Ella Cruz

What Ella prides herself with

June 3, 2021 Mario Bautista 2623 views

ELLA Cruz won a best supporting actress award for her role as the ill-fated teener in “Edward” and she got more acclaim playing the role of a medium who battles evil spirits in the recent “Biyernes Santo”. She now plays the most challenging role in her career as Angel, an Aeta girl in “Gluta”, the newest movie of Viva‘s busiest writer-director Darryl Yap whose works are being shown in quick succession, almost every other week on VivaMax

How’s it working with Darryl? “Akala ko masungit siya, nagmumura, pero hindi pala,” she says. “He helps me build the character of Angel. Tinulungan niya ako kasi sobrang bago sa’kin to play an Aeta role. He’s really kind and full of wisdom, so I really love him and I’m happy to be able to work with him. They think puro kalokohan ang ginagawa niya, but he has a serious message in every movie of his. Kapag pinanood nyo, sinasampal tayo ng realidad sa movies niya.”

“Gluta” tells the story an Aeta native who dreams of being a beauty queen. The mean girls in their school include her as a candidate in their Miss University pageant to shame her. Expectedly, she is ridiculed for her dark skin, but she’s very confident that that she is beautiful and she will prove to her doubters one day that she can win in a beauty contest.

How does she feel playing the underdog that everyone makes fun of? “I feel fulfilled to be in this movie as it has a timely message about discrimination. We just saw that sa recent Miss Universe, grabe ang racism ng mga tao kay Miss Canada who’s black. My character here is very positive and this is a reminder for everyone na may insecurities sa katawan.”

She likes it that Angel is a fighter. “Kung hindi kayo confident sa sarili nyo, this movie will help you realize na lahat tayo, may kanya-kanyang ganda, skills o talents na dapat mo munang ma-appreciate yourself and you should embrace it, so that other people will also be able to appreciate you more.”

Has she herself ever tried gluta skin whitening? “No, but I admit na noon, marami akong insecurities kasi maliit ako, maraming mas maganda sa’kin, but you should realize and accept your own talent, like I know magaling akong sumayaw. Napansin ko, hindi ako nakukuha masyado as magazine covers, pero marami naman akong projects at movies.”

Winning awards boosted her belief in herself. “Yes, after I’ve won awards, I felt that this confirms I’m okay and doing great in this industry. So, don’t compare yourself to others kasi you have your own strengths. If you keep comparing sa iba, you’ll always be disappointed. Now na-embrace ko na ang sarili ko and I’ve fully accepted myself.”

Ella is supported in the movie by the comebacking Cristina Gonzales as her teacher, Arlene Muhlach as their school principal, Juliana Segovia as her Uncle Goliath who’s secretly gay, former PBB housemate Marco Gallo as her admirer named Bambino who starts out just toying with her feelings but later stands up for her, Loren Montemayor as her best friend who supports her dreams, Rose Van Ginkle and Jobelyn Manuel as the mean girls who make her life miserable.

Streaming on Vivamax starting July 2, “Gluta” imparts an important message: “Walang kulay ang kaligayahan.” Vivamax is available online at web.vivamax.net. You can also download the app and subscribe via Google Play Store and App Store or get your Vivamax vouchers on Shopee and Lazada. Watch all you can on Vivamax for only P149/month and P399 for 3 months for bigger savings. “Gluta” is also streaming on Vivamax Middle East! To our dear fellow Pinoys in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, watch all you can for only AED35/month. Vivamax, atin ‘to!

‘Owe My Love’ cast owes viewers big support

THE entire cast of GMA’s hit romcom, ‘Owe My Love’, headed by Lovi Poe, Benjamin Alves, Ai Ai de las Alas, Winwyn Marquez, Jackielou Blanco, Leo Martinez and Ryan Eigenmann want to thank all the viewers who supported their show during its five-month telecast.

“This is one of my most memorable shows I’ve done,” says Lovi. “A lot of viewers are able to identify with my role as Sensen Guipit, a poor girl with many family problems who never gives up as she’s a born fighter.”

“Anywhere I go, people tell me they watch our show,” says Ben. “At laging maganda ang feedback nila kasi they find it so entertaining lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemic. Naaliw raw talaga sila.”

In tonight’s finale, they will finally solve the mystery in the murder of Tatay Oryo (Mike Nacua), Sensen’s (Lovi) dad. But Winwyn as Trixie and Jackielou as Divina will still plot a heinous way to kill Lovi. Will they succeed? Will Leo Martinez as Lolo Badong who has dementia still regain his memory? Will Lovi and Ben still be able to save their romance in the end? What will be the fate of the other characters played by Kiray Celis, Buboy Villar, Jelai Andres and Jon Gutierrez? Find out the answers this Friday night in “Owe My Love”, farewell episode, on GMA Telebabad and GMA Pinoy TV.

Hot rainy day on ‘AOS’

SUMMER is over and the rains have come, but “All Out Sundays” is still sizzling hot this Sunday starting with an OPM opening number featuring our favorite beach vibes hits headed by Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, Barbie Forteza, Christian Bautista, Mark Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Rayver Cruz, Miguel Tanfelix, Ruru Madrid, Ken Chan, Rita Daniela, Derrick Monasterio, Kyline Alcantara, Mavy Legaspi, Jeremiah Tiangco, Jessica Villarubin, Thea Astley, Kim de Leon, Lexi Gonzales and guest Ysabel Ortega.

The All Star Assembly pairs up – Julie Anne San Jose and Christian Bautista, Aicelle Santos and Mark Bautista, Golden Cañedo and Jeremiah Tiangco, and Jessica Villarubin and Garrett Bolden, for heart-warming renditions of “Hanggang Kailan,” “Hanggang Dito na Lang” and “Hanggang Ngayon.

AOS gives a special treat to the A’tin nation with SB 19 taking on the stage with “What?” Julie Anne San Jose celebrates her latest single and gives an all-out performance of “Free.”

Let us take a look back at the roller coaster journey of the Love Doctors in finding their true love. Reminisce on the best moments of the musical romantic comedy with Rhian Ramos, Paolo Contis, Denise Barbacena, Kristoffer Martin, Betong Sumaya, Jennie Gabriel and Tuesday Vargas.

The all-out fun continues with your favorite Kapuso Stars in Shopee’s countdown to the Shopee 6.6 Mid-year Sale TV Special! Join Carmina Villarroel and Richard Yap as they lead the mid-year Shopee Shake where two Kapuso viewers can win P300,000! Watch out for the Mega Super performances of Winwyn Marquez, Rodjun Cruz and the Original Concert Queen, Ms. Pops Fernandez! Meanwhile, laugh out loud with EA Guzman and Pekto in their two-part comedy sketch. And tune in to Benjamin Alves and Patricia Tumulak as they share the Shopee 6.6 Mid-year Piso Flash Deals.

Tune in to “All-Out Sundays” at 12:00 nn on June 6, 2021 only on GMA!

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