Yesterday, a new afternoon soap premiered featuring Maricel Laxa as a widow and a loving mother who won’t let anyone get in the way of her second chance at love. Playing the role, the seasoned actress said it’s been a learning process for her being guided by the show’s director and working with “an amazing cast.”
“It’s a stretch for me siyempre, it’s been a while pero I’m enjoying myself and for me, it’s a brand new experience na masterclass kasi it’s my first time to really work on a teleserye with Direk Laurice [Guillen] so, I’m really absorbing everything I can, I’m writing things down, I’m doing extra homework and I’m making myself really available to learn, to go to the next level and have fun most of all,” shares Maricel on grabbing the opportunity to do this TV project.
Entitled Apoy sa Langit, the series is an epic tale of how even a second chance at love comes with its own hurdles; a marriage that is tested for ‘better or for worse, in secrets and in wealth, till death do they part’.
The story follows the story of a widowed jewelry designer and her only daughter getting a second chance at a complete family, life takes a surprising twist when an “estranged daughter” turns out to be her new husband’s secret mistress.
Playing an important role is accomplished actor and TV director Zoren Legaspi as Cesar Monastreal, Gemma’s charming and endearing new husband.
He reveals working extra hard for this series since he doesn’t want to disappoint his director, “You know this project, hindi siya biro. If you’re working with Direk Laurice, you got to be a thinking actor and that’s the only way you’re going to appreciate her…It’s really a special role for me that’s why I’m excited to work every day dahil gustung-gusto ko yung character ni Cesar.”
Mikee Quintos is also ready to showcase her versatility in drama as Ning Hidalgo, Gemma’s unica hija who is sweet, smart, and as artistic as her mother. As a child, she witnessed the murder of her father. And this time, she will witness how her mom’s new husband cheats on her.
“Yung challenge po here sa lahat ng ginawa kong characters, si Ning yung may pinakamabigat na dinadala sa loob. I can say na mas mabigat pa sa dala ni Myla sa Onanay kasi ito may trauma and nahihirapan siyang i-handle yun na kino-consume na siya nang trauma niya at nahihirapan na siyang mabuhay ng normal. Pinakahirap akong i-express yung galit and because of Ning, natututunan ko kung paano i-express yung galit in different ways and with great help from Direk Laurice din, she’s very straight to the point with what she wants and that helped me a lot sa mga eksena,” says Mikee as she takes her acting a notch higher in portraying her character.
Also joining in the soap is Lianne Valentin in her most daring role as Stella Fernandez, a bold and beautiful young woman who falls in love with Cesar.
She reveals how different and challenging her role is in the series and how she works her way into channeling Stella, “It’s a very challenging role for me. I just know na it’s sexy, daring, and mature role pero mas na-realize ko habang tumatagal na yung role ni Stella, there’s more to it dahil maraming shift and emotions.”
Joining them is a powerhouse cast of some of the country’s most respected artists in film and television: Mariz Ricketts, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Dave Bornea, Coleen Paz, Celine Fajardo, Patricia Ismael, and Mio Maranan.
The creative team behind the series is composed of Creative Director Aloy Adlawan; Creative Head Richard Dode Cruz; Concept Creator Liberty Trinidad-Villaroman; Head Writer J-mee Katanyag; Episode Writers Brylle Tabora, Liberty Trinidad-Villaroman; Brainstormers Cynthia Paz, Akeem del Rosario, and Carlo Ventura.
Apoy sa Langit airs Monday to Saturday, after Eat Bulaga on GMA Afternoon Prime.