, Geoff Eigenmann in Kasalanan Bang Ibigin Ka?, Bela Padilla in Magdalena, and Ervic Vijandre in Binoy Henyo, being Derrick's mother in Genesis called for a different preparation.

"What I do is I really put myself in that situation while we're shooting. I have to believe that this is really happening right now, this is what I would feel. I have to internalize and talagang put myself in that moment. I don't think that I'll ever experience such, and I hope not, pero I think that's the only way to attack that kind of scene," she explains.

What particular scene in the series would she consider as the most memorable?

"It's the scene where Ramona gets Andy as hostage. I can see the threat in front of my eyes, and 'yung breakdown na seeing my son after so long na tumakas siya and everything."

It was also extra special to Sharmaine since she shared the scene with Jackie Lou Blanco. "I remember doing my audition scene for Saan Ka Man Naroroon where I won as Best Supporting Actress. I actually auditioned with her lines. I never got to work with her, so this is the first time I worked with Jackie Lou, although we know each other from long way back."

What happens to Donna and the rest of the Filipino people now that the asteroid is about to hit the planet? Find out tonight in the final episode of Genesis, after Adarna on GMA Telebabad.

-- Text by Michelle Caligan, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com