A couple of years back, the Kapuso network jolted soap opera fans with its gay-themed series, My Husband’s Lover, which made Tom Rodriguez a certified leading man. More recently, GMA Network fiddled with lesbian-themed series The Rich Man’s Daughter with less remarkable success.
But nobody can stop the network from delving into the more controversial topics these days.
Beginning today, GMA Entertainment TV offers a game-changing character-driven story in Destiny Rose.
The series demonstrates that in one’s ability to love also lies great power to become the person one dreams to be.
Lesser-known actor Ken Chan gets his biggest break so far in the series. His growing fans will be delighted to know that he is playing a transsexual woman who pursues her dreams into becoming an influential writer.
Ken participated in a series of auditions and delivered a string of thrilling and convincing performances all throughout, making him the perfect choice for the role to become Joey Flores Vergara.
Joey is the proverbial woman trapped in a man’s body. All his life, he only dreamt and hoped to be the best for his parents. Despite the fact that everyone around him was against his personal desires and wishes, he remained to be the loving and obedient child.
A passionate student and a loving son to his family, Joey will go through different setbacks in life but will continue to be patient and understanding.
All these positive qualities will outweigh life’s challenges and Joey will become a stronger person in her new life.
As time passed, Joey faced more challenges in his journey to becoming a renowned writer and a full-fledged woman. Joey be known later as Destiny Rose.
When Destiny Rose’s dream become a reality, all she wants is to be with the love of her life and for her family to be complete once again. But what if her family, especially her estranged father, refuses to accept her? And what if the love of her life finds out that she only had sex reassignment surgery to become a woman? Will Destiny Rose still find happiness?
With all the challenges and triumphs of Destiny Rose, viewers would definitely love her.
Playing opposite Ken is Fabio Ide as Gabriele Antonioni, Joey’s Filipino Italian pen pal. He will make Joey/Destiny Rose’s life more colorful as he becomes her one true love.
Completing the cast are Manilyn Reynes as Daisy Flores Vergara, Joey’s loving mother; Michael de Mesa as Rosauro Armani Vitto, a rich philanthropist who will be instrumental in Joey’s transition in becoming a woman; Jackielou Blanco as Dahlia, Jasmine’s mother who will make Joey and Daisy’s life difficult; ; Katrina Halili as Jasmine Flores, Joey’s ambitious cousin; Sheena Halili as April Rose Vergara, Joey’s kind-hearted sister; Jeric Gonzales as Vince, Joey’s first love; Joko Diaz as Joselito Vergara Sr., Joey’s strict father; Irma Adlawan as Bethilda, Armani’s sister who will make Joey’s life a living hell; JC Tiuseco as Lance, Jasmine’s boyfriend and accomplice in deceiving Gabriele; Ken Alfonso as Aris, Bethilda’s son who will eventually fall in love with Destiny Rose.
The show, the producers say, does come with the controversy about the death of a tranny who was killed allegedly by a man after discovering the person had an organ of a man not that of a woman.
This show, the director insists, will demonstrate that love knows no gender. Really? In the case trannies, I think that’s a challenge for straight men to think, unless they’re macho gays.
Song for Mar Roxas
FOR the very first time, singers JayR, Kris Lawrence, and Billy Crawford recorded a new single titled “Fast Forward” – an R&B song dedicated to Mar Roxas. According to the three, they were “so inspired” after they personally met and spoke to the former DILG Secretary at a recent event. Mar was endorsed last August by President Noynoy Aquino to run for President in 2016.
“Fast Forward” is a feel good, upbeat R&B single that JayR, Kris, and Billy wrote. Veteran composer helped them translate the song from its original English version, and Marcus Davis Jr. did the arrangement.
It is an inspirational song that celebrates the power of every Filipino to make a positive change for the country. The song’s lyrics are centered on the importance of unity for a better and brighter future.
“Fast Forward” first hit the airwaves on Aug. 1, on the day Mar was endorsed after he declared his Presidential bid under the Liberal Party at Club Filipino.
“This is our way to express our trust and support to Mar as a worthy Presidential candidate,” says Crawford. “We know that he is capable of bringing change for the country. In producing this song, we hope to help the youth to understand the importance of their responsibilities as voters. We wish to make them realize that they have the power to decide and make change possible.”
Lawrence, meantime, says, “The song is our gift to Mar, and surprisingly, it came to us in a flash of inspiration and was done in 30 minutes. It is our calling as artists to channel that inspiration into something positive. We were lucky because Tito Vehnee Saturno supported us. He helped us translate the original English lyrics to a more moving Tagalog song.”
According to JayR, “I could feel Mar’s sincerity every time he talks about us Filipinos. I immediately got inspired to write the song with Kris and Billy. We came up with the song to support Mar’s vision for the country as we believe in the many causes he is advocating,”
With its catchy tune and uplifting message, “Fast Forward” is currently enjoying massive airplay and is rapidly climbing the charts of country’s hottest OPM radio stations.
Isn’t it ironic that three Filipino Americans are pitching for Roxas?
Galvante out of TV5
So it’s true. The rumors have been lingering around in the last couple of months, but last week, TV5 officially confirmed the rumors. In a joint statement sent to the media, TV5 President and CEO Noel Lorenzana and Wilma Galvante who was the network’s chief entertainment content officer for the last couple of years announced “that Galvante will be leaving the network to establish an independent content creation company.”
That seems to be the way to go for Galvante who had hoped her presence at the fledgling broadcast company could make a big impact on the industry. The big guns of TV5 apparently over estimated her capability as none of her projects really took off or broke the industry’s status quo.
Yet, TV5 is still diplomatic saying it “will continue to benefit from Galvante’s broadcast experience.”
She will still continue as the line producer of Happy Truck Ng Bayan and Wattpad Presents, the two shows that made remarkable ratings (in comparison to other shows on the network) thus far.
Galvante says she is looking forward to providing content not only to TV5 but to other platforms and channels as well.
Good luck, Wilma!