GLAIZA De Castro is known for playing strong women but she now plays a totally different character in “Nagbabagang Luha”, an adaptation of the movie directed by Ishmael Bernal in 1988.

“Yes, nasanay ako in playing strong characters,” she says. “Ito, walang bahid at all ng pagiging fierce or pagiging mataray like in my roles as Pirena of “Encantadia”, in ‘Temptation of Wife’ and ‘Contessa’. So very different ito for me dahil total around, lagi akong umiiyak so nahihirapan ako. I want to thank Direk Ricky Davao for being patient with me, lagi akong ginagabayan. We put a very different flavor sa role ko rito as Maita.”

But was she able to identify with her role as Maita?

“In a way, yes, kasi si Maita kapantay ko pagdating sa pagmamahal sa family. Pareho kaming yun ang priority namin, ganun siya, she’ll do everything for her family. Si Maita kasi, naging nanay siya ni Cielo, played by Claire Castro, after iniwan kami ng nanay namin, si Jaclyn Jose at mapatay ang tatay namin, played by Allan Paule. But very different din siya from the real me kasi nga hindi siya palaban. Sa kanya, sige tatanggapin ko na lang ito lahat, which, in real life, hindi ako papayag.”

Is she pressured by the fact that her role was originally played by Lorna Tolentino? “Siempre, may pressure. Lagi naman, if you’re doing a remake, it can’t be helped if you’d be compared sa original like ‘Encantadia’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Pero nababawasan ang pressure dahil sa suporta ng mga katrabaho ko, lalo na si Direk Ricky and all my co-stars dito.”

What would she do if what happened to her character, Maita, will also happen to her in real life? “Naku, hindi ko siguro kakayanin yung lokohin ka ng asawa mo, lalo na kung ang nag-cheat sayo, kapatid mo pa. It’d be really more frustrating, more sad kapag malapit na kamag-anak ang gumawa nun sayo. That’s the difference of ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ from other stories about infidelity kasi dito, sister niya ang gumawa noon sa kanya, inagaw ang husband niya, kaya mas masakit.”

She’s officially engaged to her Irish boyfriend, Irish David Rainey. Have they fixed a date for their wedding?

“No definite plans yet for marriage, kasi lets face it, very challenging ang pandemic ngayon lalo na sa pagta-travel. Mahal yung relationship namin, kasi maraming travels na involved. We are hoping the restrictions will ease out. Iniisip na lang namin na test ito for us, sa relationship namin, for us to be more trustful and patient with each other. Pero may effect nga itong ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ sa akin which is about cheating. Naiisip ko na, naku, baka may iba na siya, kaya gusto ko na ring magkita kami.”

Will their wedding be here or in Ireland? “Ideally, gusto ko dito ang wedding namin. Kasi ang laki ng family ko, e. Hindi ko sila kayang dalhin lahat sa Ireland. E, sila sampu lang sila sa family nila. So when it comes to logistics, mas practical to do it here at para rin ma-experience nila ang Filipino culture. I’m so excited to bring them around.”

Pinoy-Russian love story on MPK

MEL Tiangco’s ‘Magpakailanman’ offers a different kind of real life love story this Saturday night. Entitled “From Russia with Love”, this is based on the vlog of a real life multi-racial couple, Eric and Anna, so popular now on the internet.

Nico Antonio headlines the story as Eric with Max Collins as Anna. As Eric, Nico is a simple Pinoy whom a Russian model falls in love with. This is Nico’s first major appearance in a TV drama anthology on GMA-7.

“Mahirap pala,” he says. “Not just physically but also mentally and psychologically. Matindi ang pressure and kailangang you’re always on your toes. No room for mistakes. Thanks to our director Don Michael Perez for guiding us.”

Nico says he was touched by the story so much that it moved him to tears while reading the script. “First time ever na nangyari sa akin ‘yung ganito na nadala ako sa ganda ng story. Kaya I am very grateful sa GMA for this opportunity to be part of ‘MPK’.”

