YASMIEN Kurdi is really a good soldier for the Kapuso Network. She has been doing lead roles in all her teleseryes with them, but in “Start Up PH”, she plays a supporting role to Bea Alonzo.

Her role as Ina is actually even more of a contravida to Bea because they play the role of sisters but when their parents separated, she chose to stay with their mom, Ayen Munji Laurel, who returned to her own rich family, while Bea as Danni chose to stay with their dad, Neil Ryan Sese, who is poor and struggling. Didn’t she have any second thoughts about accepting the role?

“None,” says Yasmien. “When they offered it to me, tinanggap ko agad. K-drama fan kasi ako, e. So I am just happy to be a part of the local version of ‘Start Up’. Kasi napanood ko ‘yung original na Korean and now, I am portraying ‘yung mismong gusto kong role sa show. The truth is, when I got the offer, I asked myself, ‘Kaya ko ba?’ So I watched the whole show all over again and I told myself, makakaya ko naman, so go!”

She says “Start Up PH” is such a big project she is just thankful to be part of the show.

“Imagine, it’s directed by two great directors, Jerry Sineneng and Dominic Zapata. First time silang pinagsama. And we have a very great cast. First time ko to work with Alden Richards. I thought before na he’s too serious. ‘Yun ang impression ko sa interviews sa kanya. But kapag naka-work mo siya, kwela pala siya in person, so bubbly. He lightens up the set at magaan katrabaho.”

How about Bea? “I’m glad that sa first show ni Bea as Kapuso, kasama niya ako. Kasi even before, maraming nagsasabing magkamukha kami. Actually, I have a funny experience in 2006 when we’re doing ‘Bakekang’ sa Baseco compound in Port Area. Nauna akong dumating, pumasok na ako sa loob ng tent at inayos ko na mga gamit ko roon, pati ‘yung higaan ko at natulog na ako while waiting for our taping to start. Tapos, may lumapit sa’kin sabi, ‘Miss Yas, hindi po kayo rito.’ Sabi ko naman, ‘Ha? Bakit, e may taping kami rito’. Sabi nung tao, set po ito nina Bea Alonzo for ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’. Siempre, napahiya ang beauty ko. And now, heto magkatrabaho na kami ni Bea at magkapatid pa ang roles namin. She’s so easy to work with and we all enjoyed her company as she’s so down to earth.”

Yasmien is really good in the show, specially in that scene where Bea confronts her inside an auditorium full of people about their past as estranged sisters, she is just very cool and never loses her composure. We have no doubt she will shine brightly in her role as Ina.

When you watch the show, you’d see that its look and its feel are really different from the usual local teleserye. The visuals are very colorful and pleasing to the eye and there’s an effort to make the whole production to level up and be at par or even surpass the Korean original. So don’t miss “Start Up PH” when it premieres this Monday at 8:50 PM right after “Lolong” and before “What We Could Be”.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Mario Bautista