THE senior supporting cast of “I Left My Heart in Sorsogon” was introduced to the press to help promote the show that starts airing on GMA Telebabad on November 15. Rey PJ Abellana plays Patricio, the father of Heart Evangelista as Celeste and Mavy Legaspi as Basti.

“Doing lock in taping for the show in Sorsogon was very challenging,” Rey says. “Matagal ‘yung hotel quarantine namin, then traveling time to Sorsogon was 13 hours. Magkakasama kaming lahat in one bus. Then we stayed in the same hotel at ang locations ng taping namin, mahahaba rin ang byahe, taking one to two hours.”

So how is it? “Mahirap but nakakatuwa kasi everyone cooperated. First time ko sa Sorsogon at marami talagang magagandang lugar doon na puedeng magbakasyon. I’ve been to Bicol several times, but first time kong nakapag-ikot sa Sorsogon.”

They’re now back in Sorsogon for the final leg of their lock in taping and he’s thankful that the wedding of his daughter Carla to Tom Rodriguez took place while he’s in a break between their lock in tapings.

“At least, I got the chance na ihatid ang daughter ko sa altar,” he says. “We’re just happy everything turned out well kahit nagkaproblema at kinailangang i-relocate ‘yung wedding and venue ng reception because of the safety protocols required by the pandemic. So, from Tagaytay sana, nalipat sa San Juan church in Batangas. Still, it turned out to be smooth, very successful, everyone’s happy and it’s all very memorable. Salamat sa Diyos at naitawid naman nang maayos.”

He can see Carla is very happy with Tom. “Kabisado ko ‘yung anak and I know she makes good choices and decisions. We’re all very positive and welcome talaga si Tom sa pamilya namin. I pray that they will have a happy family and a marriage that will last forever.”

Isay blessed with exciting roles

ISAY Alvarez plays Lucia, the mother of Heart Evangelista. She just played Cristine Reyes’ very rich and imperious mother in law in TV5’s “Encounter”.
“This time, as the mom of Heart, I appear in the flashback scenes and I feel blessed to be given different kinds of roles and projects as it makes my job as an actress very exciting,” she says. “My biggest challenge here is I should look 30 years younger in my role.”
She’s happy she bonded well with co-star Shamaine Buencamino while doing lock in taping in Sorsogon. “Yes, masarap ang kwentuhan namin kasi magkatapat lang ‘yung rooms namin,” she adds. “At ang maganda sa staff ng GMA, very efficient. They make sure na ang call time mo, pagdating mo sa set, ikaw na ang isasalang, so walang oras na nasasayang sa waiting time. Then after your take, balik ka na sa hotel.”

Why Shamaine is advised by her director to slow down

SHAMAINE Buencamino plays Adora, the stepmother of Heart. “I’m so happy dahil kakaiba ang role ko rito,” she says. “Usually kasi, I play strong woman roles na malakas ang dating. But here, kailangang tahimik lang ako kasi mapagbigay si Adora, martir. She just suffers quietly, so ibang-iba for me kasi sanay akong assertive ako. Our director, Mark de la Cruz, told me that I have to slow down pati sa pagsasalita ko.”

It’s her first lock in taping. So how did she find it? “Okay naman, kaya lang mahirap, kasi malayo ka sa pamilya mo. But it’s worth it. We all need to work.”

Marina the beauty queen gets an ‘acting coach’ for a partner

MARINA Benipayo plays Vivian, the older sister of Richard Yap who plays Heart’s boyfriend. “Contravida kay Heart ang dating ko rito kasi overprotective ako sa brother ko,” she says.

Unlike the other members of the cast, she didn’t go to Sorsogon. “My scenes are all here in Manila so dito lang ako nag-taping,” she adds.

It’s common knowledge that she and Ricardo Cepeda (Snooky Serna’s ex-husband) are now together. Romance bloomed between them when they played husband and wife in “Binondo Girl”.

Marina won in the Bb. Pilipinas in 1992 but she went into acting only 10 years ago when ABS-CBN got her to play Xian Lim’s mom in “Binondo Girl.” She’s been on with Ricardo for also ten years.

Does she consult him about acting?

“Yes, I do consult him as he’s been in the business longer than me,” she says. “We read the script and he helps me na buuin yung character that I will play. I call him my acting coach sa dami ng helpful inputs niya. He’s very supportive.”

Issa who’s better known as TV host is really an actress

ISSA Litton plays Aurelia, the first wife of Richard Yap and she resents Heart as Richard’s new girlfriend. She is better known as a TV host but she really started with acting on stage in college.

“I was active doing plays with Dulaang UP where we do English and Tagalog versions of the same play,” she says. “Now lang ako naging active sa mainstream. I have to thank GMA for giving me a chance to showcase my acting in teleseryes. Never kong binale wala ang acting. Hasa ako sa iba’t ibang acting methods. I was first seen on GMA in ‘First Yaya’, then I auditioned for this role and it’s really a blessing kasi ang ganda ng pagkasulat sa character ko as Aurelia.”

So, which does she prefer, hosting or acting? “I love them both, hosting and acting. Puede namang pagsabayin, di ba?”