BY BABY K. JIMENEZ
Ready to fight, one on one or all against one, Pambansang “Kabit” Yam of HALIK fame is ready to defend herself on and off the boob tube.
The Kapamilya series ‘Halik’ has definitely become a chartbuster – it has consistently ranked among the top five shows nationwide. What else could top a tale of failed relationships, broken marriages and cheating spouses? As JADE, Yam is the bad bitch/witch stealing a married guy and fighting, opposing the tight clannish family of her husband.
So we threw the following questions to YAM – we did not edit, here are her frank answers (taglish)
1. Are you happy your character is hated in HALIK?
YAM: – HATERS GONNA HATE, GO TO HELL!!!
Happy in a way na nagagawa ko yung role na kainisan mismo, I get a lot of hate comments and messages especially sa Instagram kasi hindi naman ako ma-twitter. Minsan nung nag mallshow kami, sinabihan ako ng staff na mag-ingat ako sa mga kakamayan ko at lalapitan ko na tao while singing kasi they heard na mayroong daw gustong manabunot sakin
2 If you were to write the script of HALIK, what would you like to change about your character
YAM: – Seriously, dati marami akong gustong baguhin kay Jade, pero ngayon dahil patapos na yung show, I feel like, siguro kailangan niyang pagdaanan lahat yon, para ma-realize niya na lahat ng pagkakamali niya at para magbago siya. Wala ako babaguhin, I love her flaws, insecurities, all of it. Kasi playing Jade, parang if you wanna play villain, you can’t be judgemental, you need to accept her flaws.
3 What do you love and hate most about JADE
YAM: Napapagod ako sa kanya eh. Pag ‘yong mga mainit ulo eksena lang na lagi akong galit, naapektuhan ako kasi parang umiinit din ang ulo ko. Nadadala ko siya, naiirita ako. Siyempre, hindi naman ako ‘yong ‘pag i-cut mo bigla cut na talaga.
She’s not ‘yong typical kontrabida na masama ka lang talaga, hindi ‘e, Ginagawa niya lahat ng bagay dahil may dahilan siya, not because for no reason manggugulo lang siya. May pinanggagalingan ‘yon. Malalim.
Si Jade kasi totoo lang siya ‘e. Ako sa totoong buhay, totoo lang din ako. She’s not perfect, I’m not perfect too. I have my mistakes, I have my faults too and Jade also. Normal lang na tao, nagkakamali pero bumabangon ulit.
In the teleserye, JADE is legally married to LINO BARTOLOME (Jericho Rosales). The couple got mixed up with another pair, JACKY (Yen Santos) and and ACE CORPUS (Sam Milby). To complicate matters, Jacky was the girlfriend of Lino prior to both marriages. Providing aroma to the spiced sizzling episodes is the music of Aegis all time hit HALIK – “Ang halik mo, na-mi-miss ko…”
As Jericho has stated during the middle of the airing, “It’s voyeurism,” Rosales said of what “Halik” offers to viewers, and why it has become such a big hit. “Silip sa buhay ng ibang tao,” he explained. “Nasa kultura ng Pilipino na hindi magsasalita, hindi ilalabas ‘yung totoong nangyayari sa buhay nila, sa pamilya nila, kaya ‘pag nakita nila sa TV kung paano nag-re-react ‘yung mga involved, they’re very curious. ‘Yung iba may strong reactions, kasi ‘pag napanood na nila – ‘Teka, hindi ‘yun ang gagawin ko,’ or, ‘Oo, ‘yun din ang gagawin ko, ganu’n ang mararamdaman ko.’ In a way, ‘yung show natin, iyon ang nagbibigay ng picture or clarity or idea kung ano talaga ‘yung nangyayari sa buhay sa loob ng bahay ng isang Pilipino.”
Here are JerIcho’s responses to our questions.
1. As Lino Bartolome, what do you hate and like about this character?
JERICHO: He’s honest, a loving son to his family and faithful. My character is trying his best to actually know the right thing to do and how to do it. The difficult part is trying to understand why my character is so hell-bent in doing the right thing when all options are there for him. He has a clear stance. He doesn’t want to do foolish things. The message of my character is that there’s nothing beautiful in life that can be achieved easily.
Among the other characters that I played, siya ‘yong isa sa pinaka-real. Kumbaga, 90% super real character, or even 95%, parang gano’n. Gusto ko sana mas realistic pa na character but I think I tried my best to make the character really interesting and relatable. He’s a lovable character pero most important sa’kin ‘yong lessons kasi parang siya lagi ‘yong unpopular decision, laging ‘bakit gano’n.’ I wanted to make sure that he knows how to forgive, he knows how to suffer, he knows how to give other people chances, he knows how to be patient, he knows how to love. He’s too good sometimes especially to his wife Jade na kahit nalaman niyang niloloko siya before he still wanted na mabuo yung marriage nila, but that was before LINO-LOKO.
