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Written by Hermes Tunac
Video produced by Shai Lagarde and Zay Arguelles
Assisted by Pauline Castillo, Nicole Antonio and Gabrielle Cayetano
Graphics by KW Multimedia
March 31, 2023
Who run the world? Girls!
As this year's Women's Month comes to an end, we put the spotlight on six exceptional actresses who breathed life to strong women characters from all walks of life.
Are you like Klay, who became a hero in her own right with her fearlessness and determination? Or are you like Maria Clara, who was painted as the ideal type of Filipina woman but broke out of her shell and bravely spoke her mind? Or perhaps you're like Sisa, whose love for her children knows no bounds and transcends even in the afterlife.
Possibly, you're like Gemma, who boldly and fiercely put herself in a male-dominated industry to prove that what men can do, women can do better. Or perhaps you're like Crystal, who shows off a quirky and jolly facade but has a soft spot for her family. Last but definitely not least, you might be like the warrior Urduja, who is strong, and independent from all angles.
Meet the stars behind these characters, who continuously break the glass ceiling and redefine what it truly means to be a "Dalagang Pilipina."
Barbie Forteza has been in the showbiz industry for quite some time now, making waves here and there. But it was "Maria Clara at Ibarra," GMA's top-rating historical-fantasy series, that cemented Barbie's name as one of the best actresses of this generation.
In "Maria Clara at Ibarra," the 25-year-old Kapuso actress gave life to Klay, a Gen Z working student who was transported into the world of Dr. Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," where she would meet all of the characters of the novels and interact with them.
Klay, according to Barbie, was an eye-opening character for her. They are different in some ways, but in terms of love for their family, they're one and the same.
Despite Klay's character being unrelated to anyone from the world of "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," her love for her family back in her reality made her relatable.
“So, para sa akin, ‘yun talaga ang natutunan ko. Maging strong ‘yung love mo for family,” Barbie said.
Much like Klay, Barbie's deep love for her family has pushed her to work hard with her craft to eventually afford a house for them to live in.
“Simula nu'ng pandemya, napakaimposibleng [makapagpatayo ako ng bahay], tapos ngayon, nakikita kong unti-unti na siyang nabubuo,” she said.
She said this is one of the greatest achievements in her career that she will cherish forever.
'Maria Clara at Ibarra' stars Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo, and Julie Anne San Jose
Barbie Forteza as Klay
Aside from her outstanding acting prowess, one of the most unexpected breakthroughs in "Maria Clara at Ibarra" was her breathtaking chemistry with David Licauco, who played the role of Fidel.
“Siguro ang hindi ko po inaasahan ay ang mainit na pagtanggap sa amin ni David,” Barbie said.
Together, they created the love team "FiLay," which quickly became one of the many reasons viewers couldn't get enough of "Maria Clara at Ibarra."
Overall, Barbie couldn't be more proud of how the series turned out and garnered a whole new audience interested to know more about the Philippines' history and literature.
Barbie also mentioned how director Zig Dulay's guidance helped bridge her character to the novel and the show's audience.
"When it comes to creating my character, Klay, I kept it as real as possible," she said.
“I made sure na maging totoong tao siya talaga para kapitan siya ng audience, para masama talaga ni Klay lahat ng tao sa pagpasok niya sa dalawang nobela,” she added.
When asked what the most challenging part of the series was for her, Barbie said it was the scene where she had to climb the church's bell in Magdalena, Laguna.
"May fear of heights po talaga ako," she said.
Despite this, Barbie powered through to finish the scene as quickly as possible to give justice to their effort to travel all the way to the southeast of Metro Manila.
“Naaalala ko, habang umaakyat ako paakyat ng bell tower, umiiyak talaga ako,” Barbie recalled. “[Pero] dahil sa suporta at alaga [ng buong team], nagawa ko naman ang eksena.”
According to the actress, she discerned numerous things during the run of "Maria Clara at Ibarra," but most of all, her love for the nation prevailed the most.
