We visited the set of the long-time afternoon soap Ika-6 na Utos and chanced upon Angelika de la Cruz while having her vegan lunch in one of the rooms of the house in Quezon City used as the location for the series.
She said it gave her a feeling of joy when GMA Network offered her to be in the series with her friend Sunshine Dizon.
Here are excerpts from the brief chat we had that day.
Kumusta ka? Pumayat ka. (How are you? You seem to have lost weight.)
Nag vegan ako. Mag fo-four months na. Bonus ang pagliit. Pero mas healthy ang feeling mo. Yung sugar ko normal na. hindi na ako acidic.
Comeback project mo ang Ika-6 na Utos?
Tinawagan ako ni Shine. Kasi alam niya na hindi pa ako nagtatrabaho. Ang usapan namin ni Tito Perry next year pa ako magtatrabaho. One year pa lang ako nakapahinga. Kasi nga siyempre may trabaho ako sa Malabon, pinapalaki ko ang anak ko. Gusto ko balik ako sa dati kong weight. Para kumportable. Yung last kong show hirap na hirap ako nun. Tsaka hindi ako kumportable pag unfit ka.
What did Shine tell you?
Tinawagan niya ako. Nakakatawa nga. Una text. Sabi niya, “Mars, handa ka na bang mag work. Payat ka na ba?” kasi alam niiya nag struggle ako dun. Tapos sabi niya yung sa Ika-6 Na Utos. Sabi ko sige, tingnan ko. Kung ready na katawan ko.
Who is Geneva?
Si Geneva, she is annoying. Isa siyang epal. Hindi pa siya full blown monster. Si Georgia kasi monster na. Kasi kahit gusto niya si Angelo, hati pa rin siya sa hinahanap niya ang pamilya at pinakamamahal na kapatid which is Georgia. Same parents kami. Umalis si Geneva, nag-Japan siya tapos hindi na siya bumalik. Hindi siya maka focus kay Emma.
Are you happy about Mika?
Siyempre, stage sister ako. Si Mika kasi very simple, mabait na bata yan. Tsaka sweet siya. Gusto lang niya kasi yung nagwo-work siya habang nag-aaral siya.
You’re a government official. Is there no conflict between what you do as a public servant and playing a villainess in the soap?
Siyempre pag niloloko ako ng constituents ko, “oy ang sama sama mo dun. Oh, galing na galing ka naman sa akin, inis na inis ka.” basta malapit ka tao, jo-joke mo lang.
Did you feel there’s challenge in being part of the show?
Oo siyempre, bawat show may challenge. Kasi kailangan I challenge mo ang sarili mo. Kailangan siyempre mas nakakainis ka. Pero yung first part ng story, annoying pa lang ako. Kasi andun na yung characters nila, established na tapos papasok ka lang. Kumbaga papasok ka pa lang, siyempre ilulugar mo pa lang ang character mo. Its not my time to shine.
Were you also excited?
Oo pero hindi pa kagaya ng ginagawa namin nung nakaraan sa past. Meron na nga kami na eksena na nakakatawa. Nabasa ko yung script. Tawa ako ng tawa. Ixe-Xerox niya ang mukha ko. Nakakatawa. Habang binabasa ko, tawa ako ng tawa. Kinukwento k okay Shine. Tapos sabi ko, alam ko na ang jologs ng Ika-6 Na Utos kasi ang daming nakaka relate. Tawa kami ng tawa. Tapos may eksena sila ni Georgia, sabi niya, “Mars manood ka.” Eh nandun din ang asawa ko, nakakaloko ang fight scenes. May gulong gulong pa. ay ang taray! Sanay naman na kami.
But, you were glad Sunshine thought of you for the character?
Oo naman. Iniisip ko nga naghi-hibernate ako. Siyempre nakakatuwa na ganun.
Pero masaya talaga sa set. Hindi ka haggard.
So, folks, it looks like Ika-6 na Utos will stay on your afternoon screens longer, as Geneva’s character hasn’t been explored yet to the fullest. Anyway, it’s the top-rating daytime show, so can GMA Network complain?
★★★★★
After months of anticipation, GMA Network is proud to announce that Alexander Lee is Heart Evangelista’s leading man in My Korean Jagiya.
Alexander is a professional actor in Korea and former member of the boy band U-Kiss. He bagged the coveted role of Jun Ho in My Korean Jagiya, the first and original Kapuso series partly shot in Seoul, South Korea. Apart from him, several Korean actors will also play important roles in the primetime soap.
The former K-Pop idol said he is very excited on his latest project with GMA 7, “I’m really glad to finally work with GMA again after so many years. I remember the last time was when U-Kiss performed in Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman and Party Pilipinas. I had really good memories of GMA because you were very kind, friendly and caring.”
Alexander said he did not think twice accepting the role because he is thrilled to return to the country and to finally work with Heart.
“First, when I heard the word ‘GMA,’ I was already confident that it would be a good project. Afterwards, knowing that Heart Evangelista would be in it, it won my heart completely! Of course, it was a tough decision to give up all my current work here in Korea for this project, but I’m definitely sure it will be worth it. After seeing the project proposal, I was really excited because it is very meaningful. I personally really love the cultural exchange between the Philippines and Korea. It would be a never-before-seen project so I decided to join,” said Alexander.
The production team of My Korean Jagiya recently went to Seoul to tape important scenes for the drama series.
Heart, meanwhile, revealed that working with Alexander is a breeze, “He is so easy to work with and as time goes by, we are more comfortable with each other. He is really a good actor. And I’m so excited for everybody to get to know him and see the show.”
Completing the all-star cast of My Korean Jagiya are Janice de Belen, Ricky Davao, Iya Villania, Edgar Allan Guzman, Valeen Montenegro, Frances Makil, Jinri Park, and Myke Salomon.