2. Did you expect HALIK to be a chart-buster? Why did it become a hit?
JERICHO: Maybe because people can relate to it and the big scenes were mounted very well. Realistic, exciting, and challenging. Well, in every show that you make, you always hope for the best and expect for the worst. With that said, we were just hopeful na it’s going to work and siyempre may mga kaba kami no’ng simula. Every victory is sweet. When I say every victory, every time they will announce na our ratings went higher than expected or kung paano umakyat ng umakyat ng milyon-milyon ‘yong views namin sa iwant. But most importantly is the reaction of people and what they were doing na nakikita namin sa social media. ‘Yong reactions nila nakikita namin sa social media and on TV, not to mention that we became again household names.
The strength of “Halik,” according to Rosales, is also in its writing, which he said benefited from the series being “canned,” or having a set of completed episodes prior to airing. When it premiered on August 13, 2018, seven weeks worth or a total of 49 episodes were already finished and ready to air.
Listen to our chat with SAM.
1. Describe yourself SAM
SAM: matured, FAITHFUL and driven. I was like a little kid. Comparing to the Sam Milby in PBB, I’ve matured a lot. I feel I was one that, kumpara sa mga ibang tao, matured much later. I would like to think that in real life, I’m an introvert. I’m very normally shy so if I try to play a good guy… maybe it’s harder for me so it’s better to go the extremely opposite of me? I can’t really understand why but I’m happy that I found this role.
2. As Ace Corpuz, is there any similarity of this character in your real life (not necessarily womanizing)
SAM: I’m very different from Ace. When I get married, I’m not going to be Ace. I’m going to be very loyal sa asawa ko. I know that’s hard to say. Some married people would be like: ‘Oh, you don’t know that ‘cause you’re not married.’ I understand, but where I am in my life now, especially with my Christian walk, I’m going to be faithful to her. Siyempre the way he connives, wala siyang remorse. I have a guilty conscience. ‘Pag may ginawa akong kasalanan, I feel guilty. So that’s how we’re very different.
3. What do you feel about HALIK’s success – did you expect it?
SAM: I have gotten some very unfriendly messages on IG and Twitter saying: ‘Mamatay ka na!’, ‘Pumunta ka sa harap ng ABS, laban tayo!,’ ‘Papatayin kita!,’”
All of us just do our jobs while loving our own craft, and to know every week na tumataas yung ratings is really fulfilling for us kasi may payoff na nangyayari.
4. Other roles you’d like to do next
SAM: Nothing specific but Direk Ruel said that I shine on medyo darker roles.
Well, it’s not often that I do a ‘more evil’ role. I have done gray characters before. My last gray character, medyo kontrabida, was in Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala. And it’s because of that role, and even Maging Sino Ka Man, that Direk Ruel offered me this role, Direk Ruel said: ‘Sam, I think you really shine sa mga medyo darker roles,’ and I appreciate that because I’ve got more recognition in this role, and in Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala, and stuff like that. The roles that are darker are more interesting
So, it’s just been challenging. Even for me who’s playing the character, it’s been challenging to understand his psyche.
Last but not the least, here is Yen Santos.
1. If you will ask yourself this question, who is Yen Santos?
YEN: Isang taong patuloy na nadidiscover ang sarili ko at paano pa ako mag grow in my career and as a person.
2 How much of your real self is like JACKY?
YEN: Eto ‘yong character na sobrang nando’n ‘yong challenge talaga dahil ito ‘yong pinaka-mature na nagawa ko. Before kasi nasanay ako na sobrang lapit ‘yong character sa totoong buhay, sa personality ko. ‘Eto married ako dito eh, tapos siyempre wala naman akong asawa. Tapos hindi ko pa rin naman na-experience kung anong feeling ng na-betray sa mga past relationships ko. So ang hirap, mahirap siya talaga.
3. How do you feel about the success of HALIK
YEN: Lahat ‘yon naging worth it dahil sa pagtanggap ng mga tao, Nagulat ako na sa lahat ng pinagdaanan, ‘yong simpatya ng sambayanan nando’n. Sinasabi nila na: laban lang Jacky! Siguro dahil siyempre, talaga namang maraming legal wives. Ako para sa’kin, ako ‘yong nagtatayo ng bandera ng mga totoong asawa. Feeling ko lahat ng mga nagtatanggol, legal wife ‘yon, same kami ng pinagdadaanan sa buhay mag-asawa.
4 If you were to write the script, would you change your character – in what way? Or are you just happy the way the story runs as per your role
YEN: Wala akong gustong baguhin sa story. I’m happy and contented sa kabuuan ng show. I think isa sa mga naging dahilan kung bakit naging successful ang show ay dahil sa magandang stoyline.
5. Did it cross your mind that you’d rather be JADE in the story?
YEN: As an actress gusto ko talaga mag explore ng iba’t ibang roles. Naisip ko rin kung ako kaya ang gumanap na JADE, paanong atake sa character ang magandang gawin. Gusto ko yung isang strong woman na naka accomplish ng something for her community or country.