"Love for the nation, love for others, love for one's self, and [always look back at where we came from]," she said.
Barbie added that another important thing she learned while portraying Klay was to treat all Filipinos as equals.
“Walang mas mataas, walang mas mababa, lahat pantay-pantay. Kung ano ang kaya ng isa, kaya rin nating lahat,” she said.
Looking back at Barbie's humble beginnings in the show business industry — from being an extra to being a leading star — she has definitely come a long way.
“Nu'ng sinimulan ko na 'yung journey ko sa pagpasok sa showbiz, ramdam ko rin talaga 'yung suporta sa akin ng family ko kasi hindi siya madali,” Barbie said.
“Siguro magandang bagay rin na may times na na-experience ko ang rejection para nga mas maging motivated ako galingan pa sa mga susunod kong trabaho,” she added.
If the word humble is in human form, it goes by the name of Barbie Forteza: someone who always delivers and thrives without forgetting the path she has walked on.
And suppose Barbie is to define what a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" is. In that case, it's someone who is "bold, brave, fearless, and goal-oriented" — the same qualities Barbie embodies that everyone adores her for.
Julie Anne San Jose is as multifaceted as she can get. She can sing, dance, host, act, and more — there isn't much she can't do.
Looking at Julie Anne now and seeing how successful she has become in her chosen field, it's hard to imagine that she had her fair share of hardships, but she did.
As early as 1998, Julie Ann joined kids' pageant competitions on TV, including Eat Bulaga's "Little Miss Philippines." Seven years later, she chanced upon "PopStar Kids," which helped her kickstart her singing career. Even though she didn't win the 2005 competition, it was Julie Anne's gateway to open singing opportunities for her that would eventually land her the most significant milestones in her life.
It has been a wild ride for Julie, and the Kapuso star said she couldn't surpass it all without the support and guidance of her family.
"Because of [my family], mas lalo akong na-inspire to not only work hard but to not quit as well," she said.
“The things that I've learned along the way, naka-instill pa rin naman siya sa akin at napaka-importante sa akin to not forget your roots,” she added.
Julie Anne San Jose as Maria Clara
Julie Anne is best known for her distinct vocal talent, but the 28-year-old also established herself as one of the most bankable actresses on GMA Network.
In the recently concluded "Maria Clara at Ibarra," Julie Anne starred as Maria Clara, who is one of the essential characters in Jose Rizal's novels.
She said that being part of such a promising show alongside some of the best names in the show business industry challenged her to bring out her A game in acting.
"It was really surreal."
Maria Clara, according to Julie, was a grueling character to portray, given the extremities of her storyline and experiences in the original novels.
"'Yung character ni Maria Clara was very restrained, 'yung nuances niya, I've learned it through time," Julie said.
"I also had to learn a Latin prayer, the Ave Maria. It was pretty challenging then because I did not have enough time to study," she added.
During the taping of the show, the actress said she had to study twice as hard to get into the character so she could master every bit of detail about Maria Clara — the way she was raised, her reactions, and her posture, among other essential features.
“Sobrang naging tao sa akin si Maria Clara. She's not just a face of a woman, [but she's] human as well. And I really enjoyed every bit of the process," she said.
Among the intense scenes she had to put extra effort into were the confrontation with Padre Salvi, and the death of Crisostomo Ibarra.
“Those were very strong scenes and exhausting [on] all levels.”
When asked what she learned from participating in the historical-fantasy series, Julie Anne said that on top of her list was empowering our fellow Filipinos, especially women.
“Encourage them [women] to only pull each other up and help them become the best version of themselves,” she said. “'Yung ipaglaban din natin 'yung mga karapatan natin bilang tao.”
"To respect and be respected," she added.
For Julie, Klay's character heavily influenced Maria Clara to take up space and speak her truth in the series.
“Nagkaroon si [Maria Clara] ng assertiveness para ipaglaban 'yung buhay niya, 'yung taong mahal niya at ipakita na hindi lang siya basta babae lang [and that] she's more than that,” she said.