A freelance artist now being managed by Becky and Katrina Aguila, Nico is currently in a month-long lock-in taping for a new series that’s still under wraps. With assignments left and right, Nico said he is grateful to Star Magic and ABS-CBN, where he started, for honing his craft as an actor.

The real life Eric and Anna met in America. Eric is an OFW and Anna is an exchange student. Despite their cultural differences, love blooms between them and while Anna is on vacation in Manila, Eric proposes to her and she accepts it.

They start living in America but eventually choose to live in Manila. Eric finds work as a real estate agent and Anna tries modeling. Everything seems fine until the pandemic happens to test both of them.

Also in the cast is Tanya Gomez as Eric’s mother. Don’t miss this heartwarming episode of true love in ‘Magpakailanman’ this Saturday, 8 PM, on GMA-7.

Puregold online series a big hit

“GVBOYS” hits it big on Puregold Channel. It is the wackiest, laugh-a-minute online comedy series today online that stars Jerome Ponce, Dave Bornea, and Nikko Natividad as the GVBoys, with Wilma Doesnt, Elsa Droga, and Ms. Carmi Martin. The Puregold Channel is conceptualized by Puregold Price Club Inc. to give the public a free source of entertainment that they could all enjoy in the privacy and safety of their homes in the midst of the on-going pandemic.

Directed by veteran film and top-rating television director Don Cuaresma with a script written by Sherwin Buenvenida and Joaquin Acosta, this digital series proves that laughter is indeed the best medicine with the landslide success of GVBoys. The show revolves around the misadventures of friends Jawo (Ponce), Zeus (Bornea), and Dax (Natividad) in the hopes of raising money to redeem their boarding house owned by Aling Pearly (Martin) from a debt incurred from an old frenemie Loisa (Doesnt).

“The great response of viewers is overwhelming,” says Jerome. “Now, the entire cast and crew are all pumped up to work even better in delivering the craziest quality entertainment that everybody could enjoy. The consistent encouragement of viewers is truly very inspiring.”

Jerome and Nikki are Kapamilya stars while David is a homegrown Kapuso. “I’m very thankful to be given the chance to work with them. I found new friends and we’re now all enjoying each other’s company while doing GVBoys. Sana patuloy nyo kaming panoorin para we can do more hilarious episodes for your enjoyment.”

“Sobrang nagpapasalamat po kami sa Puregold Channel for giving us this show na talaga namang magpapasakit sa inyong tiyan sa katatawa,” says Nikki. “Abangan nyo dahil marami pa kaming gagawing super funny episodes in the next Saturdays to come.”

GVBoys premiered on Puregold Channel’s Facebook and YouTube platforms last July 10, and quickly hit the 1M mark in consolidated viewership for its pilot and second episode, with thousands of positive comments and reactions while spawning hilarious reaction videos from netizens.

On YouTube, I Love Tansyong-TV commented that “We need contents like this. Ito ang magiging gamot sa depresyon ng bayan.” Ur In My Zone raved: “Freaking! Hilarious! Looking forward for this series. Puregold Channel thank you for making #GVBoys possible.”

Win Manuel gushed: “Love this show. Love the cast they’re so funny” These are just a few of the thousands and thousands of affirmative comments from netizens not just from the Philippines but from all over the world as well.

“We are very grateful and humbled to the public for their solid support and the wonderful reception they gave to this show. We really worked hard to give everyone the much needed joy and laughter that are necessary during these uncertain times and I thank Puregold Channel for its trust and unwavering support,” says director Don Cuaresma.

The third episode will go streaming on July 24 (Saturday, 7:00 p.m.) and viewers are now anticipating the next outrageous and mischievous escapades of of the lovable GVBoys. Their fans can surely look forward to more zany antics from the show’s beloved characters – Jawo shoots a TV commercial as he begins a budding romance with Loisa; Dax courts house angel Avana (Abi Kassem); Zeus does a fixer-upper in the house; Aling Pearly fights back as Loisa continues to terrorize her; and Kathryn B is forced to pretend to be straight.

GVBoys streams weekly for free on Puregold Channel’s YouTube and Facebook platforms. For more information and exciting updates, like Puregold on Facebook, follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to Puregold Channel on YouTube.