Julia, bagong prinsesa ng Dos?

Julia Barreto (Kuha mula sa Mira Bella FB page)

Sa nakatakdang pag-ere ng kanyang unang soap opera’ng pinagbibidahan na “Mira Bella” sa susunod na buwan, hindi maitago ni Julia Barretto ang kanyang excitement.

“Siyempre, masaya ako pero may halong nerbyos,” aniya. “Parang halu-halo na ang emosyong aking nadarama na hindi naman siguro nakakapagtaka dahil isa itong malaking proyekto. Biruin mo, ang mga ka-bituin ko rito ay sina Enrique (Gil) at Sam (Concepcion) na malalaking pangalan na sa showbiz. Nagpapasalamat ako sa ABS-CBN sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob nila at dalangin ko’y suportahan ito ng balana!”

Sa kabila ng magandang itinatakbo ng kanyang career, alam ng teen star na merong ilang hinahaluan ito ng ibang kulay.

“Oo naman! Meron talagang mga taong hindi magiging masaya para sa ‘yo at hihilahin kang pababa. Aaminin kong sa simula, grabe akong naapektuhan ng lahat ng mga negatibong kritisismo na ibinabato sa akin gaya ng kaya raw ako nabibigyan ng big break eh dahil sa isa akong Barretto. Hindi iyon madaling harapin.

“Una na riyan ang ‘di maiiwasang paghahalintulad sa aking ina (Marjorie Barretto) at mga tiyahin (Gretchen at Claudine Barretto) na maraming taon na ang itinagal sa industriya. May mga pagkakataong umiiyak talaga ako. Hindi mo naman kasi maaaring sabihin o ipaliwanag sa bawat taong makakasalubong mo na meron ka rin namang talentong maipagmamalaki at hindi mo kailangang dumepende nang sobra sa kanilang pangalan.

“Buti na lang at sa kalaunan, ginawa ko itong motivation upang mas pagbutihin ang aking career para sa katuparan ng aking mga pangarap. Nalampasan ko rin ang mga pagsubok!”

Ngayon pa lang ay isinasabong na siya kina Kathryn Bernardo at Julia Montes na kapwa itinuturing na prinsesa ng Kapamilya network.

“Alam ko ‘yon! Pero para sa akin, kapag ikinumpara ka o inilaban sa iba, makaka-distract lang ‘yon sa focus mo. Kaya ako, hindi ko ‘yon binibigyang-pansin! Malayu-layo na ang narating nina Kathryn at Julia sa industriyang ito samantalang nagsisimula pa lang tayo. Sinasabi ko na lang sa aking sarili na nadito ako para magtrabaho at tuparin ang aking mga pangarap. Wala sa bokabularyo ko ang makipag-kumpitensya!”

Determinado si Julia na magtagumpay sa mundong ninais kabilangan.

“Pangarap kong mag-bida sa marami pang soap opera sa hinaharap. Gayundin sa pelikula. Dream-come-true sa akin ‘pag nakagawa ako ng movie kasama si Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto. Siya kasi ang aking pinaka-idolo, eh. Sa mga lalaki naman, wish ko pong makatambal sa hinaharap sila John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual at Gabby Concepcion. Paniguradong marami akong matututunan sa kanila, ‘di ba?”

Itinuturing siyang isa sa may pinakamagandang mukha sa hanay ng mga bagong artistang babae. Sa katunyan nga’y laging nangunguna ang kanyang pangalan kapag may mga survey na isinasagawa sa mga batang aktor kung sino ang kanilang hinahangaan sa lupon ng mga batang aktres.

“Well, thank you! Pero hindi ko ‘yon inilalagay sa aking utak. Wala pa kasi sa akin ang mga love-love na ‘yan, eh! Bata pa ako. Katulad nga po ng aking sinabi kanina, nakatuon ang aking atensyon sa aking career. Marami pa akong dapat matutunan sa industriyang ito,” pagtatapos na ni Julia.

“Rhodora X”: Thought-provoking Drama on Split Personality

Jennylyn Mercado

GMA Network once again proves its versatility and unparalleled innovativeness with its new series titled “Rhodora X.” The project showcases an edgy theme never been tackled on Philippine TV, that of living with someone who has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

The compelling, highly-stimulating and thought-provoking drama is expected to captivate the hearts of avid viewers as it challenges us to review how deeply we know our loved ones. It is an invitation so difficult to refuse as it ushers us to discover the nuances of our own personal relationships. The show features Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Mark Herras and Yasmien Kurdi.

Jennylyn takes on a new and challenging role as Rhodora/Roxanne. Rhodora, as a young girl, experienced extreme physical and emotional abuse when she was abducted and taken away from her family. This experience eventually led her to develop another personality inside of her. When she was saved and gets reunited with her family, her Dissociative Identity Disorder (more commonly known as split personality) starts to manifest. Rhodora’s alter ego, Roxanne starts to emerge. Roxanne is a confident and smart woman but also scheming and manipulative. She hates her sister Angela so much to the point that she will do everything to get what Angela has – the affection of their mother and Angela’s love, Joaquin.

Meanwhile, Yasmien plays the role of Angela. She blames herself for Rhodora’s kidnapping. But when Rhodora finally gets reunited with them, Angela becomes all the more happy and content because her family is once again complete and she is also set to marry Joaquin.

However, everything changes when Angela was framed and put to jail. When she sees an opportunity to escape, she ends up in an ancestral house where she will later find out that it was Rhodora who framed her. She did not know that it was really Rhodora’s alter ego Roxanne who did it. Although she went back to prison, she vows revenge against Rhodora.

Playing the leading men in the series are Mark Herras and Mark Anthony Fernandez.

Mark Herras plays the role of Joaquin, Angela’s fiancé. He is shocked when Angela allegedly kills his secretary out of jealousy. Thus, their wedding is cancelled. It is only Rhodora who is there for him in this trying time and because of her presence, he falls for Rhodora and marries her. Little does Joaquin know that Rhodora has a split personality and that her alter ego Roxanne is the one who framed-up Angela.

On the other hand, Mark Anthony’s character is Nico. He owns the ancestral home Angela ends up in. He feels for Angela since he also has a grudge against Joaquin’s family and eventually falls in love with her. When Angela is finally free, he is the one who will help get her life back on track and both of them plan revenge against Rhodora and Joaquin.

Will Rhodora overcome her illness or will Roxanne, her alter ego, take over? Will Rhodora still be loved and accepted by her family in spite of her DID? Will she and Angela be able to forgive each other?

Directed by Albert Langitan, “Rhodora X” also stars Gardo Versoza as Derick, the doting father of Rhodora and Angela; Glydel Mercado as Lourdes, the loving and affectionate mother of Rhodora and Angela; Irma Adlawan as Dr. Vivian, the doctor who diagnosed Rhodora’s illness; Lollie Mara as Donya Cita, the owner of a big shipyard company and grandmother of Joaquin; Frank Magalona as Santi, the cousin and best friend of Joaquin; Vaness del Moral as Pia, the cousin of Angela and Rhodora, and is also Angela’s best friend; and with the special participation of Ms. Boots Anson-Roa as Panchang, the grandmother of Rhodora and Angela and the one who has doubts about Rhodora’s return.

Find out how this intriguing story of “Rhodora X” unfolds on GMA Pinoy TV!