Aside from empowerment, Julie Anne said "Maria Clara at Ibarra" taught her to give importance to Philippine history.
“'Yung mga nangyari noon ay nangyayari din ngayon. Natuto ako na maging mas matatag and also to use my influence, my voice to make the world a better place in my own little way,” she said.
For Julie Anne, a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" is bold, brave, open-minded, and independent.
"Filipinas know what they want. Filipinas are confident. Filipinas take the lead, make their marks and redefine excellence in what they do. Filipinas are very empowered," she concluded.
Sisa from Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" is such an iconic character in Philippine literature that, even without reading the book, you might already have an idea of who she is and how her story turns out.
While her appearance in "Maria Clara at Ibarra" was brief, Andrea Torres, who played the role, made sure it was impactful and unforgettable. Her performance earned her several accolades and words of praise.
Given the popularity of Sisa's character, it wouldn't come as a surprise that if you search the name on the internet, several videos of different people portraying the career would appear.
But Andrea said that she didn't watch any former plays or online videos of other artists' depiction of the role.
“Baka kasi magawa mo siya, e, 'di ba? Kasi siyempre napanood mo na 'yung atake nila,” the actress said.
“So ang ginawa ko, nag-workshop ako nang sobrang daming beses,” she continued. “Talagang habang hindi pa ako nag-i-start mag-taping, pinu-push ko talaga 'yung sarili ko na ma-train ako, na mas makilala ko siya."
Andrea added that she continued researching the 1800s, which helped her get to know her character more.
The iconic scene where Sisa repeatedly shouted, "Basilio. Crispin. Mga anak ko, nasaan na kayo?" was Andrea's most memorable moment in the show.
“Kasi grabe 'yung kaba ko ru'n, e. Lagi ko ngang sinasabi kapag pinapakuwento sa akin, 'yun 'yung parang may nakabara sa throat ko, na kung anu-anong pumapasok sa isip ko,” she said.
Andrea also said that since the scene where Sisa was looking for her children was the most prominent among Filipinos' consciousness, she poured in all the effort into that 15-minute scene just to be free and express the feelings of a mother heartbreakingly trying to find her missing children.
“From the very start, 'yun 'yung eksenang talagang inaabangan ko na alam ko kasing ano 'yun, e, kumbaga 'yun ang pinakakilalang lines ni Sisa, e,” shesaid.
'Maria Clara at Ibarra' Episode 23
Despite the fate of Sisa's character, Andrea said that what people should learn about her is that a mother's love is eternal.
“Nakita naman natin, 'di ba, na talagang gumuho ang mundo niya nu'ng nawala si Basilio at si Crispin, kung paano rin niya alagaan ang mga ito,” she said.
“Yung pagiging selfless niya, nakamamangha 'yun. Lagi kasi akong bilib talaga sa parents, sa mga nanay. So doon ako sobrang nakakapit kaagad kay Sisa,” she added. “Kahit na grabe 'yung traumatic experiences niya sa buhay, parang hindi 'yun naging hadlang para mag-hope siya ng magandang kinabukasan para sa mga anak niya.”
If there's one lesson Andrea would want to impart to others after enacting Sisa, it would be to stop being judgmental about people based only on what we see.
“Si Sisa, before ginagawa siyang katatawanan or iniiwasan siya dahil baliw pero makikita mo, grabe pala 'yung pinagdaanan niya,” Andrea said. “Kahit ikaw kung ilagay mo 'yung sarili mo sa posisyon na 'yun, parang pwedeng hindi mo rin talaga kayanin, e. "
“Treat everyone with kindness kasi hindi natin alam kung anong battles ang mayroon sila. Hindi natin alam kung mayroon tayong gagawin or sasabihin na makaka-trigger sa kanila. So i-respect natin lahat ng nasa paligid natin,” she added.
Moreover, Andrea said that "Maria Clara at Ibarra" imparts the lesson of appreciating Philippine history and culture.
