AIKO Melendez, Beauty Gonzales, Thea Tolentino and Angel Guardian play the title roles in Regal and GMA-7’s third edition of “Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters.”
Aiko is Lily, Beauty is Violet, Thea is Dahlia, and Angel is Iris. They have the same dad but different moms. They all belong to the rich Chua family, but after their father died, they will be rivals who compete for the family’s wealth.
Aiko is the favorite daughter. She’s beautiful and powerful, the queen of the Chua empire, but she is considered a failure as a wife and mother. Her foil is Beauty as Violet, who describes her role as “sobrang palaban.”
As Dahlia, Thea is not as ambitious as her sisters because she is used to living a simple life. Angel as Iris is the youngest sister, carefree and has no qualms about speaking her mind, but all she really wants is to be accepted by their family. Angel is the newest cast member and this is her first drama series on primetime so she’s grateful to Regal and GMA for giving her this good break that comes right after her participation in the hit game show, “Running Man.”
“Nag-audition po ako rito and I was so happy when I was informed na nakuha ako,” she says. “Siempre, malaking pressure that I will be acting with more established co-stars but napakababait nila and very helpful to a newcomer like me. I’m always on my toes when I’m doing a scene with them dahil ayokong mapahiya ako sa kanila, puro sila magagaling.”
Regal producer Roselle Monteverde says that this is a much bigger “Mano Po Legacy” than the two previous ones. “We auditioned the stars to make sure they fit their roles perfectly,” she says.
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‘I’ve been very, very busy these past few months that I want to take a pause muna. – Bea Alonzo’
Bea Alonzo. Photo from Bea Alonzo’s Instagram account Bea Alonzo
Bea Alonzo celebrated her birthday yesterday and her co-stars in her hit show, “Start Up PH,” gave her a surprise birthday party on the set of their taping. “I was surprised kasi biglang binigyan nila ako ng flowers, cake, stuffed toy and balloons,” she says. “I really cannot thank the Lord for all the blessings He has given and continues to give me. Walang tigil ang dating ng projects for TV and the movies, and I also have new endorsements. I really cannot complain. I’m also very happy that my first show as a Kapuso, ‘Start Up PH,’ resonated with Filipino audiences in a very positive way.”
It’s been a year since she signed up with GMA and after doing “Start Up PH,” joining the GMA Pinoy TV shows in the US, and doing mall shows in various parts of the country, she can now say she is proud to be a Kapuso. “I am now very comfortable with GMA at feel na feel ko na ang pagiging Kapuso ko sa ngayon since everyone is so warm and welcoming. Mas at home na ako going in and out of the GMA studio.”
She says she can totally relate with the character she plays in “Start Up PH” as Dani Sison. “Dani is starting in her career as an entrepreneur and ako naman, I’m starting a new chapter in my life and career sa GMA. She’s a dreamer and is determined to pursue her dreams. I can relate, kasi marami pa rin akong dreams that I want to achieve.”
So what’s her plan for her birthday? “Magre-rest muna siguro ako. I’ve been very, very busy these past few months that I want to take a pause muna.”
She wants to go on leave to bring her family to the new apartment she bought in Madrid, Spain. She then plans to put up her own business, as inspired by Dani of “Start Up PH.” “I want to have my own brand and company,” she adds.
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Director Lino Cayetano’s production company, Rein Entertainment, partners with Viva for the 8-part mini series, “Secrets of a Nympho” that will start airing on October 23. So how is it working with Viva?
“It’s nice to partner with Viva as we’re a young company and they can help guide us,” he says. “We have a long relationship with Viva kasi matagal ko ng friends sina Vincent and Val del Rosario. Matagal na silang nagpo-produce and they have the biggest, brightest stars and also the rising stars, so I know I will learn a lot from them.”
So what is “Secrets of a Nympho” all about? “It’s about an exclusive school run by rich families so their kids who study there can do anything they want and then get away with it. We follow the characters of Ren Escano and Ayanna Misola na siyang lumaban sa sistema. They are young women looking for justice. The young cast is very professional.”
The “Secrets of a Nympho” is set at the University of Potenciana, a high-end campus where only the best and brightest are accepted, but a tragic night changes everything.
During their school’s annual bonfire party, where drugs and booze overflow and the students are either too high or too drunk to be aware of their surroundings, Brian (Arron Villaflor), the top campus jock, falls off the rooftop and dies. The unexpected death of this young man brings chaos and threatens the reputation of the prestigious school and its students.
Assumed to be a suicide by many, one outcast student, Gab (Rhen Escaño), suspects that foul play is behind Brian’s death. She does her own sleuthing and uncovers Brian and his friends’ darkest secrets, which involve sex parties, drugs, and gambling. Little does she know that this will put her own life in danger.
