There are actors and most of they are called such because acting is their profession. But there are few actors that are addressed the same with reverence. It is their profession, true, but it also defines their passion for their profession.
And Nora Aunor is one of those rare “actors.”
In Onanay, the GMA Network primetime series about the plight of Onay whose size is easily denoted by average people as “unano” as a mother to normal-sized children, Nora Aunor plays the mother of the “little’ woman played by real-life “little” woman Jo Berry.
Nora’s character, Nelia, isn’t the focal point of the series, but clearly, in the first week, she is undoubtedly the star that mesmerizes the audience each time her face pops up on the screen. And with Cherie Gil as the antagonist, Nora’s performance vis a vis Cherie all the more sparkles as her brand of subtlety on screen counterbalances the hysterics of her co-star.
It comes as no surprise that this series has become a curiosity, not only because of Jo Berry but more so of Nora and Cherie. Fans await the two acting giants and how they will clash on the boob tube as they essay their respective roles.
Onanay tells the unique story of Onay, a woman born with Achondroplasia or a bone growth disorder, which impeded her growth. Because of this, she is often the subject of ridicule but she chooses to remain positive in life. She gave birth to two beautiful daughters—Maila and Natalie—who cannot be more different from one another. Despite a tragedy and traumatizing events, Onay’s motherly love remains pure and unconditional, the way every mother is to her child.
It was only the first week and the Kapuso screen has already exploded with Helena (Cherie) and Nelia’s encounters.
In the coming weeks, the show will introduce Mikee Quintos and Kate Valdez as Onay’s daughters Maila and Natalie
Perhaps, fans of the two will want to see how they’d fare with both Aunor and Gil (I hope they survive!).
Completing the cast are Gardo Versoza as Dante, Nelia’s younger brother who will treat Maila as his own daughter; Wendell Ramos as Lucas, a rich and careless man who used to be an alcohol and drug addict who will later on play an important role in Onay’s life; Rochelle Pangilinan as Sally, Onay’s childhood friend who works at a beauty salon and is very supportive and endeared to Maila; Vaness Del Moral as Imelda, Lucas’ jealous and possessive wife; Enrico Cuenca as Oliver, a handsome school jock who will fall for Maila; and special guest Adrian Alandy (formerly known as Luis Alandy) as Elvin, the loving and responsible husband of Onay who fell in love with her because of her beautiful innate qualities.
Gina Alajar directs the series.
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Sec. Harry Roque meets the showbiz press
Before becoming the Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, Sec. Harry Roque excelled as a courageous and topnotch lawyer, University of the Philippines (UP) law professor, prolific congressman and a staunch defender of the disadvantaged, the poor and the oppressed.
Last week, he met with members of the showbiz media. Not for anything, but simply he wants to connect.
Roque knows how far reaching the entertainment media in the Philippines. And in fact, he, during the lunch do punctuated his exchange with the journalists with jokes of how he wanted to be in show business.
“Eh, kung may mag-o-offer ba, why not?” he retorted when one asked if he’d trade being a Presidential Spokesman to being in show business.
Roque was the lawyer for some 40 journalists against unwarranted actions by the previous governments. Part of his long list of crusades include being one of the founders of Centerlaw, a non-profit organization that defends the voiceless and the poor of Philippine society.
Harry Roque is a nationalist leader who upholds the Philippines’ independent foreign policy of making the Philippines a friend of the world’s superpowers and enemy of none; views that run similar to that of nationalist President Rody R. Duterte; former Senator Claro M. Recto and Sec. Roque’s grand-uncle, the late incorruptible, nationalist Senate President Jovito Salonga.
He believes that Pres. Duterte is similar to many of Asia’s strong-willed and nationalist Asian leaders often criticized by the West for many years, like the late Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, Prime Minister Mahathir of Malaysia and the late reformer Deng Xiaoping of China. Duterte he said is not anti-West, but staunchly pro-Philippines.
A true patriot, Sec. Roque as Congressman continued his role as champion of the poor, oppressed, and voiceless with bills filed for the indigenous people, informal workers, whistleblowers, victims of human rights violations. He also prioritized progressive bills in socialized housing, public safety, free healthcare, science and technology, etc.
Secretary Harry Roque is also the author of the Universal Public Health Bill.
When asked why he accepted the post of Pres. Duterte’s spokesperson, Sec. Roque made notes on the pro-poor, pro-regional development and nationalist stance of the government of Pres. Duterte.
The most challenging underdog for Harry Roque may be being the official voice of President Duterte, amidst the Goliath of a well-funded foreign, mostly Western media which have often unfairly criticized the Philippine government.
Roque counts Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Piolo Pascual, Claudine Barretto, as some of his friends in the entertainment industry.
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ABS-CBN enjoys double-digit lead in national TV ratings
More Filipinos nationwide turned to ABS-CBN for news and values-laden stories as it recorded an average audience share of 44 percent, or an eleven-point lead over GMA’s 33 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.
The Kapamilya network ruled in both rural and urban homes, particularly in Metro Manila with an average audience share of 42 percent, compared to GMA’s 28 percent. ABS-CBN likewise led in Total Luzon with 39 percent versus GMA’s 37 percent; in Total Visayas with 51 percent, compared to GMA’s 26 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 53 percent, while GMA only got 26 percent.
Multinational audience measurement provider Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population.
PJ’s Ang Probinsyano (42.8 percent) kept its reign as the most watched program in July, followed by the weekend program “Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids” (32.8 percent).