“'Yung mga change din na nangyari like ngayon may voice na kasi 'yung mga babae. So parang mas binibigyan mo ng worth 'yun,” she said.
“Ngayon, may social media na. Nakakapagsabi ako ng feelings ko or kung may stand ako for something napapakita ko 'yun,” she added.
When asked what makes a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" for Andrea, she said that it's someone who has a clear vision of her values.
“Isang babae na klarong-klaro sa kaniya 'yung values niya bilang Pilipino at bilang tao,” she said.
“Strong siya in a way [na] alam niya kung kailan siya dapat lumaban pero sasabihin niya 'yun in such a way na hindi siya makakasakit, nasa tamang lugar siya,” she added.
After proving herself to be such a brilliant actress, Andrea is now gearing up for another promising TV series in GMA dubbed "Love Before Sunrise," starring Bea Alonzo and Dennis Trillo, among others.
Kylie Padilla is unstoppable. After starring in numerous TV shows and movies, she has stayed relevant and on top of her game in the showbiz industry.
Among all the roles she portrayed in the previous years, the 30-year-old Kapuso actress said her character Amihan in the remake of GMA's top-rating series "Encantadia" remains her favorite.
“I'm really grateful for that role kasi ang unang gusto ko talaga si Pirena,” she said.
"And then, when I went to the audition, I auditioned for Alena, I auditioned for Pirena, and I auditioned for Danaya. [It was bizarre] how I never auditioned for Amihan," she added.
Fate surely has a funny way of leading you to situations you're meant to experience, because director Mark Reyes personally asked Kylie if she could portray Amihan given her background in martial arts.
According to the actress, she thought long and hard about whether she would take the role since she felt a lot of pressure to give justice to Amihan, who Iza Calzado previously played.
“So ang ginawa ko, sindaya ko na hindi na lang ako manood nu'ng original kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘kung gagawa ako ng Amihan, 'yung Amihan ko’,” Kylie said.
True enough, Kylie's version of Amihan was incomparable to Iza's. Both versions were entirely different and amazing in their own unique way.
“I can say that I'm a changed person after [Encantadia],” Kylie shared. “Timing na timing na nanay si Amihan and during the show, I became a mom. So talagang nag-step in ako sa role ng pagiging nanay bago pa siya mangyari sa akin.”
Unknowingly, Kylie's Amihan role prepared her for her character Gemma in the show "Mga Lihim ni Urdjua." Apart from the two shows' resemblance to having action scenes, Kylie also got to be reunited with some of her co-stars in "Encantadia," including Gabbi Garcia and Sanya Lopez.
Kylie said that having her previous co-stars, plus Michelle Dee, in "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja" is one reason she said yes to the project.
"Go na ako rito kasi I think it will be really fun," she quipped.
There's no secret as to how Kylie has remained in demand in showbiz through the years, but she said that if there's a recipe for her success, it was continuously collaborating with the directors and the entire production team as to how she could better improve the roles she's portraying.
"It's the same for my craft na if I can make a material better, the character better, or even you know, have suggestions, [I really speak about them]," Kylie said. "And if the people around me encourage me to do that, then, ang sayang gawin nu'n."
For "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," the Kapuso star said her Muay Thai and gymnastics training when she was a kid reaped benefits for her to fit better into the role of Gemma.
“But I [also] train with the marines kasi siyempre iba 'yung mind set ng pulis eh,” Kylie said.
“'Yung camaraderie with your partners, how to handle the guns and you know, 'yung tamang form ng paghawak ng baril. Lahat 'yun [inaral ko],” she added.
Given that her character is a young woman fighting patriarchal stereotypes while trying to make a mark in such a male-dominated career as a policewoman in "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," Kylie said that what she wants viewers to learn from Gemma is to do the things they want to do in life without second guessing themselves.
“If you wanna do something, 'wag ka nang makinig sa mga naririnig mo from other people,” she said.
