Rita Daniela to play OFW nurse struck by COVID-19 on ‘Magpakailanman’

Rita Daniela will play a nurse infected with the coronavirus disease on an upcoming episode of “Magpakailanman.”

The Kapuso actress’ character Lea is an overseas Filipino worker and the youngest daughter in a family of nurses, according to Lhar Santiago’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday.

Lea, who has three other sisters, faces a challenging moment in her life when her mother comes home one day sick with COVID-19. Her father is soon infected and she herself catches the disease as well.

“May moment na parang feeling niya na pinagtutulungan siya ng mga kapatid niya,” Rita described her character. “‘Bakit mo pinabayaan? Bakit mo hinayaan na mahawa ’yung tatay sa nanay niya, na nurse ka pa man din?’”

Rita said the difficult role made her cry many times during the shoot, but the episode was also a dream come true for her because she was able to work with veteran actors Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino.

She confessed that there were even times when she would just stop and stare at the two as they acted to the point where she forgot that she was part of the scene as well.

Rita lamented that it wasn’t only the pandemic that she was facing as her mother battled cancer.

“Naniniwala ako sa sinasabi ni God na, ‘be still,’ kasi we really just have to trust His plans for you,” she said.

Apart from the upcoming “Magpakailanman” episode, Rita is also working on a film with on-screen partner Ken Chan. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News