Philippine Showbiz Today 3
July 22 - August 7 , 2016
Philippine Showbiz Today 3
Landing her first-ever starrer on a soap is veteran actress Sylvia Sanchez , who usually plays support or contravida roles in her 20-year-old career .
On ABS-CBN ’ s The Greatest Love , Sylvia is Gloria , a mother suffering from Alzheimer ’ s .
“ Story ito ng isang ina na nagsakripisyo at kinalimutan ang sarili niya ,” she said . “ Story din ito ng mga anak niya , ng asawa niya . Si Gloria minahal lahat , nagsakripisyo . Later on , nang nagka-edad na siya , ’ yung mga alaala niya unti-unting nawawala .”
She admitted the show challenges her abilities as actress . “ Ang bigat . Dito , hindi pa nagrorolyo , ako parang , ‘ Sandali lang ha ..,’ kasi umiiyak na ako ,” Sylvia said .
The creative manager , writer Ricky Lee , echoed the series is ode to mothers . He also talked about “ figurative dementia .”
“ Marami kasi sa mga anak natin merong dementia ( in that ) nakakalimutan nila na mahal na mahal sila ng mga nanay nila ,” he said . “( Nakakalimutan nila na ) makagalitan man sila , dinidisiplina man sila , in the end , walang pagkaubos ang pagmamahal ng isang ina .”
He expressed hope that through the show , viewers will
Sylvia Sanchez ’ s biggest role yet renew and strengthen bond with their mothers .
“ Sana magsilbing reminder sa kanila na paguwi nila sa bahay andiyan ang nanay mo ,” Ricky said . “ Yakapin mo , tanungin mo kung may dinadamdam ba siya , may kailangan ba siya , may gusto ba siya .”
He added , “ Lahat tayo binibigyan ng second chance so , ’ wag nating sayangin . Kung may mga mali tayong ginawa , tuwirin natin bago mahuli ang lahat .”
In the story , a long-kept secret shatters Gloria ’ s once-happy family , prompting the four children to leave her one by one . Worse , she begins to lose pieces of her memory .
Will Gloria be able to bring her family back together ? Will she ever find happiness with the people she loves ? Will she completely lose her identity , as well as the secrets she has kept in her heart all these years ? The show answers these questions .
Before showing Gloria ’ s journey to motherhood , the series retraces her great love story on its first week . It shows young Gloria ( Ellen Adarna ) falling in love with boatman Peter ( Ejay Falcon ) but being forced to marry musician
Andres ( Jun Jun Quintana ).
Ricky said they went through a long list of actresses to find their Gloria . He believes they are very lucky to have Sylvia accept the role given how versatile the actress is .
“ P u e d e siyang maging matigas but at the same time vulnerable . Puede siyang maging loud at one time and another time quiet , which is how Gloria is ,” he explained .
Ricky added Sylvia perfectly encapsulates Gloria ’ s complex nature .
“ Ang daming contradictions na makikita sa kanyang pagkatao . Complex siya , hindi mo alam kung masama ba siya , mabait ba siya , mahina ba siya . Nakita namin kay Sylvia na makukuha niya iyon .”
Sylvia ’ s children , Arjo and Ria , have followed in her footsteps . Asked what she wants to hear from them , she said , “ Gusto ko lang marinig sa mga anak ko , kapag later on na matatanda na sila at may mga kanya-kanya nang buhay , sabihin lang nila sa akin , ‘ Ma , thank you .’”
“ Kasi lahat tinuro mo sa kanila , lahat inayos mo . Hindi man ako naging perfect na nanay , makita ko man lang sana sa kanila na naging okay akong nanay sa kanila kahit paano .”
As for the secret to her longevity in the ’ biz , “ Siguro minahal ko ang trabaho ko . Nagpaka-professional ako , hindi ako nagpasaway . The more na tumatanda ako , the more na nagaral ako .”
The actress added surviving in the industry is also about establishing good rapport . “ Minahal ko ’ yung mga tao sa paligid ko , mula sa boss namin hanggang sa utility . Respeto lang ,” she said .
The Greatest Love also stars Andi Eigenmann , Dimples Romana , Matt Evans , Arron Villaflor and Rommel Padilla . Scenes were set against the picturesque landscapes of Quirino province .• - K . Valeza , MB