“Kasi once na makita nila na kaya mo and ginagawa mo lahat ng sinasabi mo, tatahimik na sila eh,” she added.
According to Kylie, her father, Robin Padilla, raised her in such a way that gender was the least of her worries when pursuing something she wanted in life, which made her one fearless woman that she is today.
“Walang lalaki, babae. Kung kaya ng lalaki, kaya mo [rin]."
When outside the limelight with no one watching, Kylie is just a modern mom trying to raise her two sons the best way she can.
"Being a mom is the most humbling thing in this world," she said.
“I feel most human when I'm in [a] mom mode kasi wala namang paki 'yung mga anak ko kung magaling ako umarte, e, 'di ba? They don't care. They just want me there. They want me present,” she added.
She said her sons Alas and Axl are the main reason why working hard is purposeful for her.
“Mas lalo kong minamahal 'yung trabaho ko kasi may mga batang naghihintay sa akin pag-uwi,” she said.
For Kylie, the essence of being a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" is to take up space and stand by it.
“You won't let anybody else tell you what you are, who you are,” she said. “Basta ito 'yung paniniwala ko at paninidigan ko, at kaya ko rin [kung ano ang] kaya mo.”
Having been in the show business industry for almost 10 years, Gabbi Garcia has matured with her craft and the roles she's associating her name with.
Currently, the Kapuso It Girl is starring in GMA's action-fantasy series "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," where she portrays a quirky and spirited girl named Crystal. On the outside, Crystal is extroverted and full of life and energy. But underneath it all, she also has her vulnerabilities that she isn't afraid to show the world.
Preparing for this role, according to Gabbi, is less strenuous than how Kylie prepared for Gemma in terms of action scenes. However, it's all about mental and emotional gymnastics.
“I love how quirky Crystal is but at the same time, may tamang balanse siya ng pagmamahal sa mga tao sa paligid niya,” Gabbi said. “And I love how secure, how confident, how strong her character is.”
According to Gabbi, collaborating with the production team is essential to establishing an influential role. For "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," she has been very hands-on in personifying Crystal, a young businesswoman building her brand and company.
"As an actor, it's such a big thing if the creatives discussed your character [and] the story with you," she said. "They were all very kind to accommodate my questions and my input. It was such collaborative work [which is] why I appreciate the team."
"And right away, I said yes [to "Mga Lihim Ni Urdjua"] kasi number one, of course, it's GMA, and it's with Kylie," she added.
Comparing her experience with "Encantadia," the Kapuso actress said that aside from improvements in her acting skills, she has also evolved in terms of work ethic.
"Encatadia was six [or] seven years ago. It was [a long time ago], and I was very young," Gabbi said.
"So, of course, I grew as an actor, I grew as a person, so bitbit ko lahat ng learnings ko in [Encantadia] regarding work ethics and professionalism," she added.
'Mga Lihim Ni Urduja' Episode 10
For Gabbi, her portrayal of Crystal makes her proud whenever she sees good reviews on social media.
"I really made sure [Crystal] should be lovable. So, I guess I'm getting the feedback I want with all the tweets and the comments on [social media]," she shared. “Parang napapamahal naman talaga si Crystal sa audience.”
Meanwhile, one of the biggest challenges that Gabbi has to face when giving life to Crystal is her off-the-roof energy and enthusiasm.
“Kahit na 3 a.m. na 'yan, [or] 4 a.m. [pa] 'yan, my energy has to be up there,” she said. "And I have to hype myself [every time I'd be in] Crystal's shoes [because of] how quirky and energetic she is."
On the other hand, what resonates with her the most about Crystal is her undying love for her family.
“Nakikita ko 'yung sarili ko sa kanya na family is priority, that no matter what, she will make time and she will drop everything for her loved ones."
Aside from Crystal's love for her family, Gabbi said another thing she adores about her character is that she sees goodness in everything, and it's something that she wants the viewers of "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja" to learn.
