PEP: Rhian Ramos feels ‘vindicated’ by success of Stairway To Heaven

For Rhian Ramos, the success of her primetime series Stairway to Heaven is a vindication against critics who continuously question her talent and longevity in the entertainment business. While Rhian's background (she is the niece of Ida Henares, Vice President of GMA Network Talent Development Management Department) undoubtedly worked to her advantage in the beginning, that privilege likewise threatened to harm her young career as critics felt that she was only earning all the breaks because of influence and inside muscle. At the Thanksgiving Mass tendered by the Kapuso Network for the cast and team of Stairway To Heaven last November 26 at the 17th floor of GMA Network Center in Quezon City, Rhian told the entertainment press that, more than the impressive ratings, she was thrilled to realize that she could work with any leading man and still be accepted by the viewing public. Rhian has so far worked with Richard Gutierrez (Captain Barbell, Codename: Asero, and Zorro), Mark Herras (My Only Love), JC de Vera (LaLola), and Dingdong Dantes (Stairway To Heaven). "I think that's really positive," smiled Rhian when reminded of the good showing of her previous projects featuring different leading men. "Isa 'yon sa mga bagay na happy ako sa career ko, kasi ang dami kong iba't ibang leading men na nakatrabaho. And, awa ng Diyos, na-bless Niya ang bawat project kahit na, at first, nilalait kami, pero in the end it works out." Credit of course goes to the materials of all of her shows as Rhian personally feels that a good story alone is enough to make a program stand. "Feeling ko vindicated ako because in the end natatanggap 'yong kuwento no matter who is playing the role," she said. "Kahit hindi fan ko, papanoorin nila. Or kunwari may iba silang gustong ka-loveteam ko, parang in the end, mapapanood pa rin. Doon ako masaya. 'Yon yung nakaka-vindicate. Hindi naman dahil sa ratings, pero maganda na tatanggapin nila for the story no matter whether they like the person who's playing the role." - Bong Godinez, PEP