Jericho Rosales said he is “blessed to be with a team na pinakikinggan ‘yung comments ko sa script. Sometimes, I speak for the team. Sometimes, I speak for the people. Sometimes, I speak for the directors. We all collaborate. Kami ‘yung nagkakarga ng mga characters, kami ‘yung pumipihit nu’n, e. We have to dive in deep sa mga characters namin, and then share our creative ideas,” he said.
This arrangement has led to numerous improvised scenes getting the go-signal from directors Carlo Artillaga and Cathy Camarillo — such as when Lino nearly slapped Jade during a heated discussion about their annulment, when Lino punched Ace at a bar after catching him with Jade, and when Jacky called Jade “walang utak” before pouring a glass of water on her head.
“Most of the lines came from the heart,” Rosales said of his brawl scene with Milby’s Ace. “They trust us, kasi alam nila na dala namin ‘yung characters. I’m just happy to be with a collaborative team.”
Rosales’ investment in “Halik,” Big Boss Ruel S. Bayani said, has been instrumental in its triumph. While the primetime drama has been the result of months of collaboration, having Rosales on board has given “Halik” the unique touch that continues to resonate with viewers.
“He’s the Asian drama king, he’s a pioneer in teleseryes,” Bayani said, referring to the phenomenal success of Rosales’ series 2000 series “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” which aired internationally. “We couldn’t have gotten a better Lino to headline this project. Hats off to Echo for probably one of the most memorable male characters in soap opera history.”
TORONTONIANS are lucky that 3 of HALIK lead stars will be staging a concert here on May 3 at TD Pavilion.
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Now, let us go back to be haunted again. As part of the National Heritage Month and the centennial of Philippine Cinema, revisit Lino Brocka’s classic film (now in its RESTORED version by Jeffrey Sonora of FPJ Prods) GUMISING KA, MARUJA (1978) on the 4th of May 2019 at 2 p.m. Tanghalang Manuel Conde at the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines). We’ve been asked by both U.S. and Canadian audiences if this monumental film will ever get a chance to be previewed here. A tale of reincarnation, GUMISING KA, MARUJA won for Ms. Susan Roces Best Actress award at the Famas in 1978. This is presented by the the Society of Filipino Archivists for Film, Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc., and the CCP Media Arts Division, Arthouse Cinema.
We were there in Bacolod when this was filmed – the old mansion we used was owned by the Claparols and I tell you, the staff and crew of the entire unit saw sone uninvited “guests” during the wee hours of the morning, one popular figure was that of a little girl dressed in white, in a period costume! I remember when SUSAN and I arrived at this mansion the first time before the cameras started to grind. As we mounted the steps, we both halted.
“Babes, I feel something….Like I have been here before!” SUSAN whispered.
And you know what? I felt exactly the same! Dejavu!
Completing the cast: Philip Salvador, Laurice Guillen, Mario O’Hara, Mary Walter, Joel Torre, Fritz Ynfante, Manny Ojeda. Direk Peque Gallaga who resided in Bacolod that time helped Lino in recruiting negrenses for some parts.
Written by Tony Perez, the story tells of Maruja Isabele Sevilla who poisons herself when forced to marry a man she does not love. Several decades later, she is reincarnated as a young producer-actress, Nina Concepcion. Nina is hell-bent on filming the legend involving the couple of ill-starred lovers. However, wandering ghosts and possessions by entities in a haunted ancestral home keep Nina’s cast busy. Events come to a height when the past collides with the present.
A lot of journalists had visited the set then and I remember an interview that took place. During this time, there was this big gossip about a Ronnie Poe-Vilma Santos romance. One scribe from a respected broad sheet had asked Susan about this.
Susan’s response: “I don’t go out of my way for rumors…The problem is that my husband is such a gentleman and people misunderstand his gallant gestures towards women. I’d really panic though if the rumors stopped because that would mean my husband is no longer attractive.”
What would she do if she saw Vilma driving Ronnie’s car?
Susan was quick to say, “I’d wave at her. I wouldn’t say Vilma Santos is one of my friends but I wouldn’t count her as one of my enemies either.”
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This entertainment couple Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño are indeed so busy these days. Ice has just concluded her Toronto and Winnipeg concerts (with JURIS) and decided to fly back and spend a few days of vacay here in Mississauga with her manager Annabs Borja before proceeding to Edmonton for another gig. Ice mentioned to me that Liza will be busy here in Toronto for the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
While both their skeds conflict here in Canada, they have decided to wait for each other so they can jet back together back home. As Ice performs in Edmonton, Liza who is the Chairman and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines is also attending the Industry Brief on Philippine Film and Animation to be held at the Consulate’s office on May 2nd. My nephew Trevor Jimenez of Pixar Films whose Weekends competed in the recent Oscars has also been invited.
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Throwbacks: Some pics that say hello to yesterday, remembering with fondness…