ANDREA Torres plays a Christian who falls in love with a Muslim, played by Dennis Trillo, in “Legal Wives”. She agrees to marry him even if she knew Dennis is allowed to practice poligyny in their religion, which is having many wives.

She later on regrets her decision when problems with the other wives become complicated. In real life, would she marry a Muslim guy with other wives?

“Naku, ayoko magsalita nang patapos na hindi ako papayag,” she says. “Kasi we don’t know what will happen in the future. I don’t really know if I could go that far, accepting that my husband has other wives. Parang ang hirap tanggapin ng ganung sitwasyon.”

But what if she really loved the guy?

“E, siguro nga depende kung mahal mo talaga ‘yung lalaking ‘yun. We can never predict naman kung magmamamahal nga ako o hindi ng Muslim. But if it’s worth it, why not?

“Sabi nila, love conquers all, di ba? Pero lahat ng consequences of such a decision, inilatag ‘yun dito sa ‘Legal Wives’, so don’t miss each episode as directed by our young and talented director, Zig Dulay.”

Direk Zig’s competence put to the test

ZIG Dulay is one of the most competent young directors on GMA-7 and he’s glad to be assigned to helm one of GMA’s biggest projects ever, “Legal Wives”, that is now airing on GMA Telebabad.

Zig has directed award-winning films like “Paglipay”, “Bambanti” and “Akin ang Korona”, also many acclaimed episodes in TV series like “Tadhana” and “Karelasyon”. GMA obviously trusts his capability to give him a project as grandiose as “Legal Wives”.

“When they told me about the material, I realized na maraming challenges,” he says. “Maselan kasi ang tema ng show. It’s about the Muslim culture na hindi naiintindihan ng maraming tao, specially us Christians. So we had a seminar about their religion and culture. We have to tackle in the show their concept of rido or clan war. Also of dangal or maratabat. ‘Yung kultura nilang nagpapahintulot ng pag-aasawa ng higit sa isa.”

He is very careful in handling such delicate concepts in the show. “Kailangang maipaliwanag nang maayos at maunawaan ng viewers ang mga paniniwalang ito. Para maintindihan ng isang Kristiyanong bansa kung bakit nila ginagawa ang ganoon sa relihiyong Islam. We have to be politically correct at nang hindi magkaroon ng misrepresentation sa ating indigenous peoples.”

And how did they do this in “Legal Wives”? “We have cultural consultants on the set. This is a collaboration ng buong ‘Legal Wives’ team from the creative at production design and also the cast. Our chief creative head, Suzette Doctolero, is also always on the set to help guide us.”

So how did Suzette conceive of “Legal Wives”? “I conceived it when we went to Mindanao and I realized na ang daming iba’t ibang tribes doon. So ang yaman talaga ng culture ng Mindanao dahil bawat isa, may sariling kultura at kuwento. That’s how it started. Then we thought of the concept of poliginy. What do the many wives of the same man feel? We will show all that in ‘Legal Wives’. Sa trailer, di ba may scene na ang wives na sina Alice Dixson, Andrea Torres at Bianca Umali, silang tatlo idi-divorce nila si Dennis? So makikita nyo ‘yun dito kung anong puno’t dulo noon.”