“She always tries to look at the brighter side no matter how hard it is. She's very resilient,” the Kapuso star shared. “Resilient na nasa tama, ha. Hindi 'yung resilient na nagpapaabuso o 'yung resilient na toxic na.”
She said that setting a role model for a primetime show like "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja" is necessary because many young people, especially women, watch their show. And Crystal is a perfect example of a modern "Dalagang Pilipina."
"She represents Dalagang Pilipina in a way [that she's] taking good care of her family," Gabbi said.
"And what I love most about Crystal is she's [unafraid to take up space," she added. "She's loud, has a strong personality, and doesn't care as long as wala siyang natatapakang tao, as long as she knows she's on the right path."
As for Gabbi, she described a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" as someone who has self-respect in whatever situation she puts herself into.
At 26, Sanya Lopez has already portrayed many different roles in several shows and movies, proving her versatility and unbeatable acting prowess.
In GMA's latest historical-action series, "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," Sanya plays Hara Urduja, a powerful leader and warrior during the pre-colonial period. The Kapuso actress said there's a lot about the character that Sanya can resonate with even in the modern world, including being empowered and brave.
“Nu’ng 1300s, kaya nang tumayo ng mga kababaihan sa sarili nilang paa, kaya nilang makipaglaban, kaya ka nilang harapin at alam nila kung kailangan nilang lumaban,” Sanya said.
Comparing past situations to modern times, she said one of the most important things women should learn from "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja" is knowing how to defend themselves.
“Dapat alam din natin kung kailangan na nating ipagtanggol 'yung sarili natin lalo na sa mga babaeng pakiramdam nila na sila ay inaapi na pero hinahayaan lang,” she said.
“Very empowering talaga ito because kahit naman ako, e, nai-apply ko rin sa sarili ko,” she added. “Kapag talaga ako pakiramdam ko, hindi na tama 'yung ginagawa, lumalaban din naman ako.”
Sanya admitted she only knew about Urduja and her story when she started studying for the role.
“So magandang bagay ito, malaking bagay ito para mas matutunan pa ng ibang mga kabataan kung sino ba si Urduja,” she said.
In terms of similarities between Sanya and Urduja, the actress said that they’re both independent.
“Pareho rin kaming walang jowa,” Sanya said. “Feeling ko metikulosa si Urduja. Talagang mapili siya at alam niya kung karapat-dapat ba ito o hindi.”
In terms of similarities between Sanya and Urduja, the actress said that they’re both independent.
“Pareho rin kaming walang jowa,” Sanya said. “Feeling ko metikulosa si Urduja. Talagang mapili siya at alam niya kung karapat-dapat ba ito o hindi.”
In terms of starring in a show without a leading man, Sanya said she's used to being independent and never really depended on a love team to portray a character successfully.
“Nakadepende [lang ako lagi] sa sarili ko, kung ano 'yung kaya ko at ibinibigay ko 'yung best ko,” she said.
When asked what's the most challenging part of shooting "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja," Sanya said it's learning different languages.
“Multilingual si Urduja. Nagsasalita siya ng Chinese, ng Arabic and then, Mongolian,” Sanya said.
“And mas malalalim ‘yung mga salita. Kung malalim ang salita sa Encantadia, ito sobrang lalim. Kumbaga parang ito 'yung mga word na hindi ko pa masyadong naririnig talaga,” she added.
Sanya also shared that she worked hard to keep her body physically fit to give Urduja justice. As soon as she confirmed that the role was hers to take, she immediately planned her diet and worked out regularly.
“Kasi from First Lady, alam mo naman medyo may laman-laman ako nang kaunti ru'n,” Sanya said. “Ngayon, talagang no rice kung kaya or kumain [ako] ng gusto [ko] pero talagang grabe [ako] dapat mag-workout.”
In its totality, "Mga Lihim Ni Urduja" is an empowering series showing different sides of women and what they can do. But for Sanya, the show proved through her character Urduja how a modern "Dalagang Pilipina" knows her worth and doesn't settle for anything less.
